The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are hopefully due to be released around the holidays in 2020. The new consoles bring the promise of faster loading times, better framerates, and of course better graphics implementing visual techniques not possible on current generation consoles.
With a new generation of consoles on the way it is always good to look back at some of the games a generation or ago like the Xbox 360 to see if they still hold up in comparison to modern titles. It is also interesting to see which games no longer impress, for whatever reason.
Of course, bad graphics don’t necessarily make a bad game but it’s certainly easier to dive back into older games when they still look and perform well. Let’s take a look at 5 of the best look games on the Xbox 369 that still look good and 5 that don’t.
10 Looks Good: Mass Effect 3
Science fiction action-RPG Mass Effect 3 was released for the Xbox 360 in 2012. It was a divisive title because its ending was not developed around player choices made over the course of the Mass Effect trilogy.
If there was one aspect where the game didn’t disappoint, however, it was the visuals. From start to finish Mass Effect 3 can compete with even the most modern blockbusters. The character models look fantastic and the environmental art design succeeds in making the player feel like they are a part of a huge and diverse universe.
9 Looks Bad: Two Worlds
Released worldwide for the Xbox 360 in 2011, Two Worlds is an open-world action RPG developed by Reality Pump. It was often compared to The Elder Scrolls III: Oblivion due to its dynamic world and its development of its lore and mythology.
Unfortunately, the main area where it couldn’t compete with Oblivion was the voice acting and of course the visuals. Its animations were awkward. The draw distances and blurry textures were terrible in 2011, especially when compared to similar titles in the open-world RPG genre.
8 Looks Good: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Released in 2013 for the Xbox 360 and other major platforms, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist continued the series tradition of stunning visuals, character design, and lighting it was known for. It was one of the first titles to really look like it belonged on a next-generation console.
In addition to the realistically designed character models, Sam Fisher’s animation remains some of the best in gaming. The ability to move in and around the environment and transition between stealth and action sequences is only rivaled by Metal Gear Solid V. Thanks to the Xbox One X enhancement Blacklist looks even better with 4K upscaling.
7 Looks Bad: Saints Row 2
Released in 2006 for the Xbox 360, Saints 2 is an open-world action game in a similar vein to the Grand Theft Auto series. The Saints Row series is often considered GTA clone but manages to separate itself from that series just enough with its slapstick sense of humor, as opposed to GTA’s satirical approach.
Unfortunately, Saints Row 2 performs like a port of the PlayStation 2 version rather than being made for the lead platform that was released the same year. The draw distances were bad, it suffered from slow down, screen tearing and ugly character models.
6 Looks Good: Halo 4
Released in 2012, Halo 4 was the first game in the series developed by 343 Industries after the original developers Bungie moved on to create the Destiny series. Visually, Halo 4 quickly became a benchmark title for the Xbox 360.
The level design and lighting still look absolutely incredible and even better on the Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The level of detail in the environments, weaponry, and even the vehicles are in a class of their own, as are the particle effects which react to said weapons and explosions.
5 Looks Bad: Deadly Premonition
When Deadly Premonition was released for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in 2010 it quickly became one of the most divisive survival horror games of the generation. Opinion seems to be divided between gamers that either loved or hated the game for its quirkiness.
One of the main reasons many critics were far too quick to pass judgment on Deadly Premonition was its visuals. Sadly, the game hasn’t aged particularly well in terms of its graphics, as evidenced by its Nintendo Switch port in 2020. However, it remains a cult hit among fans and gamers that want to experience something that feels completely unique should definitely give Deadly Premonition a try. Furthermore, most fans of the game would agree that its visuals are a part of its charm, as is its bizarre Twin Peaks-like storytelling.
4 Looks Good: The Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy
Ever since the original Final Fantasy VII made use of state of the art cinematic cutscenes and pre-rendered graphics the series became the gold standard for Japanese RPGs in terms of visuals and scale. Naturally, expectations for Final Fantasy XIII were at an all-time high at its release in 2010. It was the first in the series release on then-modern consoles.
Unfortunately, the game and its sequels in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy didn’t quite meet fans' lofty expectations. Where it didn't disappoint, however, was the graphics and art design which still look incredible 10 years on, especially with the benefit of Xbox One X enhancements.
3 Looks Bad: The Earth Defense Forces Series
The Earth Defense Force series has always been an acquired taste for gamers since it began with Monster Attack and Global Defense Force for the PlayStation 2. However, fans of cheesy science fiction B-Movies absolutely love the fast-paced action, allowing gamers to co-operatively blast waves of giant insects into oblivion.
Just like the B-movies it takes inspiration from, The Earth Defense Force series are low-budget action games with functional-but-unimpressive visuals. Sadly, the Xbox 360 releases don’t look as good or perform as well as Global Defense Force on the PS2, but that doesn't detract from the silly couch co-op fun that can be had.
2 Looks Good: The Witcher II: The Assassins Of Kings
When The Witcher II: The Assassins Of Kings first released on the PC in 2011 most gamers assumed that such a graphically intensive RPG of this magnitude would be possible on the Xbox 360. Yet, just as they did with The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt for the Nintendo Switch, not only did the developers at CD Projekt Red make it possible but it looked fantastic.
The 360 version still captured excellent character models, environmental effects, and most importantly the artistic integrity of the PC original. While there were some visual cutbacks compared to the PC version, The Witcher II port still looked like it belonged on the 360 despite being notoriously difficult to run on high-end PCs. There are also some notable improvements when playing the game using the Xbox One's backward compatibility with screen tearing eliminated and smoother cutscenes.
1 Looks Bad: Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland was released as a launch title for the Xbox 360 in 2005 after the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and the original Xbox. While it was well-received by fans of the series on the older platforms, American Wasteland was definitely showing its age on the newer hardware.
The game was essentially an upscaled port of the Xbox original but the visual differences between the two ports were negligible at best. The low-quality graphics were especially noticeable compared to other launch titles on the 360 like Condemned: Criminal Origins and Perfect Dark Zero.