Well, when a console's life comes to an end and its successor has some shiny backwards compatibility features, I like to cull my collection, keeping only my absolute favorites. The idea being that I will probably not be playing too much of the old stuff, so I only keep the best, giving the rest away or selling it if it seems worth it. So, here's what I kept when the 360 moved in, arranged by release date.
Interestingly, half of these games came out in 2003, and no 2002 releases made the cut. Looks like these were the high and low points of the Xbox.
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Does this really require an explanation? Released Nov. 15, 2001
Beautiful and haunting, this rail shooter seems like it was among the last of its subgenre. Nevertheless, a fitting send off and a notable entry into the "Games as Art" crowd. Released Jan. 14, 2003
Unequaled by Bioware until 2010's seminal Mass Effect 2, this game not only has one of the best stories and characters in all of video games, but nailed the Star Wars vibe far better than any of Lucas's prequels. Released July 15, 2003
One of my favorite fighting games, bar none. Goofy MacFarlene stuff aside, this game's superb cast and fluid controls make it a standard at parties. Plus, it has Nightmare. So... yeah. Released Aug. 26, 2003
An overlooked gem, this third-person shooter had a long, hilarious story mode and a cracking multiplayer that uses the control tether to great effect. Vehicles are fun, but assuming control of a towering murder-bot in a death match is something that one just doesn't see every day. Released Nov. 18, 2003
I am actually one of those people who was very disappointed by Halo 2, so I kept this more out a sense of completion (as I knew I would buy Halo 3) than affection. Released Nov. 9, 2004
In many ways has yet to be equaled in the sandbox genre. I still wonder what weird voodoo Rockstar had to pull to fit that whole map onto one disk. Released Oct. 26, 2004
Yes, its amazing, and yes, I am nowhere near good enough to beat it. Released Sept. 20, 2005