Welcome back to my column guys and girls. If you missed it, in my last column I talked about the bottom 5 of the top 10 XBOX games. Now, without further adieu, here are the top Five Xbox games of all time!

5. Fable

This game, which started off as just a distraction while we waited for the next Bethesda or Square Enix RPG to come around, became a must play game in its own right. Using the very successful Morality system of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it gave you different paths depending on whether you were good or evil. It even changed your facial features (something that Mass Effect also did later on) to reflect your morality.

Raised by a Heroes’ guild as a young orphan, players got to see dungeons, cast spells, but in real time and, as said before, what you did, mattered! If you saved kids from bullying, people would swoon (quite literally, which was a nice and fun touch). If you terrorized everybody, people would scream and run off. Giving you more choices than most games in this genre, you could spend hours playing, and then replaying just to see what you could do differently.

As a future template of the more successful RPGs, I definitely recommend this game!

4. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Ah, competition… it brings out the best in people, and the customers reap the rewards. Don’t believe me? Try Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. In direct competition (though it probably wouldn’t admit it) to the highly successful Metal Gear Solid series, Splinter Cell decided to focus even more on the Action Adventure portion, while also crafting a memorable story.

Sure the graphics weren’t as good as Metal Gear, and the story was less cinematic, but the game was much more streamlined as a result, and the story paid off. You weren’t left with 25 minute cutscenes either… *COUGH METAL GEAR SOLID 4 COUGH*

Not only that, this game introduced Multiplayer to the series, and players have never looked back. This game won Game Of The Year 2005 for a reason! And, best of all, unlike a lot of other games, the multiplayer itself had a storyline as a good reason to play! If you want to see what the fuss is all about, grab the Splinter Cell series and see for yourself.

3. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Ah, Bethesda. My favorite gaming company. The Elder Scrolls series has always been a pet peeve of mine. On the one hand, I loved it, there were so many things to do, so many ways the story could unfold! And depending on the classes you picked, you were treated differently. On the other hand, it felt like I was wading through error after error after error (multiply that by 1000…).

Elder Scrolls III was a definite game changer. Not in terms of errors, they still remained, but since the third game, the side stories were the ones most expanded. Sure you still had to finish the main story to complete the game, but with the side stories… there were HUNDREDS of hours to go through. And, the game didn’t end when you completed the story, leaving too many possibilities to mention.

Yes, if you like games that keep you playing for MONTHS, there’s no way you could go wrong with Morrowind.

2. Wrestlemania 21

I know what you guys are thinking… first a boxing game, but now a WRESTLING game? And at number 2? IS HE HIGH?

Well no, I’m not high at all! And if you’d be patient, I’ll explain why Wrestlemania 21 is deserving of the number 2 spot.

How often do you guys see a sports game that focuses so completely on not only building up your player, but also giving you a REASON to build him/her up? Not just a reason, a very good story, starting with your character just arriving at a school. The amount of detail, the amount of thought that went into the whole story mode is phenomenal. And when you beat it, when you finally get that coveted title, you actually feel like you deserved it and accomplished something. Only RPGs give you that feeling, so for a wrestling game to give that same feeling means it’s something special.

Unfortunately, people couldn’t handle the fact that the engine was brand new, and the game stands alone without a sequel. If you want to experience a game that’s as close to a sports RPG as you can get, get Wrestlemania 21

AND NOW… THE NUMBER 1 XBOX GAME OF ALL TIME!!!! HALO: Combat Evolved!

This game is the reason XBOX has survived and Thrived from the beginning. A FPS that had such a fantastic story, it’s been expanded in books, comic books, and even an animated movie. This is the reason people wanted to buy an XBOX, and this is the reason why they stayed with it.

Ten years on, this game is still going so strong that Microsoft have released an HD Remake (AGAIN WITH THOSE!!!)

The game with its fantastic storyline, great multiplayer, and addictive music soundtrack definitely deserves the number 1 spot.

See ya next time for the bottom 5 XBOX360 games.

This has been the rabid gamer, hope you enjoyed the ride!