5 Underappreciated Backward Compatible Games



Xbox’s backward compatibility program has been unanimously praised this generation for allowing gamers to play and keep games that would’ve otherwise been lost in time. In an age where game preservation is becoming an issue, this was a big win for the Xbox platform and gamers in general. But with over 600 games from the Xbox 360 and original Xbox available, some gems got lost in the shuffle. Whether these games were overlooked at the time of their release or have lost relevance in the years after, here are the most underappreciated backward compatible games on Xbox One.

Spec Ops: The Line

Spec Ops: The Line released in an era where cover based shooters were flooding the market. In this lens it’s not hard to see why the game struggled to grab many people’s attention; from a distance it looks like just another Gears of War clone, but 2012’s Spec Ops was anything but that. Even though Spec Ops was criticised for its uninspired gameplay, the more typical shooter elements were still well done. Shooting was punchy and satisfying, there was a ton of opportunities to manipulate the environment in a fight and the campaign also boasted a handful of memorable action set pieces. The game also included a beautiful and vibrant recreation of a destroyed Dubai, so even when Spec Ops’ gameplay wasn’t very inspired, it was at least a visual feast. Aside from criticisms about the game’s gameplay, it’s generally agreed upon that Spec Ops had a surprisingly profound story about modern warfare, showing both the psychological effects that war leaves on soldiers and the human cost of innocents trapped in the cross fire. There are so many brilliant moments that make the player question our typical image of a war criminal. In that sense, Spec Ops: The Line is still jarringly relevant. It’s just a shame so many people skipped it.

You can read the full review over at the Xbox Hub.

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