Backwards Compatibility continues to bring fresh faces to Xbox One – Are they worth the return?

Backwards compatibility has been a huge hit on Xbox One, bringing over many games from the Xbox 360 catalogue and making them playable once more, with many arriving in an improved state too. Unfortunately, not every title has been quite so warmly received, with many additions proving to be nothing more than the Xbox 360 version of games that are already available natively on Xbox One. This is certainly something that has had me frowning in recent weeks, and even though more games are always a good sign, playing through them takes time.

So, here are our thoughts on whether the most recent Back-comp titles to arrive on Xbox One are worth revisiting once more, or better off left on the shelf.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Ignore

Sledgehammer Games may be talk of the town within the Call of Duty community right now, mainly due to the excitement of the upcoming Call of Duty: WWII, but if you were to cast your mind back just a few years to their first entry in the franchise, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, you’d remember fans having a different opinion.

That’s due to the futuristic combat that was brought to the game in COD:AW and the fact that it changed the way the series played – especially in multiplayer. I for one refused to jump on the angry band wagon, as a play through of the games campaign mode (something which many players decided to ignore) provided one of the best campaign experiences in the entire series. Advanced Warfare therefore made my “yearly guilty purchase” my favourite game in the entire franchise.

However, that playthrough was something I did on Xbox One, not Xbox 360.

Now though we’re seeing the game arrive on Back-Comp, but with the Xbox 360 version still containing the same campaign gameplay as well as the graphical differences which were vastly different from the Xbox One version. With a disc copy on Xbox One now available for a small price, there’s no reason to advise anyone to go back to what boils down to a lesser version of the game.

Sonic Adventure – Play

Sonic, on the other hand, may have an Xbox One variant available that offers a stunning experience, but it’s not Sonic Adventure, and this classic Xbox 360 gem provides just one of the many different…*ahem* adventures that are available within the series.

This is one which I spent many hours trying and failing to master, only to be pulled back in once more by the classic ‘one more go’ gameplay that everyone’s favourite hedgehog has always provided. If it’s a classic arcade experience you’re after and you have Sonic Adventure sat on your Ready to Install list, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be getting involved in some great platforming.

Halo Series – Play

Just recently we’ve seen the Xbox One become the one stop shop for every single Halo title ever made, provided you’re willing to count in a Halo: Master Chief Collection for Halo 2 Anniversary. Whether you love them or hate them, there’s one thing for sure, Halo is undeniably a quality series.

As the poster boy for the original Xbox, it was the adventures of Master Chief and co that really set the stage for Xbox as we know it, and whether you’re looking to go back and experience every game in a marathon effort, or just want to give some appreciation to the series once more, there’s no reason not to go back to the classic sci-fi saga once more.

So, there we have it, a look at the latest Xbox One backwards compatible titles and our thoughts as to which ones deserve another playthrough once more. Do you agree with us? Let us know in the comments below or via our usual social channels.