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Six new games arrive via Backwards Compatibility on Xbox One to kickstart 2018 – Are they worth the return?

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2017 was a great year for the Xbox Backwards Compatibility program with many of our favourite 360 games made playable on Xbox One. That said, there are still a ton of highly requested games yet to arrive in the program and with 2018 set to see even more added, it makes sense that the first of the years new additions are now being given the treatment. This past week has seen six new games made backwards compatible, but which ones are worth returning to once more?

Sniper Elite V2 – Play

Despite being the second game in the series – albeit a remake of sorts of the first game, Sniper Elite V2 was actually the first I’d ever heard of Sniper Elite. Since I first played it though, it’s fair to say I’ve become one of the series’ biggest fans and it’s not hard to see why as Sniper Elite V2 is a great game.

The game takes place during the Battle of Berlin during World War II, and players take on the role of Karl Fairburne, an American officer from the Office of Strategic Services sent in to capture or eliminate the scientists involved in the German V-2 rocker program.

There are many things to praise about Sniper Elite V2; for a start the game looks and plays like a triple-A masterpiece with its impressive visuals, fluid gameplay and well worked mechanics, yet it is actually produced by an independent studio with only a fraction of the budget that goes into equally impressive titles.

What’s more is that the story is fantastic, the protagonist is someone you want to succeed, and the X-Ray Kill Cam has proven to be a beloved feature fans can now no longer be without. Not to mention this was the game that spawned the idea of the highly successful Sniper Elite spinoff Zombie Army Trilogy.

The good news of course is that Sniper Elite V2 is now backwards compatible on Xbox One, but the bad news… well… there is no bad news when it comes to Sniper Elite. The game is still just as appealing as it was on its release back in 2012 and for those debating whether to revisit this beloved shooter, you’ll be happy to know that it’s a game that has aged rather well, with the visuals, and gameplay mechanics still holding up well in 2018.

Is this a game you should be heading back to? Without a doubt you should!

Far Cry 2 – Play

Although recent entries may have felt rather similar in terms of gameplay and general story, you’ll be hard pushed to find someone who doesn’t agree that the Far Cry games are absolutely brilliant. With large open-worlds to roam and plenty of action to be found, there’s been very little needed in the way of change.

The Far Cry series hasn’t always seen us climbing aerial towers and hunt down the deranged villain though, well, at least not one willing to flaunt himself like the villains in the recent main entries. Instead those who played Far Cry 2 will remember how it was the game that built towards what we have now.

It was the first time players were given such an expansive open-world, and it looked to add in much more realism than its predecessor. From the mechanics of the game’s fire, to the weapon degradation, and even the introduction of a dynamic weapon system, Far Cry 2 really started to implement many of things we now take for granted. With the player constantly suffering from the effects of malaria, there was a lot to focus on other than the war the infamous Jackal was causing with his weapons trading in the country.

If you were to boot up Far Cry 2 now, you’d be pleasantly surprised as much of the early magic still shines today. It’s easy to see how the series has evolved from the revolutionary changes in Far Cry 2 but the mechanics and game in general have aged well.

If you’re after something a little different and don’t want to wait for Far Cry 5 to arrive, then heading back to the civil war within Central Africa is certainly a good option to have – even if it’s just to marvel at those fire physics.

Driver: San Francisco – Ignore

Whilst I’ve always been a keen fan of the Driver games, especially in the golden days of Driver 2 and 3 – provided you were able to navigate the constant bugs – I’ve got to be honest and say that Driver: San Francisco felt like nothing more than a major let down.

After seeing the option to walk around changed to the oddly introduced Shift feature that was implemented via Tanner’s coma dream, I was already sceptical, but with a disappointing story and none of the same excitement that was seen in the previous games present, I for one certainly struggled to find any enjoyment with anything Driver: San Francisco had to offer.

Reviews saw the game praised for adding something new to the series, however the general feel amongst much of the player base was that Driver: San Francisco was starting to lose track of what the game was supposed to be about. With no new title since, it’s fair to say we’ve probably seen the last of Tanner’s adventures. Here’s to hoping that Driver 3 makes its way over to Xbox One’s Backwards Compatibility program.

Magic: The Gathering, Magic 2013 & Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers – Tempter

I’d love to be able to sit here and tell you stories of every game that has ever graced the Xbox 360, but whilst I was lucky enough to play through many games in my teenage years on the Xbox 360, the Magic series was never something that interested me.

As for the rest of the world, the same can’t be said.

With over 20 million fans staying loyal to the long-standing series, Magic: The Gathering has really made itself a prominent force in the world of trading card games. Near yearly releases on console have gone with it, and so you wouldn’t be wrong to assume that many of those fans tune in to every release to enjoy more of the beloved trading card game. If you too are a fan of the series, then it would be hard to justify ignoring the return of games that recreate the experience of the card game so well. Especially when you can do it all from the comfort of your sofa.

For newcomers though? Well that of course all comes down to individual interests, and whilst anyone who usually tends to shy away from card games probably won’t find much of interest, those who love a tactical RPG card based adventure may well find their next major hobby with a venture back into any of the three games now playable on Xbox One.

 

So, there we have it, the latest Xbox Backwards Compatible entries, and some thoughts on which ones you should be looking at jumping back into now they are available on Xbox One. Do you agree with these thoughts? Let us know in the comments below or via our usual social channels, and why not let us know which games you’re hoping to see arrive in the program too. There are plenty still to come!

Carlos Santuana (Sly Boogie1993)
Carlos Santuana (Sly Boogie1993)
After 20 years of playing every game I can get my hands on, I can now be found selling my soul for anything Resident Evil, Gears of War, or Gamerscore related... all of which will be mastered after a good cuppa!

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6 years ago

[…] week brought us six new Xbox One backwards compatible additions and this week we get to welcome another two. However, even though the number of available games is […]

trackback
6 years ago

[…] of the franchise, this "Far Cry" installment was more realistic than arcade-like, as The Xbox Hub […]

Neil Watton
6 years ago

Am I right in saying Driver: San Fran was VERY short? As in a couple of hours tops to complete?

Slyboogie1993
Slyboogie1993
Reply to  Neil Watton
6 years ago

I think it was more around 6-8 hour mark although none of the Driver games were overly long.

ResoluteCustoms
ResoluteCustoms
6 years ago

‘Six new games arrive’ but they’re only showing us 4.

Slyboogie1993
Slyboogie1993
Reply to  ResoluteCustoms
6 years ago

If you read the article carefully, you’ll notice all three Magic games that have been made backwards compatible, as well as the three above. Definitely all six on show.

ResoluteCustoms
ResoluteCustoms
Reply to  Slyboogie1993
6 years ago

Fair play. I’ll accept that. Could’ve been made slightly clearer as people just browsing can easily miss it. I’m not the only one to.

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