The Top Xbox Games of E3 2002

The Xbox had a much stronger showing at this year's E3 compared with the previous year's, and there's a good explanation for why: Now that the hardware has grown into maturity, developers are really starting to figure out what makes the Xbox such a powerhouse. The fruits of their labors were perfectly apparent at E3 2002, where a number of Xbox titles drew large crowds for good reason. Simply put, these were some of the best-looking games at the show. Between the software lineup and the exciting announcement of the Xbox Live online gaming service, Microsoft had a very strong show. That's why selecting just five of the finest Xbox games on display was no easy feat--but here it is, the countdown of the top five Xbox games of E3 2002.

	What's Ahead: Given our appreciation of the original trilogy of games, our expectations for Orta will be high when the game ships this fall. The two-level demo shown at E3 hit all the right notes to excite fans again, but it didn't reveal too much about the game's story. Fortunately the trailer hinted at some slick plot developments, such as an appearance by Azel, shown in silhouette riding her dragon, who was last seen in the last installment in the series, Panzer Dragoon Saga. In addition to the game's plot, we'll be anxious to see how the new gameplay features are incorporated and how many forms we'll be able to change our dragon into. The Panzer games were always intriguing blends of style and substance, and Smilebit's taste of what's to come leaves us very hopeful for what Orta will eventually offer.

Clearly, Smilebit's experience in developing on the Xbox has greatly benefited Orta. The game features gorgeous graphics that build on the distinct, stylish art design seen in the previous Panzer. The areas we explored in the demo were massive and featured a ton of detail. In the first level, sheets of rain fell from the sky while the occupants of a prison camp scurried around on the ground as we sailed above them toward freedom. The second level featured a wasteland covered in ash, which was still lingering in the air or wafting from the disintegrating bodies of enemies we'd destroyed. Our dragon was incredibly detailed, as were his attacks and the various forms we could morph him into, with one form featuring slightly translucent wings. The enemies we encountered stayed true to the creepy bioorganic design of the earlier games.

Aside from its aesthetics, Panzer Dragoon Orta also offered gameplay that does a lot more than the rail-shooter mechanics of the first two Panzer games. You'll be able to adjust your speed, which becomes a key component of battling enemies, and you can morph your dragon to tailor its strengths to your playing style. Sega has also said that the game will feature a variation on the branching path system used in Panzer Dragoon Zwei. All this adds up to a game we can't wait to play.