SO YOU WANT TO COLLECT…
XBOX GAMES
With a new console on the horizon if feels like the perfect time to revisit Microsoft’s original Xbox, particularly as several of the featured exclusives here will be playable on the Xbox Series X
Words by Darran Jones
PERIPHERAL POWER
STEEL BATTALION
DEVELOPER: CAPCOM PRODUCTION STUDIO 4, NUDE MAKER
RELEASE: 2002
n It’s fitting that this Xbox exclusive from Capcom, which features hulking mechs and a imposing unique controller, has a price tag that’s suitably intimidating. Created by Capcom Production Studio 4 and Nude Maker, and overseen by producer Atsushi Inaba, Steel Battalion has become a centrepiece for many Xbox collectors as it’s just such a cool game to own. The appeal comes from the ridiculously oversized controller that manages to offer a deep, tactile and unique Xbox experience. You don’t play Steel Battalion, you feel it, and the sensation of starting up your Vertical Tank for the first time is a memory not soon forgotten. There’s a price tag for that memory though, and it’s not pretty. No matter what region you buy from, Steel Battalion will cost you. The game on its own tops out at £80 for a PAL copy, but you’ll be looking at a minimum £140 for a boxed version, with prices climbing even higher for mint copies. The US game is pricier, while the Japan version is cheap but has a language barrier.
EXPECT TO PAY
£145+
EXPECT TO PAY £87+
EXPECT TO PAY
£175+
» [Xbox] Those many dials and buttons aren’t just for show so pay attention to them.
MECHA MONEY
Things to keep in mind if you want Capcom’s mech shooter in your collection
Screw It
The screws and covers used to hold the Steel Battalion unit together often go missing, so make sure the one you’re buying has them included.
Buyer beware
If you fancy Line Of Contact, Steel Battalion’s sequel, just be aware it’s online-only. It’s playable using Xlink Kai, but requires great effort.
Blue Or Green?
Steel Battalion has two versions. The original has green buttons and parts that wear down easily, while the second revision sports blue buttons.
It’s all in the name
If you really must own a Japanese version of Steel Battalion, be sure to search for copies of Tekki, as that’s what it’s known as over there.
THE X STANDS FOR XTRA
TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 2X
DEVELOPER: NEVERSOFT, TREYARCH
RELEASE: 2001