must-have XBOX / 360 games ?

[Steel_Wind]

For the Xbox:

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox gameplay is "more fun" than the PC version, imo.)

For the 360:

Gears of War
Dead Rising

(Oblivion is a game which shows much better on the PC than the 360. 360 version is slow and sluggish, imo).

As for Enchanted Arms - my 7 yr old son has the game and seems to enjoy it. I consider it the most annoying console game I have ever seen. I would sooner chew on tin foil than play this game. While taste varies, there is not even a scintilla of doubt that to place this game into a "must have" category would appear to be seriously misguided.

 

[takyris]

I'd add Jade Empire, as a couple people have tossed out as a possibility. The combat isn't at a fighting-game level (deliberately, as it was specifically designed to be easy enough to be friendly to RPG-players), but it's a very beautiful game with a nice story.

Unless, of course, you're gonna get it for the PC, in which case do that instead.

(And if you don't like action games at all, Jade might be too arcade-y for your taste.)

I know it's not an RPG, but just to toss it out there: I loved Prince of Persia -- the first one. The story was the right mix of grim and humorous for me, and while the fighting didn't wow me (which was okay, because I'm lousy at arena-fighter-type games), the platforming really made my day. I'm lousy at platforming games as a general rule, but PoP:Sands of Time made me feel cool even while doing the easy stuff.

 

[Arnwyn]

While taste varies, there is not even a scintilla of doubt that to place this game into a "must have" category would appear to be seriously misguided.

Whatever.

The OP noted RPGs, this is the first JRPG for the 360 (and it's not a bad one to boot, your wacky "tin foil" comment aside).

"Misguided" indeed.

 

[masshysteria]

Based on what you listed for likes, here my thoughts:

Xbox 360:
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - I've been having a blast with this game. Nice action/arcade type game with characters that level up and gain skills.
Call of Duty 2 - Currently the best FPS on 360.
Dead Rising - I really really really wanted to like this game. But the save system is awkward and it isn't as much of a sandbox game as it should be. But killing zombies never gets old.

Xbox
Jade Empire - I adore Bioware's games ever since I first laid my hands on Baldur's Gate when it first game out. But the game is charming, well written, and have a unique and fun combat system that is like a simple fighting game.
Fable - If you ignore what this game was supposed to be you might like it. It plays similar to the original Phantasy Star Online for Dreamcast, so don't expect anything to deep. The setting and story is pretty vanilla. If you buy it pick up the greatest hits version as it adds the extra content that was in the PC version.

Other games to keep on the radar:
Bioshock - Spiritual successor to System Shock. Looks great.
Mass Effect - Here's my bias again with a Bioware game, but it looks amazing.
Assassins Creed - Saw a video demo of it and has some features that makes it look like fun to play.

And from the looks of it everyone who has a 360 needs to get Gears of War although I haven't played it myself yet.

 

[Cergorach]

Ninety nine nights - While i only played the demo on my little bro's 360, i've seriously considred getting a 360 for this game (then i realised i still have a huge backlog of games i have already bought)...