The Xbox Series X has amazing backward compatibility. Microsoft has been hyping this feature since it announced the new console, and the hype is justified: the Xbox Series X can not only play nearly every Xbox One game, dozens of Xbox 360 games, and a handful of original Xbox games, but it also has the ability to scale resolution and frame rates are often upscaled far beyond what was acceptable on the original console.

Still, while the Xbox Series X can play most Xbox One titles (with the exception of those for Kinect), there are still many gaps in backward compatibility between the Xbox 360 and the original Xbox. So the Tom's Guide staff searched the archives for favorite old titles to revisit, and while we're grateful to be able to play them on the Xbox Series X, we wouldn't complain if the graphics were revamped somewhere down the line.

Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance has little to do with the hit PC series Baldur's Gate; whereas the PC game is rich, complex, and long, the Xbox's Dark Alliance is more speedy and exhilarating hack-and-slash adventure. Not only is this game a great introduction to the "Dungeons & Dragons" mythos, it's just plain fun, especially if you can find a local co-op partner. Basically, bad things are afoot in the high-fantasy city of Baldur's Gate, and you can fight back with a bow, an axe, or numerous magic spells. There is also a thoroughly decent sequel, which should be playable on modern Xbox consoles. - Marshall Honorof

Imagine Mario Kart. That's the premise of 2010's "Blur," developed by Bizarre Creations, the same team behind the "Project Gotham" racing series, which has garnered critical acclaim and currently has an 82 on Metacritic. Unfortunately, "Blur" was a commercial dud, selling only 31,000 units in its first week. Bizarre Creations attributed the poor sales to the fact that the game was released alongside Sony's ModNation Racers and Black Rock Studio's Split/Second. As a racing game, "Blur" is truly chaotic. Not only do players have to navigate through complex levels and courses, but the enemies are relentless with mines and missiles. We love Mario Kart, but Blur is a darker, more gritty version of Mario Kart that we would love to experience again. - Imad Khan

TV show tie-in games often fall to the bottom (24, The Office, Survivor, the list goes on and on), but the original Xbox's Buffy the Vampire Slayer did the formula right. In this third-person action game, players take on the role of Buffy as she slays various vampires, demons, and other supernatural horrors throughout Sunnydale. In addition to unwavering combat and platforming, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" features an original storyline that resembles a lost episode of a TV show. The sequel, "Chaos Bleeds," is along similar lines, but can be played with Willow, Spike, Faith, and other characters. Both would be welcome additions to the Xbox Series X library. - Marshall Onoroff

New Dragon Ball Z fighting games are released about every other year, and there is no shortage of them on the Xbox Series X. With gorgeous cel-shaded graphics, a large cast of playable characters, and surprisingly tight fighting mechanics, "Burst Limit" paved the way for games like "Dragon Ball Fighters," which made a huge splash on the pro tournament scene. Of particular interest is the mechanic that allows the player to charge ki and transform into a Super Saiyan. - Marshall Onoroff

As Microsoft was trying to clarify the tone of its brand new Xbox console, Sega was there to provide the necessary software. Jet Set Radio Future was a reimagining of the Dreamcast's Jet Grind radio. It has the same inline freedom and spray-paint hijinks, but the overall feel is tighter. Jet Set Radio Future, with its cel-shaded graphics, has aged well, but still doesn't run on 480p machines; given the Xbox Series X's backward compatibility, the internal upscaling will make this masterpiece look stunning on a 4K display. - Imad Khan

The epic world of J.R.R. Tolkien has not translated so well to video games, with a few notable exceptions. Among those exceptions, "The Lord of the Rings" stands out in my memory: "The Lord of the Third Age," which was released in 2004 and takes place in the titular third age, The playable characters follow the Fellowship of the Ring. The game features several memorable moments, including a battle against the mysterious "Water Watchers" and working with the Dúnedain rangers. Third Age" features "Final Fantasy"-style gameplay, with a rich overworld to explore and turn-based battles to fight. Party composition was the key to victory, as was proper leveling and equipment selection. I loved "Third Age" so much on the original Xbox that I'm thrilled to see it again. - Jordan Palmer

Back in 2012, many were skeptical about the release of "Max Payne 3," not only because it came nine years after "Max Payne 2," but also because Remedy, the developer of the original series, had left and Rockstar Studios had joined. However, the third "Max Payne 2" was not the only one to be released. Nevertheless, the third "Max Payne" was a huge success. Violent, gritty, dark and comical, it takes you on a fast and furious journey of blood-soaked carnage, punctuated by a laser-sharp storyline and a wonderful noir motif. in slow motion at 60 frames per second on the Xbox Series X. It's bliss. - Rory Mellon

It may be pretty rough around the edges, but The Saboteur should not be pinned to the 360 for historical preservation. The Saboteur, the last project Pandemic Studios worked on before it closed, was unleashed on Nazi-occupied Paris and asked to wreak as much havoc as possible. Most remembered for its inventive use of color (black and white until an area is liberated, after which it is flooded with vibrant colors), "The Saboteur" was a bold and fun game. What other game has a button just to make a character smoke a cigarette? - Rory Mellon

Yes, "Skate" and "Skate 3" are currently playable on the Xbox's backwards compatibility feature. But like any great video game trilogy, the "Skate" series needs to be experienced in its entirety, and "Skate 2" is, quite simply, the best of the series and holds up surprisingly well for a title over a decade old, The first "Skate" sequel has a great city to explore and a most engaging campaign. Hopefully someday I won't have to plug in my Xbox 360 to skate for a few hours in New San Venerona - Rory Mellon

In the early 2000s, extreme sports dominated the cultural tide in middle schools across America. x-Games were broadcast on ESPN. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater dominated the console charts, Blink was the coolest Disney Channel original movie, and snowboarding games like the SSX series were popular. SSX 3 could be played on the Xbox's backwards compatibility feature, but oddly enough, fan-favorite The popular "SSX Tricky" is not. The game offered quirky levels with character archetypes from the late 90s and was favored by gamers who grew up in that era. The fact that I can't load up SSX Tricky on my Xbox Series X and listen to Run-D.M.C.'s "It's Tricky" is a travesty. - Imad Khan

In 2019, Team Ninja demonstrated that superhero hack-and-slash RPGs are not dead with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3. While you can play all of the Ultimate Alliance titles on modern consoles, the series that sparked the trend, Xbox's X-Men Legends, is not on the table. X-Men Legends" and its sequel, "X-Men Legends II: Rise of the Apocalypse," are among the best Marvel games of all time. The pitch for the second film is the same, but this time you can add villains like Magneto, Scarlet Witch, and Juggernaut to your team. - Marshall Onoroff