Playing with Yourself

Xbox Live has scheduled 24 hours of downtime starting Monday, September 29 at 12:01 AM PST in order to prepare for the new Xbox experience that gamers everywhere are so incredibly excited about. When you log back in a full day later, Microsoft has stated no changes will be readily apparent as it is not the update but instead just the preparation for it. Obviously we can’t go an entire day without gaming; I’m pretty sure it’s not even physically possible. With a decent amount of single player only games in the Xbox 360 library, that day would be the perfect opportunity to try out one you haven’t yet played. I have listed my top 11 one player only picks perfect to fill your time while you wait for Xbox Live to come back online. Maybe you’ll discover a new one. Perhaps you’ll rediscover an old one. Or you could be like me and just sleep that day. Whatever works.

BioShock, Shooter, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: BioShock is the “genetically enhanced” first-person shooter that lets you do things never before possible in the genre. Turn everything into a weapon, biologically mod your body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade your weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques.
Buy or Rent: Buy. Winning entirely too many awards to list, this game is definitely worth your money. If you don’t, those little sisters may stick their Big Daddies on you and trust me, you don’t want that.

Mass Effect, RPG, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Mass Effect is a sci-fi action RPG created by BioWare, the commercially and critically acclaimed developer of Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Mass Effect delivers an immersive, story-driven experience coupled with awe-inspiring visuals, delivered exclusively to the Xbox 360. As one of the first human beings to step onto the galactic stage, you face a grave threat that may destroy all of civilization. Your job is complicated by the fact that no one believes that there is any threat at all. Travel across an expansive universe, exploring the uncharted corners of the galaxy, searching for pieces of the truth in order to discover how to defeat the coming destruction.
Buy or Rent: Buy as the campaign will take you anywhere from 20 to 30 hours to complete. Plus, there’s hot alien sex. If that’s not replay value, I don’t know what is.

Dead Rising, Action, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Dead Rising follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance photojournalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a juicy lead, he makes his way to a small suburban town only to find that it has become overrun by zombies. He escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns out to be anything but.
Buy or Rent: Rent as you can easily beat it in one day (approximately six hours) and will more than likely be frustrated by the shitty save system. See what I did there? Shitty? As in bathroom? As in … nevermind.

Devil May Cry 4, Action, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Devil May Cry 4 immerses you in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man Nero, unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic with his powerful “Devil Bringer” arm. With the advanced graphical capabilities of Xbox 360, high-definition visuals and intricate detail come to life as you explore new and exotic locales. Dynamic action and undeniable style combine with explosive fighting options and a gripping story to produce incomparable experience that only a Devil May Cry game delivers.
Buy or Rent: Rent if you are a button masher. Buy if you have bad ass timing as the replay value is nearly infinite.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, RPG, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Step into the most richly detailed and vibrant game world ever created. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful saga from Bethesda Softworks. Oblivion is the sequel to the best-selling, award-winning role-playing game (RPG) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, named 2002 RPG and Game of the Year for Xbox. Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.
Buy or Rent: Buy as you will easily get at least a few dozen hours of gameplay with a single run through of the campaign, assuming you actually see the ending of this game instead of becoming obsessed with each and every side quest.

Assassin’s Creed, Action, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Assassin’s Creed is the next-generation game developed by Ubisoft Montreal that redefines the action genre. Assassin’s Creed merges technology, game design, theme, and emotions into a world where you instigate chaos and become a vulnerable, yet powerful, agent of change. The setting is 1191 A.D. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. You are an Assassin, a warrior shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape events during this pivotal moment in history.
Buy or Rent: Unless you are masochistic and have a thing for repetitive gameplay, rent this one. Although I guess if you are really masochistic, you can buy it and then pull all of your hair out. Both options sound fairly exciting.

Condemned: Criminal Origins, Action, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Developed by award-winning Monolith Productions for Xbox 360 Condemned: Criminal Origins allows players to experience a heightened level of psychological tension as they use their instincts, forensic tools, and melee combat to track serial killers and bring them to justice. As Agent Thomas, an investigator in the FBI’s Serial Crimes Unit (SCU), you will pursue relentless serial killers through urban environments filled with sociopaths lurking on the periphery of humanity. Weapons and ammunition are scarce, leaving the you vulnerable to a gallery of mentally deranged criminals. Careful detective work and precision reflexes are your primary means of survival.
Buy or Rent: Assuming you aren’t a serial killer who strikes frequently and uses pipes as your preferred weapon, rent it as you can beat it one day (approximately 10 hours) and it has very little replay value.

Hitman: Blood Money, Shooter, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: In Hitman: Blood Money step once again into the shoes of the world’s greatest assassin, Agent 47. When assassins from Agent 47′s contract killing firm, The ICA, are systematically eliminated in a series of hits, it seems a larger more powerful agency has entered the fray. Sensing that he may be the next target, Agent 47 travels to America, where he prepares to make a killing.
Buy or Rent: Either or as you can beat it one day but overall has excellent replay value.

Ninja Gaiden II, Action, Rated Mature
Features from Xbox.com: Ninja Gaiden II makes its long-awaited debut on Xbox 360 as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to Ninja Gaiden. Ninja Gaiden II features a new and improved game engine, developed from the ground up exclusively for Microsoft and Xbox 360 by Team Ninja and legendary game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of the famed Dead or Alive franchise. Guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, help Ryu to skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. Ninja Gaiden II features an all-new gameplay engine, new auto-health regeneration system, levels, adventures, enemies, and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.
Buy or Rent: Rent but make sure you do some thumb exercises so you can last playing through it on more than one difficulty in a short period of time. I’m sure you have the endurance to go multiple times in one day, right?

Blue Dragon, RPG, Rated Teen
Features from Xbox.com: Famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker and developer Artoon present the highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive Blue Dragon. Featuring the character design of Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball Z and music by Nobuo Uematsu of Final Fantasy, Blue Dragon is an epic role-playing game that centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends. Encountering various people on a planet where numerous ancient ruins remain, the characters and their shadows travel through a world full of mysteries and illusions, where the slightest touch can cause reactions of unparalleled magnitude.
Buy or Rent: Despite having a lengthy campaign, diehard RPGers will want to rent this game before purchasing to see if the nontraditional cartoonish style appeals to them.

Lost Odyssey, RPG, Rated Teen
Features from Xbox.com: Lost Odyssey is the story of Kaim, an immortal character who has lived more than 1,000 years. He doesn’t remember his past, and he doesn’t know where his future lies. Throughout Kaim’s journey, a handful of characters will join him on an odyssey to discover their intricate past and destiny, leading you through a dramatic story of massive scale. Lost Odyssey features breathtaking visuals and an epic adventure made possible only by the power of Xbox 360.
Buy or Rent: While gameplay will run you approximately 40 hours, rent this one first to see if you can make it past the super slow loading screens without throwing your controller at your tv.

What single player only games would you recommend from the current library of Xbox 360 games? Any on the list you wouldn’t recommend?