Request error occurred: - Investment Policy

Playing multi-disc games on the Xbox 360 was a unique show of prowess. While it served as a symbol of prestige – implying the game was so vast that it couldn’t fit onto one disc – it also meant having to rise from your seat more frequently than desired. However, the minor inconvenience usually outweighed its drawbacks.

Due to their immense universes, extensive gameplay, and an abundance of content, it was impossible to fit everything onto a single disc. Let’s focus on the top multi-disc games for Xbox 360.

10. Halo 3: ODST

Rain Falls Harder in New Mombasa

Number of Discs: 2

In a sense that isn’t the main focus, “Halo 3: ODST” might not be the game that initially comes to mind when discussing large multi-disc releases. However, it was included in collections like “Halo 3: Mythic” and “Halo: ODST + Halo 3 Multiplayer,” resulting in multiple disc distributions. To be honest, “ODST” earned its spot.

The game deviated from the common power-focused narrative of a Spartan character, instead placing players in the shoes of an ordinary soldier. This soldier found himself alone and exposed in a devastated cityscape. This change in perspective lent New Mombasa a somber atmosphere, with its noir-influenced soundtrack and slick, rain-drenched streets conveying a deeper narrative than many verbose video games.

The game additionally featured Firefight, a popular wave-based survival mode that stood out among fans. However, it’s fascinating to note that the data structure and multiplayer packaging of ODST frequently overlapped with Halo 3’s multiplayer offerings on a single, rather bulky disc set. Each had their distinct moods and paces.

9. Forza Motorsport 4

Precision Doesn’t Come Cheap in Storage Space

Number of Discs: 2

Forza Motorsport 4 aimed to transcend the typical racing game genre, striving instead to become a comprehensive automotive reference book. Nearly achieving its goal, the game arrived on two discs, with the second disc serving as an optional install for extra cars and tracks. However, referring to it as optional is somewhat misleading, as any player desiring the complete Forza experience understood that the second disc was essentially indispensable.

This game boasted one of the richest collections of vehicles among console racers back then, featuring more than 500 accurately modeled cars. It included real-life tracks such as Suzuka and Nurburgring, and the physics were designed in a way that made each car feel unique. The additional content was stored on the second disc, ranging from well-known brands like Porsche and Lamborghini to exclusive car packs.

Later came Autovista, a feature where players could delve into cars in incredible depth, accompanied by commentary from Jeremy Clarkson. Although the main racing function operated smoothly without the second disc, once players got a taste of what they were passing up, there was simply no turning back.

8. Borderlands 2: Game Of The Year Edition

More Loot, More Bullets, More Data

Number of Discs: 2

Man, playing the Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition was an absolute blast! It wasn’t just about the madness, laughter, or loot-grabbing – no, it was the sheer abundance of content that really blew me away. The core game itself was jam-packed, but when Gearbox added Captain Scarlett, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, and every other DLC, I swear, it felt like they stuffed a universe onto one disc!

Indeed, Pandora is a vast landscape brimming with lunatics, genetically-altered creatures, and miraculously stocked vending machines loaded with ammunition. Each downloadable content (DLC) expansion introduces fresh territories, exclusive weaponry, narratives, and types of adversaries.

As a passionate fan, I couldn’t help but feel that the second disc was an essential addition, given the sprawling, delightfully excessive nature of the Game of the Year (GOTY) edition. It wasn’t just a patchwork, but rather a substantial expansion to the core universe, extending gameplay by nearly double and fleshing out the world in a way that few shooters have achieved.

7. Dishonored: Game Of The Year Edition

Corvo’s Revenge Spills Onto Another Disc

Number of Discs: 2

The special edition of the game “Dishonored: Game of the Year Edition” included everything that developer Arkane Studios had created within the world of Dunwall. As a result, this Xbox 360 game required multiple discs to accommodate the main campaign, expansions such as “The Knife of Dunwall” and “The Brigmore Witches“, as well as various additional content packs. It was impossible to fit all this content onto a single disc without omitting some parts.

It’s important to note that Dishonored isn’t a game that should be simplified. Instead, its decaying steampunk atmosphere, intricate level design, and the ability for chaos to unfold naturally make it an immersive world that encourages exploration. The downloadable content didn’t just offer additional missions; it provided an entirely new perspective. Players got to experience Daud’s story, the assassin who set off a chain of events, and witness how his decisions either echoed or diverged from Corvo’s.

Exchanging those discs could have been a trivial inconvenience, yet it was a negligible cost compared to the revelation of the dark and corrupt nature of Dunwall that it afforded us.

6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Legendary Edition

Every Dragon Needs Extra Storage

Number of Discs: 2

By the time the “Legendary Edition” of “Skyrim” was released, the game had become a cultural landmark. The original version was already expansive, but with the addition of “Dawnguard,” “Hearthfire,” and “Dragonborn,” players were given a content-rich continent’s worth of material spanning multiple discs.

Not only was this not mere supplemental material, but it significantly expanded the game world in several ways. The addition of the Dragonborn DLC allowed players to revisit Solstheim, a region that hasn’t been explored since the expansions of Morrowind. Moreover, Dawnguard introduced fully-fledged vampire and werewolf factions with intricate questlines. Lastly, though less dramatic, the Hearthfire expansion enabled players to construct and personalize homes, creating a medieval version of a DIY simulator.

The second installment served as an entrance to some of Bethesda’s most daring DLC, showcasing just how far the game ‘Skyrim’ had expanded from its initial launch.

5. Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition

The West Was Too Wild for One Disc

Number of Discs: 2

The special edition of “Red Dead Redemption” titled “GOTY Edition” encompasses not only John Marston’s extensive main campaign, chronicling his journey toward redemption, but also the captivating alternate tale, “Undead Nightmare“, which reimagines the Wild West in a zombie apocalypse style reminiscent of George A. Romero’s work.

The second installation offered a chilling blend of Western setting and horror elements, introducing fresh mechanics, weapons, and an eerie ambiance that maintained a sense of continuity within the same universe. The undead horses, zombified bears, and apocalyptic symbolism transformed the frontier into an unfamiliar yet captivating landscape.

In unison, these two disks encapsulated all aspects of Rockstar’s universe: the raw authenticity of its open-world depiction, the enigmatic pandemonium of its supernatural narration, and a compelling protagonist that left an indelible mark on the gaming world.

4. Lost Odyssey

Four Discs, Countless Tears

Number of Discs: 4

You can’t have a conversation about multi-disc games for the Xbox 360 without mentioning “Lost Odyssey.” It stood out as the pinnacle of disc-swapping in Japanese role-playing games, delivering a powerful emotional impact spanning four distinct discs.

Developed by renowned creator Hironobu Sakaguchi from Final Fantasy series and musically scored by Nobuo Uematsu, the game Lost Odyssey stood out primarily due to its captivating narrative. Unlike the battles or the world map, it was the moving “Thousand Years of Dreams” short stories that left a lasting impression. These poignant, melancholic, and profoundly human narratives were what truly made this game worth experiencing.

In every disc of the game, Kaim Argonar’s life story unfolded, an immortal man carrying too much history and too few solutions. Despite a generation brimming with innovative concepts and captivating gameplay, Lost Odyssey shone brightly by staying true to its roots and making them echo more profoundly than many others did.

3. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Open World, Open Wounds

Number of Discs: 2

Despite being generally recognized as a single-disc game on other systems, the version of “The Phantom Pain” for Xbox 360 required dividing into two discs: one for initial setup and another for actual gameplay.

Given the vastness of Kojima’s sandbox, it makes perfect sense. From Afghanistan to the Angola-Zaire border, each outpost, patrol route, and weather system was meticulously crafted with an almost obsessive level of detail, a trait that only Kojima could pull off so effectively.

In the tale, the division within the plot was echoed by the partition in the disc itself. The initial segment offered well-crafted quests brimming with substantial story elements, while the latter part began to show signs of wear and tear, leaving an unfulfilled sense of resolution lingering like a phantom.

2. Grand Theft Auto 5

Los Santos Was Too Loud for Just One Disc

Number of Discs: 2

As soon as Grand Theft Auto 5 debuted on Xbox 360, it bumped into a storage barrier straight away. Upon release, the game came with two discs – one for installation and one for playing. Before players could even set foot in Los Santos, they needed to install it onto their hard drives first.

The installation disk wasn’t just empty space. Instead, it was jam-packed with an expansive world teeming with life-like characters, realistic weather patterns, operational stock markets, and even a radio station playlist that rivals many real-life ones.

As I roamed through the sprawling cityscape of Los Santos, every nook and cranny seemed brimming with life. From each corner, there was something captivating to take in – a sight, a sound, or even an accident waiting to happen! The decision to split the disc was a tough one, but it was essential for what was undoubtedly Rockstar’s most daring sandbox project at that time.

1. Mass Effect 2

Some Worlds Just Can’t Fit on One Disc

Number of Discs: 2

In contrast to most Xbox 360 games, Mass Effect 2 occasionally necessitates players to change discs several times throughout a single game session. However, this wasn’t a drawback but rather the cost associated with maintaining the game’s narrative flexibility.

Instead of traditional multi-disc games that followed a linear progression, Mass Effect 2 allowed players to complete missions in any sequence they preferred. Some missions were located on Disc 1 while others were on Disc 2. This meant that if a player recruited a squadmate from one disc and then pursued a loyalty mission stored on the other, a disc swap was necessary.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, the solution wasn’t sleek, but it sure showcased BioWare’s grandiose design aspirations. With branching choices, characters brimming with depth, and a framework that prioritized freedom over convenience, it was just too massive to be contained within a single disc, or even a single save slot. It was a testament to their ambition.

2025-03-23 14:37