Ms. Summers first true console outing - an iffy Game Boy Color release at the turn of the millennium wasnt an ass-kicking success - arrived on Xbox in 2002 in the form of this horror beat 'em up, which earned its nods from fans and critics alike through its simple gameplay and an affinity with its source material. Scripted ably by Buffyverse boffins Thomas E. Sniegoski and Christopher Golden, the premise for this game could easily be pitched as an episode in itself, where Buffy and co are faced with old foe, The Master, as he is resurrected to assist in a creaky old demons plot to bridge the gap between heaven and hell. Its rare for a live-action TV show to succeed as a videogame, but Buffys mix of hack and slash combat, array of weapons, basic puzzle elements and the employment of Sunnydale High Schools library as in-between level hangout cum skill-sharpening area keeps the game fresh and fun. The Buffy experience really doesnt get much better than when you find yourself storming through Sunnydales hallways, armed with a rake and a host of baddies to use it on and it's this type of creepy/fun element to the game that makes it a deserved entry on this list.
Shaun is a former contributor for a number of Future Publishing titles and more recently worked as a staffer at Imagine Publishing.
He can now be found banking in the daytime and writing a variety of articles for What Culture, namely around his favourite topics of film, retro gaming, music, TV and, when he's feeling clever, literature.
