I wasn't a big fan of the original Xbox. It's the only "retro" system I have in my house that isn't hooked up right now, and that's because it's too damn big. A lot of the games that I liked for the system too, were inferior sequels. For example, I didn't think JSRF was as good as JSR on the Dreamcast, House of the Dead 3 wasn't as good as House of the Dead 1 and 2, Dead or Alive 2 was better than Dead or Alive 3,Crazy Taxi 3 surely doesn't come close to the original Crazy Taxi....etc.....
To me the Xbox is basically defined by being clumsily designed, having a horrendous original controller, having a bunch of inferior sequels, yet being the best system to go to for multiplatform games...which also was one of the systems' downfalls because it never really had a game that defined it as its own system. I might as well have been playing games on a PC...
Like you already mentioned though, Gun Valkyrie is still an underrated gem on that system. Panzer Dragoon Orta was also fantastic, it's a shame that it had to be wasted on the original Xbox.
Breakdown is definitely my favorite game for the system too. Despite its myriad of technical flaws, that game was just a fucking trip. I also really got a ton of play time out of Crimson Skies...probably the most fun I've had with a flight game in the last few generations.
I also may be one of only ten people in the entire world who really liked Grabbed By the Ghoulies....I know...I know...terrible game, but it had its charms.
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