27.3.2009

The best xbox game was Halo. The second best was Chronicles of Riddick - Escape from Butcher Bay. (I'm not sure about a third, I really liked Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, very different).Unlike most games based on films which are risible, this game was actually better than the films. The atmosphere is cracking - the portrayal of a desolate, gothic prison of the future is spot on and really reminds me of the best days of 2000AD. The game is also very varied - it's not all run-and-gun, there are puzzles, stealth elements, mazes etc. It encapsulates the best of many other games and adds to them.It also succeeds because there is no single dominant weapon. Some games tire quickly because you only need one dominant weapon,or all the weapons are equally dull (e.g. F.E.A.R.). Here, you sometimes get to use a machine gun, but equally have to make do with fists, shivs, nail guns etc.My only disappointment was the penultimate stage which was set in an ultra-modern complex which jarred with the grimy feel of the game.Also worth noting is the quality voice overs. Vin Diesel is perfect, but there are other notable actors like Michael Rooker too (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer).Overall, a brilliant game which I have longed to play on my 360 but it wasn't compatible. Now I see why, it was being revamped and overhauled to play even better.I can't wait!------- UPDATE -------Playing Riddick - Butcher Bay - on the 360, I am again loving it. I don't understand the criticisms people are making. EFBB is still 10 times better than similar games that are overhyped. I hated virtually every minute of Gears of War and F.E.A.R., for instance. EFBB is STILL hands-down better than just about any other FPS - it brilliantly combines various styles and genres such as stealth, first person shoot-em-up, puzzle solving, platforms, race-against-time etc like no other. The weapons are interesting and varied as well - nothing is too powerful and you lose and gain weapons througout. The different stages are challenging and clever too. The atmosphere and gameplay immersion are outstanding. I still think it peters out slightly towards the end as there is less interaction with other inmates and the gleaming modern levels don't have the interest of the grimy prison. But the level design and stages are STILL some of the most ingenious and interesting ever made.The new version looks excellent to me, maybe not as detailed as other HD releases tho it looked outstanding on the xbox to begin with. I would have liked more detail in the prison such as posters and more graffiti on the walls. Yes the lip-synching is poor, but this really doesn't bother me.Overall EFBB remains an all-time classic, up there with Halo 1.However, I do agree that Athena is not up to EFBB (a hard ask). It is not as involving, less well designed and not as sophisticated in terms of which weapons you get to use. I also agree that the constant swearing is unnecessary and very offputting. In EFBB the violence was graphic and the language coarse, but it fitted the environment and wasn't overdone. In Athena the setting isn't as interesting and the storyline is less involving. Still, absolutely worth the price if only for EFBB.

25.4.2009

I was quite impressed to see that this game has come with the older game "Escape From Butcher Bay". I had only played a demo of the previous game and was quite a fan of Pitch Black so I thought that the concept would work really well as Riddick is a character that you like even though you should not.To start, the graphics in the game are very good. Even Butcher Bay has had the graphics upgraded to fit in with the next gen machines. There is a suitably grimy feeling to the visuals in Butcher Bay and the Dark Athena ship has that sort of metallic oily look about it.Characters are well animated and look good during the cutscenes.The main characters have very good facial expressions that do give them their own personality but some of the minor characters do seem slightly wooden but you dont really have much to do with them so its only a slight grumble.The light is the most impressive in the game as it is also the most important aspect due to Riddick using the shadows a lot. Light sources and shadows are very good. When you are in total darkness you cannot see anything and then the effects of the torch or eyeshine are convincing and are well presented.Sound in the game is great with Vin Diesel providing the voice for Riddick as well as other names such as Ron Perlman. Weapons sound great when fired and the sound of footsteps will become your greatest ally as you judge where the other guards are.Music in the game is also used very well and sounds just as if it came out of the Riddick films. It also seems to change with your situation depending on if you are sneaking or if you are engaged in combat or very close to those who are trying to find you.Combat in the game is quite brutal. Most of the time you will be hand to hand or using improvised weapons like Shivs or clubs. There are various kinds of each weapon to give some variety, for example, I have managed to find several types of shivs and knuckle duster.The hand to hand or weapon fighting feels a bit like oblivion but faster and with some really nice, bloody finishing moves. The stealth kills are also quite vicious and you have the choice of silent or noisy kills.When encountering armed opponents Riddick can use various disarming techniques, often turning the gun or knife against its user.Both games are quite challenging with decent stories and their are the obligatory trophies that all games seem to have today. Both give more to the Riddick universe and explain more of his background and seem to have captured the character very well.This is definitely worth picking up, especially if you have not played the Butcher Bay game before. Multiplayer is there but I have tried it myself yet.

12.5.2009

Butcher bay in this is basically the same as it was the last time (assuming you played it the last time), bar a few graphical upgrades. I still enjoyed this part since I loved it on the xbox and couldn't get it on my 360. If you haven't played Butcher Bay before then this game is worth getting.Dark Athena starts extremely promisingly, with the sneaky sections as good as ever, and the close combat being very well weighted, like your actually doing the fighting, as opposed to waving fists at things until the bad people fall over. You can't pick up the weapons since they are attached to the drones, however you can remain stationary and use their guns, useful for breaking glass or getting a quick upper hand on a few enemies.

11.11.2013

The original Riddick game (included here in a remastered form) now feels very clunky, obtuse and frustrating, but this sequel feels (for the most part) way more polished and well balanced for the series' stealth mechanics. The chunks of game where you're creeping around the Athena undetected, carrying out objectives and taking out mercs silently are really strong and give you that feeling of being Riddick way more than the fairly sloppy stealth stages of the first game did. There are still sections where stealth simply isn't an option and you're forced to use gunplay, and these chunks feel far better orchestrated and make for some very cinematic set-pieces. The gunplay itself still feels a bit ropey,

2.5.2009

Back in 2004 Escape from butchers bay was one of the best games I played on the XBOX, so I was anticipating this game very much if only for the remastered Butcher bay. I have not played Dark Athena yet so can only comment on the remastered original which in my opinion is excellent, you will not see the best looking game on the 360 with this package but believe me it still looks great better than left 4 dead so I dont know what the fuss about the graphics is?If you played it before then the graphical up date really helps bring it up to todays standards and you will be pleased and most importantly the game play remains the same and is great fun with moments of intense action and of course all

6.6.2015

If your a fan of the Chronicles of Riddick or the stealth genre of video games you wont be disappointed with this game. The game includes The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and the Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Both games are prequels to the Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black. The games are broken up into stealth and shooting sections but mostly stealth. You have to use your head and look around your surroundings as the games do not hold your hand at all. The games expand on Riddick's character and his relationship with John. The graphics are good for the time and the voice acting is very good. There are parts where it gets really annoying like the cameras and spider drones.

1.6.2009

Butcher Bay - Mission: To escape a maximun security prison using various abilities and weapons including stealth, hand2hand combat and Riddicks trademark 'Eyeshine' nightvision. Although packaged as a first person shooter, this title is 85% stealth and hand2hand/knife/club combat and 15% shooter. DON'T let this put you off. Butcher Bay is the BEST movie tie in game EVER. Don't believe me - try it.Dark Athena - Mission: To escape the starship 'Dark Athena'. Following on from Butcher Bay, Riddick is captured by Revas - captain of the Dark Athena. Using 35% stealth and 65% shooter this is more of a traditional first person game. Not as good as Butcher Bay but still a very good game in its own right.Two games for the price of one.

25.1.2011

I'll keep it short but the Graphics are Superb on the PS3, looks better then a lot of newer games and surprisingly without any 'have to install' moments (Hence the irritating loading times >_>). The lighting engine is great, Riddick feels really dynamic to control and the simple button, interface works exceedingly well, though pressing SQUARE for 'sneak mode' does seem a little daft. The AI isn't too bad, bearing in mind I'm only only playing Escape from Butchers Bay at this point and the Physics engine (Is it HAVOK?) is okay though you don't truly see it in action really. Animations are good and the voice acting is humorous. Overall, a great package, considering it hosts two great looking games on one disk,

19.12.2009

First off I really did enjoy playing this game,well both actually as you get two (2) games for the price of one (1) as Escape from Butcher Bay is also included on the disc as Dark Athena. I think for the price you can't go wrong. But my only downside to the game is the online game play (multiplayer) as every time I wanted a game there was never anyone on it to play with accept once and then there was only 5 people playing. This to me was a bit of a let down as I would like to get all of my trophies which the game supports but there is to many to get online and with no one playing the chances of getting these is very very slim,in fact I don't think I will ever get platinum with this game.1

7.10.2010

I'm not one for FPS games: I don't like the perspective, the controls always baffle me, and I always end up being shot by someone I can't even see, but this one was a really pleasant surprise. There's lots of sneaking around and being stealthy, which is quite fun, and lots of time when you don't even have a gun so you can't rely on just blasting your way through your enemies. The story is half-decent, and it doesn't go on for too long, so you get a nice Riddick story without too much distraction. I'm only giving it 4 stars because if it had been a third person game I think it would have been better.

7.4.2010

Missed the original first time around on X-Box1So this was a treat to play through. Great atmosphere and graphics, nice flow and cut-scenes look quality...I found the pearly eyes thing a little underwhelming, I was expecting to be able to see in the dark and get blinded by light... its a bit clamped top and bottom, I can only guess so as to combine the stealth dynamic in with that vision, which seemed a little silly to me...So yeh, only complaint, stealth and vision mode on same button.

14.10.2009

Simple and sweet review:One of the best games ive played in years.Graphics:*****Gameplay:*****Storyline:*** (Does flip-flop around a bit)Overall Rating:****and a half (you cant do half stars on keyboards anymore.)A couple of glitches but nothing to serious. My favourate being if you look at yourself (Riddick) in a mirror then activate eye-shine his goggles dont move, so in theroy your using eyeshine with your goggles down.

29.3.2019

I played this game years ago. And decided to buy it and give it another try. It is amazing how well it has held up. Riddick's dialogue is entertaining and there are elements found in horror games. I admit I got lost in the game's maze-like geography, which was frustrating. Maps are not especially useful. Still, the game is a lot of fun for advocates of stealth. Great stealth games are not plentiful.

1.8.2010

Well, what a brilliant game. well in fact there are two games on the disc, both as good as each other. It is a first person shoot em up and the graphics are amazing. both games are quite long and are not at all similar. I strongly recommend this to any one who likes a good action game cos this is definitely one of the best i have played.

1.5.2009

I prordered this game after playing the demo and i wasnt dissapointed with the full game,great action adventure fps,lots of challenges some good dialogue which all adds to the fun.The multiplayers best mode is pitch black its not perfect no game is of yet,its worth a rent for doubters or wait for the cheap platinium version.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena - Reviews

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