That full title is "The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay." Its a FPS for the X-Box.
This game is the first story told in the Riddick timeline. It details part of Riddick's history with Jones (the cop/bounty hunter from Pitch Black) and his escape from Butcher Bay (duh), a prison set on some strange world.
The story begins with Riddick already in custody. (Sidenote: expect a prequel to this prequel. That's just a guess, but it makes sense because the designers LOVE Jones and Jones, well without spoilers, Jones isn't in the latest film.) Jones is taking him to Butcher's Bay where he will be locked up. Upon arriving Riddick begins his quest to escape.
This game is really well designed and props to Vin Diesel since his company made the game. The story flows very well, the level design "feels" right, and the dialogue is never too corny.
The graphics are, by far, the best ever in an X-Box game. They aren't PC level, but Tigon has done a great job making this game look good.
The sound is also very good, with the exception of whispering. Some characters whisper and some don't, which causes you leave the sound way up or you have to continually grab the remote. This always causes you to leave the sound up resulting in a clap of thunder the next time you fire a weapon.
The control is actually excellent for a console FPS. We're talking leaps and bounds ahead of Metroid: Prime. It would still be far superior to play with a key board and mouse, but the designers made it very easy to access all of Riddick's abilities at the push of a button. Although, in a firefight, I did have a habit of accidentally turning on my night vision, but it really didn't hinder me.
The storyline does a fine job of pulling you in and making excuses for you to go to one place or another. Pay attention though, don't hit that "skip" button. Sometimes you'll miss instructions and you'll be lost.
The level design is linear, but good and well made to utilize your abilities. However, I must warn players to make sure they look around. I remember a few times when my course wasn't exactly crystal clear and it got me into trouble or had me roaming around levels in circles.
The action is intense and while the weapons you can use are standard and uninspiring, the way you can use them is inspired:
-First, there's your fists and no game has done them better. Its an absolute blast to beat the shit out of people in this game. Also, there's the breaking of necks using those hands of yours.
-Second comes the counter technique. I don't know why it happens, but say you're against a guy with a gun. Hit the right button move and you'll grab his weapon and turn it under his chin...bam.
-Third is the tranq gun. I've honestly never had so much fun with a tranq gun in a game. Why? Because it handled well, I never ran out of ammo, and most importantly, it was dark.
-That brings me to number four, the dark. Yes, Riddick loves the dark. Using my tranq gun or any gun to knock out lights was fantastic. Guards would start freaking out and switching on their flashlights. Little did they know that Riddick comes equipped with night vision. The sneaking around is better done here than any other game I've ever played. That includes Splinter Cell and the Thief series. The AI not being the smartest helped, but more importantly, I could hear and see when I was easily spotted. The screen would be blue when I was invisible and turn to the regular color when I was visible. Well done.
You should never get too frustrated playing as a quick examination of a level should reveal a way around or to beat whatever has you stuck. You will, however, get a bit frustrated at Riddick's apparent man-love for Jones. To go into detail would be to provide spoilers and I just can't do that.
The cool part of the design is that nothing gets too old because its never around for very long. So if you hit a part that you're hating, wait 10 minutes and that enemy or play style will be long gone.
The main complaint people have is that its short. Very true. I beat it in a matter of about 10 hours. Hardcore gamers like myself will finish in the same time frame. More casual players will get a couple of days out of it.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable, game playing experience. I recommend it for any fans of action, stealth, FPSs, and the movies. Still, its tough to recommend you buy it due to the short length of the game.
8 out of 10.
FYI for parents: Lots and lots of written/spoken cursing and violence.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, you collect cigarette packs to unlock bonuses like art and videos for the new movie. It doesn't really add to the replay value, but they're interesting to collect in game.
Chronicles of Riddick:EBB - X-Box & PC
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71-1085092892
The new movie happens before Pitch Black, where Jones dies. There will be two more Chronicles of Riddick that will happen before Pitch Black as well.
This game happens before all four movies, so that drug addict Jones could be around in all of them if they wanted.
I saw some of ithe game on TV. I saw a scene on an icy planet, with something that resembled the snowbeast in The Empire Strikes Back. It looked cool. Vin was really excited about it. He seems like a big geek.
I've seen an old "how to breakdance" video with Vin in it online somewhere. Anybody else see it? It shouldn't be too hard to find.
[edit]
I found two. #2 is best.
This game happens before all four movies, so that drug addict Jones could be around in all of them if they wanted.
I saw some of ithe game on TV. I saw a scene on an icy planet, with something that resembled the snowbeast in The Empire Strikes Back. It looked cool. Vin was really excited about it. He seems like a big geek.
I've seen an old "how to breakdance" video with Vin in it online somewhere. Anybody else see it? It shouldn't be too hard to find.
[edit]
I found two. #2 is best.
I'm really lost as far as how the timeline works out.
This really is a very minor spoiler for the game, so you've been warned.
The game is a flashback. That scene with Riddick in the icy cavern is his present time.
I can confirm his adventures were not done at that time. So when did that icy cave scene occur?
What did he do to get "infamous" in the first place? How did Jones catch him? When does Jones' drug problem being since he doesn't do any at all during EBB?
This really is a very minor spoiler for the game, so you've been warned.
The game is a flashback. That scene with Riddick in the icy cavern is his present time.
I can confirm his adventures were not done at that time. So when did that icy cave scene occur?
What did he do to get "infamous" in the first place? How did Jones catch him? When does Jones' drug problem being since he doesn't do any at all during EBB?
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
There a PC version?
No.
Smart huh? They're trying to build a franchise here so they decide to make their game exclusive to the system with the smallest user base.
Brilliant!
Meanwhile, Spiderman 2: The Game was just released Tuesday for every console. Not sure on the PC version. Its either been released or due to be.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Well phooey. I was wrong. But at least someone else was as wrong as me.
The new movie is 5 years after Pitch Black. The kid from the movie makes an appearance, all grown up.
The new movie is 5 years after Pitch Black. The kid from the movie makes an appearance, all grown up.
Five years after surviving a crash on a barren planet where night falls every two decades, ex-convict Richard P. Riddick remains a wanted man. Living on the remote planet Helion, where extremes of temperature range from arctic nights to volcanic days, Riddick encounters Kyra, one of the few survivors from his earlier adventure.
Wonder if it sucks as much balls as the film.Meanwhile, Spiderman 2: The Game was just released Tuesday for every console. Not sure on the PC version. Its either been released or due to be.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Wonder if it sucks as much balls as the film.
The Riddick game is by FAR better than either movie.
The Spiderman 2 game for PS2, GC, and X-Box is fantastic. The PC version sucks ass as it was made by a different company.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
I had the game half finished when I got my new PC, and the saved games didn't survive a transfer to the new system...
So in the last 3 nights I played the game beginning to end.
1. Great Riddick story. It fits into the universe well.
2. This game, like Homeworld 2, kept HUD elements nice and visible even when I cranked the graphics to 1600x1200. I really, really like that.
3. Speaking of high resolution, but damn... I could see the pores on the back of Riddick's neck. There were times when I just stopped to admire the graphical detail. The leather uniforms of the guards (cowboy leather, not S&M leather) was so realistic that I could almost smell it. I love having a fast system, again. I missed it.
4. I have the "Director's Cut" version of the game. Is it worth playing through again to hear the commentary of cast and crew?
Edited By GORDON on 1146686649
So in the last 3 nights I played the game beginning to end.
1. Great Riddick story. It fits into the universe well.
2. This game, like Homeworld 2, kept HUD elements nice and visible even when I cranked the graphics to 1600x1200. I really, really like that.
3. Speaking of high resolution, but damn... I could see the pores on the back of Riddick's neck. There were times when I just stopped to admire the graphical detail. The leather uniforms of the guards (cowboy leather, not S&M leather) was so realistic that I could almost smell it. I love having a fast system, again. I missed it.
4. I have the "Director's Cut" version of the game. Is it worth playing through again to hear the commentary of cast and crew?
Edited By GORDON on 1146686649
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Is it worth playing through again to hear the commentary of cast and crew?
No clue. I played through the X-Box version.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
I figured since I have the only Director's Cut version of the game, I better check out the commentary.
It's pretty cool. You get some free commentary during the cinematic cut-scenes, but the majority of it occurs while you actually play through the game.
In commentary mode - which is only unlocked after you complete the game - there are "commentary icons" scattered everywhere. You can usually see at least one no matter where you stand. You approach them, "use" them, and regular game sound is muted and audio commentary about this or that begins. So far I've seen them range in length from 20 seconds to 14 minutes. Comments seem to be from almost everyone who designed the game. They're swedish (or something), english is their 2nd language, and they all have decently thick accents.
It's very cool, if you're the type of person who will re-watch a DVD in commentary mode.
Only thing I don't like is... the game still goes on around you. If you stop to play some commentary and a guard comes around the corner, he'll shoot at you and you'll take damage. I'd have preferred a "god" mode in commentary mode.
I only played through the first 30 minutes in commentary mode.... so far.
I could tell from the game-play alone that the developers loved the source material. That is important. The commentary reinforces that assumption.
It's pretty cool. You get some free commentary during the cinematic cut-scenes, but the majority of it occurs while you actually play through the game.
In commentary mode - which is only unlocked after you complete the game - there are "commentary icons" scattered everywhere. You can usually see at least one no matter where you stand. You approach them, "use" them, and regular game sound is muted and audio commentary about this or that begins. So far I've seen them range in length from 20 seconds to 14 minutes. Comments seem to be from almost everyone who designed the game. They're swedish (or something), english is their 2nd language, and they all have decently thick accents.
It's very cool, if you're the type of person who will re-watch a DVD in commentary mode.
Only thing I don't like is... the game still goes on around you. If you stop to play some commentary and a guard comes around the corner, he'll shoot at you and you'll take damage. I'd have preferred a "god" mode in commentary mode.
I only played through the first 30 minutes in commentary mode.... so far.
I could tell from the game-play alone that the developers loved the source material. That is important. The commentary reinforces that assumption.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast level had commentary too. It sounds like it was setup in exactly the same manner except the level was designed so that you weren't being attacked while listening (if I remember correctly).
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Finally got around to fishing in the bargain bin today since I've been under the weather for the past couple days. Found this for $5 + shrapnel. The learning curve is a bit steep since I started off on hard & I've been hitting "Gears of War" at my buddy's, so after I adapted myself to a game that actually fucking knows an over-the-shoulder perspective in an FPS sucks, life became easier. On co-op, over-the-shoulder sucks squared.
However, so far, I'm fucking impressed. Last time I enjoyed sneaking around this much was the heyday of "Thief." & I kinda like this more since Riddick is an offensive powerhouse as opposed to Thief's philosophy that greater difficulty somehow implies not killing. While that's true, creeping up behind two sentries in a darkened hallway & shivving the infamous Riddick sweetspot is pure fucking zen violence fun. Just got out into the Prison Yard Riot. Ain't found no tranq gun ... yet. & those fucking riot guards were a bitch & a half to figure out how to kill.
Edited By Malcolm on 1191558891
However, so far, I'm fucking impressed. Last time I enjoyed sneaking around this much was the heyday of "Thief." & I kinda like this more since Riddick is an offensive powerhouse as opposed to Thief's philosophy that greater difficulty somehow implies not killing. While that's true, creeping up behind two sentries in a darkened hallway & shivving the infamous Riddick sweetspot is pure fucking zen violence fun. Just got out into the Prison Yard Riot. Ain't found no tranq gun ... yet. & those fucking riot guards were a bitch & a half to figure out how to kill.
Edited By Malcolm on 1191558891
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I loved dragging the bodies into the shadows as not to alarm the guards...
Well, not to dis the game, but that's been done before.
If a sequel came out for this game I'd buy it on its release date with no questions asked.
This was by far one of the most impressive FPSs I've ever played. Even more impressive considering it was the company's first attempt.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Finally found the time to beat this. The last chapter or what have you was fucking cool. But the last fight was something of a let down. Still, overall, I feel like I got my $6 worth & much more. Damn fine game, all things considered.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."