I never got around to playing Escape from Butcher Bay, thankfully it's included in this title. Two excellent stealth games in one, at a great price! I enjoyed Butcher Bay much more than Dark Athena, perhaps because of the mix of tactics required rather than just FPS action. Dark Athena was fun in its own right and certainly worth it if you like the Riddick movies. Great stories interwoven with addictive action gameplay.

An enjoyable mix of FPS-action and stealth-elements, with good voice-acting and graphics. This title comes with two games in one, as it also contains the remake of the 2004´s hit-game "Escape from Butcher Bay", which alone is worthy of the price-tag, in case you aren´t already familiar with it. The settings are really immersive, with the already mentioned voice-acting doing a lot of good in this area, by making all the NPC´s feel really life-like. The dark graphical style is also really distinct and mood-setting with excellent lighting and shadow effects.

This game's stealth mechanics are very solid, and the melee stealth kills are extremely satisfying. The emphasis on melee combat is quite a refreshing change from today's run-of-the-mill shooter. This game is an absolute must-play if you're looking for something different on the first-person market.

Good game. It's has a solid story and the game play wasn't to complex. You can get into the story and really sit down and have fun with the game. I don't think I will be replaying it over and over but I may run through once or twice for kicks and to see if I missed anything.

A little bit more varity I think could have been used in moves and attacks. Also I found some levels didn't like the newer (GTX 470+) graphics cards I had in my other computer.

This is a classic among games. It offers two games, Escape from Butcher Bay, as well as the latest hit, AoDA. It's worth noting that the hit from 2004 has been fully remastered and feels, at least in terms of graphics, like it's a brand new game.

Basically, you will have plenty of everything in these two games, whether that be a good story, sneaking, or shooting numerous prison guards or ruthless animals. At certain points, you also get to drive cool mechanical "vehicles", so fun-fun.

It's well worth your money but please note that the game is tages protected and you have three activations of the game. After this you either get three more or you need to send email and ask for more activations.

It's a great value for your money since it includes Escape from Butcher Bay. Both games are also suprisingly long, so you get a lot of entertainment out of them. Compared to for example Velvet Assassin, it's more FPS-like. Ammo is in no short supply and if you prefer you can play most of it like a regular FPS. Of course that would almost be a waste, since the stealth aspect of these Riddick games works great, too.

The bad is ... well ... you can only rent the game due to the restrictive DRM. Without this DRM there would be no reason not to give it the highest rating. Otherwise there are only minor issues that are basically nitpicking: the main menu doesn't quite live up to the rest of the actual game (hard to click buttons, uninspired and ugly) and by the very end of Athena the game feels a bit less polished (lots of lag and unimpressive final fight).

The good is, Athena graphics are awesome. Butcher Bay environment looks a bit more bland but still very nice and atmospheric. The real highlight are the conversations (throughout both parts). Lots of different colourful voices, many conversations and amazingly life-like facial expressions and faces that don't just look like run of the mill 3D models. Gameplay is also very nice in my opinion. Most of the time you can decide whether you want to proceed stealthyly/close-combat or stay at range and play more FPS-like. Of course the former is much more entertaining as the close-combat system works really well.

This game actually consists of two games: Escape from Butcher Bay and Assault on Dark Athena. I played both games to the end and here are my thoughts.

Story:

Butcher Bay:

Butcher Bay story is set prior to Pitch Black. Johns is alive and is taking Riddick to max security prison (Butcher Bay). You are of course Riddick and need to escape this prison. In this game was also described how Riddick actually got his night vision. Story is ok and there is some solid acting done in this game.

Assault on Dark Athena:

Story continues from end of Butcher Bay and Johns and Riddick are captive inside the ship of mercenaries who are using drones as their main force. You again need to find your way do deal with this new situation and resolve it in Riddick way.

Graphics:

Butcher Bay:

Graphics is good and improved from 2004 version of this game. Animations are bad and they could do much better job there especially when this game was made from movie.

Assault on Dark Athena:

Everything above can be also applied on this game.

Game play:

Butcher Bay:

Butcher Bay is something like stealth FPS where it's better for you if you play more stealthy then all open combat. Which means more like killing from behind (like splinter cell but in first person). Riddick can hide in dark and drag fallen enemies so others cannot see them. You have health bars which can be upgraded and healing is done by medical units that are attached to wall. You can also refill them during game. I don't like how the game leads you to solving side quest. I had to turn back sometimes to solve some quest so this. Sneaking enemies behind back and killing them is ok but from my point of view I don't like how hand to hand combat is being done. You can block and move with arrows for different punches and moves but it isn't all that impressive.

Assault on Dark Athena:

This game is not that different from Butcher Bay as there are no large improvements in comparison to Butcher Bay so we can say that this sequel is feeding on glory of its original and has turned into classic FPS which may not be a bad thing for someone but killing enemies like in FPS in this game is not nearly as fun as stealthy approach in original.

Overall:

The game itself didn't impress me like I hoped so I'll give this game 4 stars just because Riddick is the legend and if you loved the film you'll enjoy the game. Graphics is good and game leads you with instructions what should be done next. I would also like to mention that auto save is good timed. Even though sequel lacks innovations this game is good and it will keep you entertained for couple of hours and also it's a great deal you get two games in one pack. I really hope that they make sequel more with more innovation. Game is lacking certain things. You cannot climb on every objects and it has too little interactions with environment. Also game is very linear so they could also do something to improve this in sequel.

Starbreeze are certainly being more generous than most devs in updating the instant classic Escape From Butcher Bay and including it with Assault on Dark Athena. Butcher Bay is not only one of the best licensed games out there (surpassed only by Arkham Asylum), but also a brilliantly executed master work in its own right. That alone goes quite a long way towards justifying the asking price.

Assault on Dark Athena doesn't quite live up to the original. It is perhaps an unfair expectation that it would. Unlike Butcher Bay, which combines a fairly balanced mix of first person melee and shooting with RPG elements and Splinter Cell third person style environment interactions such as climbing, hanging from ledges and moving along beams, Dark Athena is much more focussed on the first person action. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it makes the game a lot less distinct.

In terms of environments, you've essentially got two very different places to explore. There's the Dark Athena itself. Which does a pretty good job of living up to its name. Plenty of Gothic influences and, well... darkness. It's not particularly memorable though, to be honest. Better is the beleaguered colony on the ravaged planet the Dark Athena orbits. Interesting Middle Eastern inspired architecture giving you places to get the jump on the enemy.

The only thing really spoiling the game is the inclusion of Tages DRM. Luckily Gamersgate will refund the activations even if Tages won't. But its inclusion certainly sours what would otherwise have been a must have purchase.

Two games for the price of one, that is what Assault on Dark Athena has to offer. Can you say no to such an offer, considering that it contains a remake of the extremely well reviewed and award winning Escape from Butcher Bay (and a lot longer then first person shooters today) while at the same time offering you the sequel (Assault on Dark Athena) for the same price?

If you are a fan of the genre and you haven't played this yet, then you owe it to yourself, seriously. Escape from Butcher Bay ranks way up there with the classics of the genre, Half Life 1 and 2, Far Cry, Doom. Assault on Dark Athena is a worthy sequel that will take you about 10 hours to finish, while not on the same level as Escape, it is still a very enjoyable ride. Seriously, what are you waiting for, grab the game now.

Escape from Butcher Bay

Graphics: 8.5/10

Sound: 9/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Story: 9/10

Riddick Badass Factor: 9/10

Assault on Dark Athena

Graphics: 8.5/10

Sound: 9/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Story: 9/10

Riddick Badass Factor: 10/10

These two games are defenetly worth having and playing if you are a fan of the Riddick chronicles or if you plain like video games :).

And I think you better get it wile it's hot (4,98 euros). Here in Romania it retails at 40 euros now so when I saw it, I bought it right away, even though I finished them both when they appeared curtosy of a friend.

Unplayable for me, the game is supported by TAGES which is a DRM that could and probably will ruin your computer, also the game needs a CD to play in this case, waste of money.