Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Review Buffalo NY

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Last year really was the year of Half-Life 2. Whether it was the controversies, the massive delay, the technology or just plain everyone wanting it as soon as humanly possible, it really was worth the massive wait. However every so often there is a game that comes along which just comes out of no where and really shows what can be done by perhaps lesser known developers. Riddick did exactly that on the Xbox, with some of the finest gameplay and graphics you will ever see on that machine. Now it's the PC's turn to get this masterpiece, and the Half-Life 2 comments become very relevant, because if HL2 was the hyped up game of the year, this was the best sleeper of 2004.

In an interesting move, the game is actually a prequel to the 2004 film. Basically if you play this game then see the film you will have a greater appreciation of the universe in which Riddick resides. The game revolves around Riddick's escape from a high security prison, Butcher Bay, and while in concept that may sound a little bland, the developers have managed to put together some decent level design despite the fact it is enclosed in the one structure. As the story begins, Riddick is being sold to a prison by a bounty hunter. Riddick is not happy with this and decides he is going to escape and the whole game revolves around this task.

The game is a first person shooter, although we use the term shooter very loosely. That's because a lot of the time you will be using your fists or knives to take people out. The aim is to build yourself up as one of the more tough guys in the complex, so beginning from the bottom of the food chain you slowly work your way up trying to get information to escape, thus sometimes resulting in fist fights. Of course being a prison it's not going to be easy and some of the superb game mechanics that the developers have included really enhance the game. It is this detail which immerses you into the game so much, detail such as DNA codes on the enemy weapons. This is the main task of the first few missions; get Riddick's DNA into the system so he can pick guns up. It may not sound like much but in the context of storytelling it's one of the most memorable aspects and really shows the lengths the developers went to.

Riddick is not a run and gun game. It is an adventure game with first person shooting elements. A lot of the time you will have to find out information to progress rather than just shoot everyone and move to the next level. For instance getting a shiv to keep yourself armed. There are some stealth elements to the game and again the depth shines through here. There is two 'modes' for Riddick to be in; action and stealth. When in stealth mode, weapons can not be used and Riddick moves slowly while crouched. The game gives an indication whether he can be seen or not, a blue tinge is on the screen when he is hidden and in a nod to another fantastic game, you can shoot the lights out to confuse enemies and move undetected. You may need a guide at times to find where to go.