Reviews for Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - Developer's Cut

Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Terrific graphics, great character animation, good voice acting, & very atmospheric. Nice blend of stealth, fighting and shooting. Don't have to be familiar with the Riddick movies to enjoy the game.

Weakness: Reasonably powerful video card and CPU necessary to fully appreciate the graphics. Fighting can be difficult at times. Not a long game.

This game improves upon the Xbox version of the same title that preceded it: better graphics, improved control (via keyboard and mouse---the way God intended us to play first-person-shooter games like this), and an additional level. It also adds an interesting special feature---a commentary mode. With this feature active, certain objects in the game have a floating icon that can be activated, which then plays an audio clip narrated by one of several developers or programmers. The information gives you behind-the-scenes insights into the creation and assembly of the game, and proves to be fascinating in most cases.

It is not always easy to blend different game styles, but the developers of this title succeeded in weaving together first-person action, stealth, fighting, and even adventure gaming in a very atmospheric presentation. That is a rare feat, made even rarer by the fact that this is a title based on a movie---usually the curse of death for a game, since the developers are invariably pressured to release the game on a tight timetable to coincide with the release of the movie. Somehow this game beat all the odds and emerged as a challenging, interesting, and fun romp. The only reason I'm dunning it a star is due to the steep graphics card requirements. It's right up there with Doom 3 and Far Cry in terms of the load it places on your video card and CPU.

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Riddick meets the critic

Strengths: Amazing graphics, realistic gameplay

Weakness: Requirements too high compared to similar games, gameplay can be too hard and frustrating, often leading to trial and error, gameplay often feels monotonous

After hearing about how great Chronicles of Riddick was, I finally broke down and bought the collector's edition about three months ago. Though I won't say that it's been a mistake (because, honestly, I have enjoyed at least SOME parts of it) I most certainly refuse to say that it was a good decision. Yes, Riddick is violent, grotesque, and realistic. The graphics are wonderful. But what about gameplay? This game is so focued on keeping everything within the narrow bounds of reality that it fails as a game altogether. I wish I could say something new and unique that I enjoyed about this game, but not a thing comes to mind. I'll stick with Half-Life 2, thank you. If you find realistically violent games and/or Vin Diesel attractive, then that's all the more reason for you to buy this game. As for me, I'll pass, thanks.

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A great game

Strengths: Great graphics, unique combination of game styles, good voice acting

Weakness: on the short side, minor graphic gliches, no manual only a quick reference card

I would highly recommend this game. You don't need to have seen the movies to enjoy this game, I haven't. This game uses several different playing styles at different points: stealth, "run and gun", fight game.

The graphics are great. I have played HL2, Doom3, Far Cry and Unreal Tournament 2004 and this game's graphics compares very well to those games.

One of my favorite parts is when Riddick is in the "pit" and he has 6 minutes of flashlight time and needs to find the exit while being chased by zombie-like humans. Very eerie and tense.

There are not a huge number of weapons: 3 hand to hand fighting weapons including fists, pistol, shotgun, assault rifle and grenades. Any person familiar with first person shooters will easily be able to pick up this game.

You collect cigarette packs to unlock bonus content - like artwork. The game also features a commentary play mode where the programmers provide insights into the game.

In summary, great graphics, great story, great voice acting make for a great game.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Great Graphics No problems installing

Weakness: Load times between scenes are pretty long User interface is slightly awkward (jumping and combat)

Great Game. It runs fine on my Sempron 3000+ (S754) and GeForce 6800OC. I had no problems loading it. The games is very violent (no big surprise) but fun. Jumping and some other activities use a type of cut scene which is takes a bit to get used to but otherwise the User Interface is pretty natural.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Graphics, Gameplay

Weakness: Short

A good game that's based on a movie?? Yup, believe it. Chronicles of Riddick has managed to escape the supposed curse that plagues movie to game conversions and has proven to be a thoroghly entertaining experience. The game's graphics are sharp. As in, extremely pretty. They're close to Doom III's graphical level and include advanced shadows and lighting which really look nice. The sound is good too since the game supports surround sound and the musical score is great. The gameplay is that of a first person shooter fused with a stealth game, which works very well. There's a ton of variety to the game which thankfully keeps things from getting old. The only knock against the game is that it's relatively short, but the game is still well worth it considering the sheer entertainment value that it boasts.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Awesome piece of work. Don't hesitate to buy this today. Very graphics intensive, but well worth the price. Truly amazing.

Weakness: none

Get it now! Best FPS out there. Rates along with HL2 Doom3 and Far Cry. Incredible


Awesome piece of work. Don't hesitate to buy this today. Very graphics intensive, but well worth the price. Truly amazing.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Awesome game.

Weakness: None.

This game is better than the movie that it is based on. This was Game of the Year in several game magazine for 2004. Ranks up there with HL2 and FarCry. Violent, but it is rated M for mature. Get it.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Great gameplay, as good a story as can be expected, DEFINITELY not of the normal caliber of movie-to-game crossovers.

Weakness: Game length; about 10 hours.

This is a prequel, and an excellent one. There is a fighting mode which effectively complements the normal FPS-style ranged combat. Of course, the absolute greatest innovation is commentary mode. You get to listen about nearly every decision the developers made, and I couldn't think of a more enjoyable learning experience. Get this game (assuming your computer has the guts to handle it; if not, you might consider the Xbox version, although you'll miss out on the commentary mode).

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Chronicles Of Riddick (PC)

Strengths: Imprssive graphics, good FPS action, more content than the Xbox version

Weakness: Steep system requirements, a bit on the short side

Chronicles of Riddick is a port of the Xbox title of the same name. It takes place before the timeframe of the first Riddick movie (Pitch Black), with his time spent at Butcher Bay prison. It's classic FPS action, with melee and guns for weapons. Graphically, it looks great, though the requirements are a bit steep on some system. The PC version has some additional levels that weren't in the Xbox version, though even then, it's still a bit on the short side. Action is non-stop and great.

FPS fans should look into this one, as long as the system requirements are there.

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The Chronicles of Riddick

Strengths: Feels like the movie, excellent graphics and sound, unique mix of gameplay

Weakness: No multiplayer, a bit short.

The developers did a fantastic job making this game feel like the movie. The graphics are very good; they do an excellent job of setting an appropriate dark mood. The voice overs were done by the actors themselves and sound very authentic.

Gameplay is a mixture of stealth, shooting, and adventure genres; parts of the game will remind you of Metal Gear Solid, others of a first person shooter.

I highly recommend this game.

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Awesome game

Strengths: Good game, ties into the movie nicely - extra levels on the PC are a nice bonus.

Weakness: None.

This game is an excellent port of the Xbox game with the same name - it has great atmosphere, story, characters, and espically gameplay, which translates nicely to the PC version.

As an added bonus, the developers have even added in a few PC exclusive levels, hence the "Director's Cut" in the title. These levels integrate seamlessly into the game, and don't feel tacked on.

This game can be found for pretty cheap, and I wouldn't hesitant to recommmend it to any action fan. Highly recommended!

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Superb graphics. Wonderful atmosphere and voice-acting. Basically bug-free.

Weakness: 2.0++ Shader Mode is incredibly system-intensive.

I have little interest in the movie-license gaming genre due to a generally infamous reputation, but the Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher's Bay is a technological marvel that completely sidesteps the genre's norms. This is an outstanding title with a great gaming experience.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Strong, realistic and grungy graphics, wonderful sound, tight gameplay, great voice acting, cinematic story, shamelessly mature subject matter.

Weakness: Steep system needed, pretty short, minor graphical glitches, shamelessly mature subject matter.

This is one of the best games you've never heard of. Chronicles of Riddick snuck into stores right around the time of the movie bearing the same name, which is likely the curse that sunk this groundbreaking work of art before it got off the ground.

It is wise to mention that this game bears more of a resemblance to the original "Pitch Black" than to the bloated "Chronicles". This game is dark, gritty, violent, and about as M rated as they come. Riddick is his classic self in this game, and he would be utterly reprehensible if he wasn't so damn charming.

The basic plot revolves around Riddick escaping from Butcher Bay, the most infamous and high security prison in the galaxy (an event referred to in Pitch Black). The game follows this attempt, stretching from the initial prison block to the old abandoned underground facility, to the mining caves beneath and eventually to a high tech cryo prison. Through this you interact with various unique prison inmates, each voiced by a different person. You can help them out, or brutally beat them with your fists. Gameplay varies from outright shooting to (more often) stealthy kills with little more than a shiv and Riddick's infamous night vision (the origin of which is wonderfully explained here).

Complementing this is a slick, powerful graphics engine that, much like Far Cry, is proprietary technology developed by a no-name European studio. Riddick is one beautiful game. All the environments feel and look filthy due to the sharp textures. Blood splatters realistically on walls, and dynamic lights are all over the place. Bump and normal mapping are shown frequently, and the shadow effects are right up there with Doom 3. The most impressive aspect is the immersing quality of the visuals. If you look down, you can see Riddick's feet, and his shadow is always looming on the walls, moving as you do.

Toe to toe with the visuals is the impressive sound. Vin Diesel voices Riddick and projects tons of personality and manages to make you like this dispicable character. The other voices are done to perfection as well. Sound effects are big and theatrical, with great punch and loud bass. The music score is among the best ever, nearly topping Halo in it's impact.

The only serious downside to this game is that all this graphical and aural beauty comes at a price. Riddick is a monster to run at high detail, and a good EAX audio card is a must. There are options to scale the graphics, but the game gets ugly fast when this is done, so it's best to leave the settings as high as possible. The game is also short, with a dedicated player cruising through in about twelve hours. The quality is so high, though, that you don't feel cheated, and that says a lot.

It's too bad the 2004 summer movie with the same name wrecked the chances for this brilliant game to be taken seriously.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Great graphics, great story line, entertaining.. not just a shoot 'em up game.

Weakness: Game's a bit short in play, user interface is a bit awkward for typical FPS, no multiplayer

If you follow the Riddick movies like Pitch Black and the Chronicles of Riddick, this is the game for you. Game is based on the second movie though. The game has awesome graphics and great story line! It probably ranks up there with DOOM3, Far Cry, and HL2 for graphics. Game play will be a bit different but it's still an FPS. Vin Diesel does the voice for Riddick which is great. Got some other good actors to voice the other characters. The game, though short, will keep you entertained.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: Looks beautiful. One of the best games of the year.

Weakness: None

Riddick for PC is an upgraded version of the one for the Xbox. First, it's one of the most beautiful games on the PC, possibly only topped by Far Cry. The PC version adds a new level and the option to hear a "director's commentary" while playing.

In Riddick you've been sent to a prison planet and you have to survive and escape. It's well paced and well executed. Also, it's very inventive in the messes you get in. Not a simple run and gun.

This game is highly recommended.

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Activision The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from...

Strengths: A great FPS stealth game, great graphics, the fact that it is based on a movie and the game is actually good.

Weakness: none

What a truly great game. Who would have thought that a game based on a movie would be so good. The graphics are superb. The gameplay is excellent and involve using stealth to get the job done. I was totally suprised by the quality of this game. If your in need for a good sci fi first person shoter, this game is for you!

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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

Testseek.com has collected 4 expert reviews for The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and the average expert rating is 80 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.

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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - Director's Cut

This little gem of a game is brought to us by the kind folks at Starbreeze Studios, a team that ought to be commended for taking a big movie license and making a more-than-respectable game out of it. The Chronicles of Riddick debuted in theatres this year as a sequel to 1999’s Pitch Black – both films giving major screentime to action star Vin Diesel - and Starbreeze’s game, Escape from...

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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is perhaps one of the best sleeper titles we've every seen. What this means is that this is a game that really wasn't hyped up too much and not too many people were looking forward to it, but it sure kicks ass.

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