The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena revealed itself to be an extremely gratifying experience, mainly thanks to the great gameplay variety and Riddick's bullish charm. If you were missing a good stealth game, even if not despising FPS action, this is your game. We absolutely suggest it to everyone who didn't play Escape from Butcher's Bay, but even if you did, the Dark Athena campaign will give you about ten hours of fresh enjoyment.
Though the Riddick films are so under appreciated (it's a crime) I speak for real si-fi fans when I say that the Riddick series (video games included) is one of the greatest series of its genre.
Both films are great and the video games are just as good! This one was a bit more "action" than "stealth", but I had fun playing Dark Athena and the makeover of Escape from Butcher Bay! 'Assault on Dark Athena' isn't better than 'Escape from Butcher Bay', but it's a great sequel non-the less.
If you've never played the original, then I highly recommend checking this one out, based almost entirely on the merits of the first game. If you've already escaped from Butcher Bay, though, your decision is a bit more difficult.
In the end, it’s a little disappointing that Butcher Bay is the better game included in the package. Dark Athena is by no means bad, but it’s a bit like coming on after Bill Hicks at an open mic; no matter how good your set was, the performance in front of you set the standard.
Escape from Butchers Bay is still an excellent title, and it is therefore regrettable that the new game Assault on Dark Athena is not as good as the last Riddick game. Still there is an entertaining section, that makes the total package certainly worth buying.
As a product, this package is recommendable to anyone who hasn't experienced the first game, or wishes to add it back to their current library. It also includes a surprisingly fun multiplayer suite, with the Riddick vs. Everyone Else mode "Pitch Black" as the main attraction. But as single-player games, the unsatisfying Dark Athena should be played as a curiosity and then put back where it belongs: in Butcher Bay's shadow.
Two for the price of one. Anyone who's into FPS/Stealth type gaming needs to pick this up. It is a thuroughly enjoyable experience and a hidden gem on the 360. Gameplay is fantastic and while the stories might lack somewhat in intensity the voice acting of the narrative that IS there is brilliant. Vin Diesel and Lance Henriksen among many others delivers great performances.
The only thing that bugged me a little was the steep field of view. I got somewhat used to it eventually but there needs to be a slider for a setting like that.
All in all a GREAT title and well worth the measly few bucks it costs these days.
I enjoyed my time with this game even if it has some of the most uneven parts . I have played in a really good game mostly because of escape is a really good and atmospheric game and the assault on feels like ok price DLC. This is not a game you play for the gameplay because the gameplay is mostly not satisfying and feels weird. It doesn't feel as good as the darkness they worked on earlier, but the atmosphere and characters and all the things around the gameplay that is not the gameplay is so amazing that it is worth playing.
Not quite as good as the first Riddick game, but still a very good FPS with a mix of melee and gunplay. Interesting story, good graphics and voice acting. I finished it in about 9 hours, not much point in playing it through again as there's not much in the way of side-quests, secondary objectives or other challenges. Be aware that the story is very dark and some of the content is a bit needlessly sadistic IMO.
Assault on Dark Athena is a great game. I enjoyed most of it and respect the parts that I didn't. I loved the stealth in this game, hiding in the dark watching your enemies and waiting for the perfect moment to strike was by far the best part, and the strong point of the game. The not so strong point is the shooter part of it. While I didn't mind taking out a few enemies here and there with a gun, I didn't feel that they had the mechanics worked out well enough to just gun down a lot of enemies. Riddick himself has no armor or regenerating health, so I found myself trapped in situations where I had very little health and multiple enemies, with nothing to do but die over and over again. The story in Dark Athena is very well done, and I enjoyed moving along to see what would happen next, the voice acting was also top notch! I loved that Vin Diesel did the voice of Riddick as it should be. So over all I liked this game, I thought it did some things really well and I am excited to see what the next one has to offer.
Lets face it, Riddick was always a one trick pony who should have been retired at the end of Pitch Black. Continuing to trot out this character with his magic "eyeshine" (read night vision goggles) is introducing nothing new. The game play here is shonky at best and set in a wildly unconvincing universe with a premise as poor as the actor that plays him. Is this a stealth game or an action game, as it delivers neither? I would suggest confining this to the bargain bin but with the death knell being sounded on the 360 console it may be better as mug coaster or something to entertain your budgerigar.
SummaryTaking advantage of new hardware technologies, this package presents a reinvention of "Escape from Butcher Bay", delivering 2004's award winning experience in high definition with enhancements. Also included is the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with a new story and new gameplay features. With The Chronicles of R...