Product Description

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena brings the hit first-person shooter to a new generation of consoles. The action-packed game, a hi-definition re-imagined version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Assault on Dark Athena features an entirely new chapter in the Riddick Saga and for the first time, intense online multiplayer combat.

The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. In Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror.

• Multiple forms of combat: Unique blend of first-person range and melee combat with stealth kills and counter-attacks.
• Atmospheric and cinematic first person shooter: Great story telling in Sci-Fi environments handled with AAA Hollywood treatment for an immersive journey through Vin Diesel's blockbuster universe.
• Multiplayer modes: Variety of fast-paced multiplayer and online options available for the first time in the Riddick franchise.
• Bonus material: Escape from Butcher Bay has been re-mastered and will be included along with The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1382 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Atari
• Released on: 2009-04-24
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, German
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Customer Reviews

2 for 1
Butcher Bay - Mission: To escape a maximun security prison using various abilities and weapons including stealth, hand2hand combat and Riddicks trademark 'Eyeshine' nightvision. Although packaged as a first person shooter, this title is 85% stealth and hand2hand/knife/club combat and 15% shooter. DON'T let this put you off. Butcher Bay is the BEST movie tie in game EVER. Don't believe me - try it.

Dark Athena - Mission: To escape the starship 'Dark Athena'. Following on from Butcher Bay, Riddick is captured by Revas - captain of the Dark Athena. Using 35% stealth and 65% shooter this is more of a traditional first person game. Not as good as Butcher Bay but still a very good game in its own right.

Two games for the price of one. Butcher Bay 9.5/10 Dark Athena 8.5/10

Excellent package for PS3
I was quite impressed to see that this game has come with the older game "Escape From Butcher Bay". I had only played a demo of the previous game and was quite a fan of Pitch Black so I thought that the concept would work really well as Riddick is a character that you like even though you should not.
To start, the graphics in the game are very good. Even Butcher Bay has had the graphics upgraded to fit in with the next gen machines. There is a suitably grimy feeling to the visuals in Butcher Bay and the Dark Athena ship has that sort of metallic oily look about it.
Characters are well animated and look good during the cutscenes. The main characters have very good facial expressions that do give them their own personality but some of the minor characters do seem slightly wooden but you dont really have much to do with them so its only a slight grumble.
The light is the most impressive in the game as it is also the most important aspect due to Riddick using the shadows a lot. Light sources and shadows are very good. When you are in total darkness you cannot see anything and then the effects of the torch or eyeshine are convincing and are well presented.
Sound in the game is great with Vin Diesel providing the voice for Riddick as well as other names such as Ron Perlman. Weapons sound great when fired and the sound of footsteps will become your greatest ally as you judge where the other guards are.
Music in the game is also used very well and sounds just as if it came out of the Riddick films. It also seems to change with your situation depending on if you are sneaking or if you are engaged in combat or very close to those who are trying to find you.
Combat in the game is quite brutal. Most of the time you will be hand to hand or using improvised weapons like Shivs or clubs. There are various kinds of each weapon to give some variety, for example, I have managed to find several types of shivs and knuckle duster.
The hand to hand or weapon fighting feels a bit like oblivion but faster and with some really nice, bloody finishing moves. The stealth kills are also quite vicious and you have the choice of silent or noisy kills.
When encountering armed opponents Riddick can use various disarming techniques, often turning the gun or knife against its user.
Both games are quite challenging with decent stories and their are the obligatory trophies that all games seem to have today. Both give more to the Riddick universe and explain more of his background and seem to have captured the character very well.
This is definitely worth picking up, especially if you have not played the Butcher Bay game before. Multiplayer is there but I have tried it myself yet.

over-rated
the dark athena graphics are good but the game and gameplay are rubbish. the only part worth the money was the remastered butcher bay that is included on the disk, it was a lot more fun than the new game your paying for.