If you had an original Xbox, you may have heard of, or even played, the game Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. Though the movie that was paired with the release of the game didn't go over as well as expected (I enjoyed the movie, by the way) the game received a very high amount of praise from reviewers and gamers alike. Many people awaited a sequel, and were excited to hear that one was, in fact, going to be made. However, with the merging of Activision and Blizzard, the games release was in question, but, on April 7, 2009, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena was released to challenge the success of its... successor? Did Riddick's second outing meet the expectations placed before it? Or did the Furyan himself fall short?

Let me begin with one especially important fact... this game is the second best deal since The Orange Box. Not only do you receive Assault on Dark Athena, which in itself is a great game, but with it you get a buffed up version of Escape from Butcher Bay. These two games, along with some OK multiplayer (we will get to that later) make this one hell of a deal.

Seeing as there are two stories to be told in this game, let's begin with the first. The story in Escape from Butcher Bay is the same as it was on the Xbox. Riddick has been captured and brought to Butcher Bay, a maximum security prison on an off world colony. In the time of Butcher Bay's existence, nobody has managed to escape, but unfortunately for them, they aren't holding just any normal prisoner. Riddick plans his escape while performing some jobs for fellow inmates, and killing a few of them too. After instigating a riot, Riddick escapes into the sewers, where he meets Pope John, the man who gives him his "eyeshine", allowing him the ability to see in the dark. The rest of the game I will let you see for yourself.

As I said before, this version of Butcher Bay has been buffed up since its last excursion on the original Xbox. Better graphics, amazing voice acting, and awesome shadowing allows you to really become immersed into the prison of Butcher Bay. Hiding in the shadows and sneaking through vents allows Riddick the sneak past enemies, and, if you are trying to have any fun whatsoever, sneak up behind them and end it all. Unfortunately, there weren't a very large amount of guns available, as all the guards guns are DNA imprinted, so every time you try to pick one up, you are shocked. You do get a shotgun and the occasional assault rifle, but to tell you the truth, they aren't as fun to use as Riddick's own two hands.

The second story told in that of Riddick's adventure on Dark Athena, a mercenary ship with some dark secrets. Taking place right after Butcher Bay, as Riddick and his good "friend" Johns escape from Butcher Bay, their ship is captured by the Dark Athena. Riddick avoids being captured by the mercenaries and the leader of the ship, Revas, whom Riddick seems to have some sort of past with. Riddick must now use the same tactics he used in Butcher Bay to escape from the Dark Athena, sneaking around, killing mercenaries and guards, and being an all around badass. Riddick does, however, encounter a new type of enemy in the half-machine half-human Drones. Though they used to be people, their bodies have been implanted with machine parts, and are under the control of the mercenaries on the Dark Athena. While these Drones do walk on their own, they can be manually 
controlled by the mercenaries. On the ship, you meet a crew of prisoners who are all willing to help you, as long as you help them escape. And from there, again, I'll let you see for yourself.

Dark Athena plays the exact same way Butcher Bay did. However, guns are much easier to come by, and Riddick receives probably the coolest weapons in the game: the Ulaks. These are two hooked blades that you steal from a passing guards, and, if you play like me, will be pretty much the only weapon you use in the game. The killing animations you get from the Ulaks are great, whether it be slicing somebody twice in the chest and then once across the throat, or grabbing them and jabbing the tip of the Ulak repeatedly into an enemies chest, it never gets old. Once again, great voice acting and great visuals.

The multiplayer mode, unfortunately, is what brings this game down. You are given the usual Team Death Match, Death Match, and Capture the Flag. There is a mode called Butcher Bay Riot, which is pretty fun, pitting three teams against each other, Mercs, Guards, and Prisoners, all of whom are fighting over a power cell. At the beginning of each round, each team has money to purchase the guns they wish to use, but all in all it isn't all that fun. The one redeeming quality to multiplayer, however, is Pitch Black mode, which pits all players against one player-controlled Riddick. The players are forced to walk through dark hallways and rooms with only their flashlight hunting Riddick down, while Riddick has his "eyeshine" the guide him through and take out as many players as he can with his Ulaks. Once Riddick is killed, whoever killed him becomes Riddick. Even Pitch Black has its problems though, and could be improved with a couple gameplay changes. Lag can also be an issue at times.

All in all, Assault on Dark Athena is a great deal. With two amazing single player campaigns, and a semi-entertaining multiplayer mode, Riddick's second outing meets, and in my opinion, exceeds all expectations. The Butcher Bay campaign not only revives an already amazing game, but the Dark Athena campaign adds to the compelling universe and story of Riddick. If you get the chance, definitely pick this one up and hunt in the dark through the eyes of Richard P. Riddick. You're not afraid of the dark, are you?