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Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, The

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8.3 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 44 critic reviews
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Based on 14 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Atari

Developer: Starbreeze Studios

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter

Players: Multi

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: April 7, 2009

Summary

Taking 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 Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players are not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore. [Sierra Entertainment]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Informer

One of the year’s best deals in gaming.

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Gaming Age

A great package, and definitely worth picking up.

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GamePro

But when you step back and consider the entire package, you start to appreciate Dark Athena for what it truly is. Instead, look at Dark Athena as a flawed yet enjoyable way to extend the thrill ride that is Escape from Butcher Bay.

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Cheat Code Central

Getting two excellent single-player campaigns as well as a sizeable online offering should please fans of the original game and newcomers alike. While there are some minor graphical issues that can be found throughout both games, they thankfully never adversely affect the gameplay.

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ZTGameDomain

A very solid game, with some excellent features, and a badass main character. For your hard earned sixty bucks you can't ask for a bigger package, two full games and multiplayer. I just hope that the sales from this game inspires them to complete The Chronicles of Riddick movie trilogy, because after seeing another side of this character in these games you will want to see more of him.

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Vandal Online

The new contents are not as good as the original games, and the enemy AI could have been improved, but without doubt this is one of the most interesting launches of recent months.

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NZGamer

Players looking for a pure stealth game will be disappointed, but everyone else will find in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena a healthy mix of action, stealth and heavy weapon gameplay.

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PS3bloggen.se

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is a fun and thrilling game with lots of surprises. It comes bundled with a remake of Escape from Butcher Bay which is a nice touch, and the newly added multiplayer feature adds more hours to your gaming experience. The dark settings provides tense environments, even though it's a bit rough around the edges, but the sound and voice acting is top notch! Turn up your subwoofers for a Vin Diesel bonanza - this one's a keeper for all scifi action fans.

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Play UK

An incredible package on offer with hours' worth of great gameplay. [Issue#78, p.78]

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Games Master UK

A solidly built shooter with a hands-around-neck technique that marks it out from the crowd. [May 2009, p.62]

Gamer 2.0

With the economy on the ropes and gamers finding it harder to purchase game, you will not find a better deal than Assault on Dark Athena, which gives you two single player campaigns and a multiplayer component for one price.

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Gamers.at

For fans of the Original (TCoR:EfBB), this is nothing but a "must have". But everybody else, who's simply looking for a good, brutal shooter with stealth-elements and a cool main character, should definitely have a look too! Personally, I'm sure you won't regret it.

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Play Magazine

Never mind that Dark Athena doesn’t quite stand up to Butcher Bay. Why should it? As a package, this is an easy sell for someone looking for a moody experience of stealth, action and adventure. Nice to see a game that understands dialogue too.

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GamingExcellence

While all of the work that went into Dark Athena is appreciated it doesn’t change the fact that the pacing and level design in the original game far outshines that of anything that the expansion really brings to the table.

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PSX Extreme

With two adventures on one disc, both of which boast superb story telling, great audio, and nice visuals, The Chronicles of Riddick is a worthy purchase. The multiplayer may not be the most in-depth, but hey, at least it's there and there's some fun to be had with it.

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3DJuegos

This new Riddick package is a great chance to experience again its immense first half, that could be really unforgettable if the Dark Athena sequel was not so poor. The multiplayer, the remade visual side and the two campaigns are enough reasons to recommend it to the FPS fans.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

The package is finer than the new game, but even Dark Athena contains darkly glinting gameplay gems.

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ImpulseGamer

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena is a well made action title.

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Eurogamer Portugal

If you liked the first one, you will love this sequel. Despite being somewhat short and disappointing at the end, it can easily be offset by the fact that you will have the possibility to play the first game, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

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Playstation Universe

One hell of a deal.

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GameDaily

Both games offer plenty of action and the inclusion of Butcher Bay makes this a potential must buy, depending on how much you love the character.

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Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

A well-rounded, albeit somewhat conventional, package. [May 2009, p.80]

VideoGamer

With two great games that will take somewhere in the region of 15-20 hours to complete, superb presentation and a sense that you're playing something different to the norm, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena comes highly recommended. If it weren't for a few unfortunate bugs and the odd strange design decision that score below this paragraph might even have been a notch higher.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's absolutely worth bearing in mind when weighing up a purchase: you're getting two full games here, both dark and complex, and both well worth playing. [Mar 2009, p.86]

PSW Magazine UK

The chassis of Dark Athena is five years old and it makes for a safe and at times a predictable experience. Still, this is a Credit Crunch-busting package, and it's highly recommended...Reminds me why I love the original. The best thing Vin's done. [Apr 2009, p.91]

Gameplanet

Despite being an average FPS game, Dark Athena manages to provide solid entertainment, mainly due to the inclusion of Escape from Butcher Bay.

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Cynamite

Unfortunately Riddick hasn't evolved much in the years since Escape from Butcher Bay, while the genre definitely has. Five year old gameplay doesn't compete well with next gen games, though Riddick still copes well.

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Playstation Official Magazine Australia

A hodgepodge of intergalactic hard arse, this is a must for those wanting something moody and fresh. [May 2009, p.60]

PSM3 Magazine UK

Hit and miss action in some moody settings. [May 2009, p.60]

GameZone

Assault on Dark Athena is a great deal for players, as it gives those PS3 owners who missed out on the phenomenal Escape from Butcher Bay the chance to check it out in HD, with a host of perks. However, based solely on the strength of these perks, it’s a bit harder to recommend for those who played through Riddick’s first console game.

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GameShark

If you've never played the original game, it's well worth your time to pick it up and while Dark Athena doesn't compare, it's still fun—up to a point.

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XGN

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.

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InsideGamer.nl

The Chronicles of Riddick: AODA tries to combine several genres into one single game. The result: an average game with nothing but mediocre aspects. Vin Diesel's presence and the Riddick-license make the game enjoyable nonetheless and additional to the Assault on Dark Athena campaign, there is a full next-gen version of the original Escape from Butcher Bay game. Sadly though, this remake does not live up to modern day standards.

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TotalPlayStation

It’s fun to feel like a ridiculous badass sometimes, and Riddick has it down to a thickheaded science.

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SpazioGames

The remake of Butcher Bay is a great work: a classic game with enhanced graphics and the same great gameplay... despite this the new story, Escape From Dark Athena, is simply pointless. Multiplayer quality is too far from today standards, so it results in a valueless feature.

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IGN

The first half of the game, Escape from Butcher Bay, certain shows its age, but is still an innovative game. The sequel, however, comes off as a poor imitation. It's far more frustrating and seems more shooter than anything else. It's not a terrible game for a sequel, but it's inferior to Butcher Bay.

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Eurogamer

Assault on Dark Athena certainly isn't the next-generation sequel it deserved, and compared to the cream of the current shooter crop it's an average effort. In trying to make it consistent with its five-years-old predecessor, Starbreeze has effectively crafted a game that is inescapably and fundamentally outdated.

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games(TM)

Overall, you're getting two full games here, both involving and complex - if not a little dated - and well worth your money. [May 2009, p.104]

GameSpot

A remade classic and a passable sequel meet in this fun but inconsistent package.

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Game Positive

In the end, you get a great game and a solid sequel in the same package.

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Eurogamer Spain

As a whole, the product is quite recommendable, but it's ironic that what was supposed to be the main attraction, Assault on Dark Athena, is also is worst part from the package.

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Absolute Games

Akella, Russian distributor of the game, pulled a crazy marketing stunt. In addition to the regular PC release, it sells the game as two independent halves – Escape from Butcher Bay and Assault on Dark Athena. My gut reaction was to scold Akella for greediness, but now I see that this is an unintentional benefit. You buy the remake of one of the best action games of 2004, and forget about its defective 6-hour appendage.

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Armchair Empire

For players who missed out on the original Butcher Bay, now is the perfect opportunity to take part in the interstellar jailbreak and the following pirate raid making up its second half.

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1UP

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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Cody B. gave it a9:
When game informer; the world's number one video game magazine, rated this game a 9.5, I was like wtf, that puts a movie game in the category alongside max payne (9.5), devil may cry (9.5), kingdom hearts (9.5), metal gear solid 3 snake eater (9.5), okami (9.5), assassin's creed (9.5), oblivion (9.5), and so on. So I gave this game a chance since I know game informer is always right, this was beyond what I expected; an epic sci-fi world in space, good gameplay, delicious graphics, and the main character riddick (do I need to explain why?). You put all these together and you have yourself a good 12-15 hours experience.

Peter H gave it a10:
This one surprised me. On the surface, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena looks like your everyday first-person shooter and you'll probably think that for a little while at the beginning of the game, too, but after you play it for a little while, you won't be able to put the controller down.

Matthew W gave it a10:
One of the best game of the last 5 years, this game was criminally overlooked in 2004 on the xbox but it is back with a beautiful graphics update and a amazing new chapter. This game is worth every penny and more, even if you played the original butcher bay this is worth the price to play, trust me.

FPS Master gave it a7:
This is a hard game to score. Butcher Bay was my favorite game last generation and it's on this disc. It's better looking and a few things have been added. It's still top-notch, although graphically not as groundbreaking as it was 5 years ago even with the new graphics. Dark Athena on the other hand is the exact opposite in most ways. It looks a little better than Butcher Bay, but being a totally new game it isn't up to the standadrs gamers expect in 2009. The entire game, especially later outdoor levels, are awfully thrown together. It just has a completely tacked on to Butcher Bay feeling and will disappointment most fans. It's almost all shooting too, so non Riddick fans are going to put it right down since it doesn't really excel as a shooter. The multiplayer is tacked on also, so I doubt anyone will play it long. But it does have a cool Pitch Black mode that's fun for a few rounds. All in all, a pretty good package. Not as good as The Orange Box deal which everyone keeps comparing it to though. The 5 year old remake is the star of the show here while th other 2 offerings are nothing more than tacked on to give an impression of longer playtime. Only play or buy if you love Butcher Bay or want to try it. The rest is mediocre.

Cody B gave it a10:
Worth every penny. I loved Butcher Bay 5 years ago, and this is just as good now as it was then. I started with butcher bay and moved into Athena. It was a great gaming experience! Like I said, worth every penny.

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Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, The

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