Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

Warning: this game may contain scenes of violence and coarse language. Gamer discretion is advised.

You got it, Escape from Butcher Bay is another game not for kids!

A sequel to Pitch Black and a prequel to Chronicles of Riddick, the game ties both movies together by telling the story of Riddick’s escape from an ultimate maximum-security prison where the most violent prisoners of the universe dwell.

The gameplay progresses by changing from 1st person to 3rd person while performing certain actions, like healing, hanging from edges or climbing ladders. You might also want to notice Riddick’s shoulders when you do that, do they look a bit odd? Doesn’t it seem that the arms are dislocated? Well, if you remember Pitch Black, you’ll remember how he got out of his shackles: by dislocating his shoulders. And you will also remember Johns, the guard who arrested you. Little details like this make the game a precious gem.

As you play, you’ll notice three types of games are involved, which makes Butcher Bay such a unique game. First, you have your traditional RPG: you do favors for other prisoners and go on little “quests” to get something useful in return. Then, there’s the fighting game: you have to deal with hand-to-hand combat situations. Finally, the first-person shooter: grab your gun and shoot everyone and their mothers.

Although you can’t use weapons right away (the recognition system makes it impossible for anyone to touch a weapon except for the guard it belongs to), you will have to rely on your physical strength and stealth to dispose of those who stand in the way of your freedom.

Stealth mode shows in blue tones, a sort of night vision. You don’t begin the game with Riddick’s special eyesight, so seeing in the dark doesn’t come until later on in the game. Until then, it’s a sneaking game of hiding in the shadows, attacking from behind and hiding corpses to prevent being discovered.

When you do get the “vision upgrade”, then by all means, disable all the lights so you can use and abuse this cool skill. You won’t be using weapons for a while, but you’ll find a handy “shock gun” that will let you shoot lamps from a distance.

There are lots of little features to unlock along the way, disguised as packs of cigarettes. This is cool for two reasons: first, because it’s an extra; second, because there are really hilarious sayings written on the packs such as “Do not feed to children.” and “Cigarettes cause smoke.”. Make sure you read them for a few laughs (that is, if you have a twisted sense of humor like I do).

The dialogs are very nicely crafted and the voice acting is great. The music is top notch and the sound effects are extremely realistic. And the graphics and textures are so numerous that you can be sure you won’t see the same character twice (unless it’s a guard in armor, that’s the exception).

I also enjoyed the menu screen, maybe a bit too much, since flipping it over and over was a hobby for me just to see it reform the words.

However, there are a couple of “buts”. First of all, the game is short. Yes, there’s replay value, but only for the challenge of a higher difficulty. Secondly, don’t get excited when you see “Xbox Live” on the back of the case. There is no online option for playing, only a feature that lets you know which of your friends are online. Quite a disappointment, since this game would have been a blast to play with a friend.

But overall, Escape from Butcher Bay will definitely surprise and impress the most doubtful gamer.