The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
- June 11, 2004 11:42 AM PST
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Sure it?s brutal, violent, and profane, but Butcher Bay is shaping up to be a first-person prison adventure you won?t want to escape.
I know, I know -- anything with Vin ?XXX? Diesel in it must suck, right? Well, after playing a preview build of Escape from Butcher Bay, the sucking streak looks like it may be coming to an abrupt halt very soon.As a quasi-prequel to the 2000 movie Pitch Black and this summer?s upcoming Chronicles of Riddick, Escape from Butcher Bay is a first-person action title that skillfully blends elements of the stealth, shooting, and adventure genres to create a rather surprising and successful mixture of gameplay styles.
You play as Richard B. Riddick, the toughest outlaw in the universe (played by Diesel both in the game and the films) as he attempts a suicidal jailbreak from the ?triple maximum security? Butcher Bay facility. Prison is a nasty place, and whether it?s spewing from the mouths of the guards and inmates or being scribbled on the prison walls, profanity abounds in Butcher Bay, and so does mercilessly realistic violence -- complete with real-time facial deformations and lots and lots of blood.
Riddick can fight with all sorts of prison weapons, from shivs and screwdrivers to cutting-edge anti-riot gear like heavy assault rifles and shotguns, or simply beat his enemies senseless with his fists (which works remarkably well in a first-person view). Though still unpolished, the graphics are already stunningly beautiful, thanks to some clever lighting and shadow techniques, and outstanding facial animation.
