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THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ESCAPE FROM BUTCHER BAY (XBOX)
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Publisher: Sierra.
Developer: Starbreeze Studios. Released: August 2004 (Europe). Genre: FPS; Stealth Adventure. Other versions: PC. Posted 24th June 2020. By Shane Battams © 2020 |
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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is one of the notable exceptions to the rule that movie tie-in games must be lacklustre. It would prove a breakout hit for Starbreeze, despite financial difficulties nearly leading to the game’s cancellation. One of the Xbox’s finest technical showcases, this first-person adventure would successfully meld disparate gameplay elements to create a unique experience. A prison-break setting ties things together, suiting the character perfectly, while a narrative that’s faithful to its source added to the lore of the anti-hero. All this resulted in a superb game, which stands out amongst stiff competition on the Xbox. Escape from Butcher Bay is an impressive melding of technical prowess, mechanically sound gameplay and a story that’s bolstered by its Hollywood source, rather than hindered by it.
As the title suggests, Escape from Butcher Bay sees Richard B. Riddick confined to the titular prison after bounty hunter Johns hands him in. Hounded by corrupt guard Abbott, Riddick begins to use his resourcefulness to find a way to escape. Serving as a prequel to the first two Riddick films, this narrative is incredibly strong, bolstered by a slew of good performances from notable actors. Diesel, reprising his role, does a tremendous job capturing the gruff, straightforward tone of the hero, delivering awesome one-liners with aplomb. You can see clearly the influence of films such as Escape from Alcatraz, but these touches only elevate the narrative when it swerves in differing directions. Some little side plots, such as how Riddick acquired his special vision, prove enticing for fans of the source, but it’s easily navigable for those with no prior knowledge of the films.
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Escape from Butcher Bay provides an all-too-rare example of a film license put to brilliant use
Held aloft by three styles of gameplay, Butcher Bay never grows tiring. As you navigate around the prison and several different zones, you’ll need to sneak, punch and shoot your way around when needed. Melee combat is remarkably fun for the time, embodying the weight and ugliness of a scrap. With different moves mapped to the left stick and a sturdy block which protects against fists (though not weapons, you’ll find yourself trying out combos and it flows really well. Shooting is similar, with robust physics which feel heavy and realistic, rather than speed-shooters like Quake. Laser aiming makes pulling off headshots a breeze, but dogged A.I. utilises cover to create a real challenge. Lastly, stealth makes use of Riddick’s love of the dark. Deep, thick lighting allows you to hide in shadows, as well as disable sources of light to create a wider radius of cover. While quirks such as inconsistent A.I. can ruin clean runs, it never feels too punishing when you’re caught. Sporting three distinct styles which, at the time, were rarely combined to this effect, Butcher Bay’s mechanics keep it compelling to the end.
FOCAL POINT: BUTCHER BAY
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The prison itself is a key component. Butcher Bay is extremely well realised; like a cross between a gritty prison drama and the sci-fi films of the late 70s. The grime-caked walls, rough inmates with filthy clothes and a plethora of security systems lend the place a claustrophobic feel. When you have the opportunity though, exploring can prove fruitful. A handful of side quests pop up through each part of the game, ranging from collecting a pair of mislaid glasses, to fighting other prisoners in an arena. Smokes, the game’s collectibles, can be found strewn around the environments, or in the possession of the more entrepreneurial inmates who accept cash or drug moths as payment. Prisoners have unique names, identities and personalities, with interactions revealing their thoughts on your actions as you play. They can lend you an advantage too, selling melee weapons or tools, which in turn opens up more routes through the prison. This means, while sitting at around 10 hours to complete, there is great incentive to return.
Starbreeze’s engine was seriously impressive for its time, creating one of the Xbox’s best-looking games. The “real-mapping” technique used in games like Doom 3 results in impressive texturing and smooth edges which brings the dank prison to life. The lighting is even better, adding thick layers of darkness around corners which prove a key part of stealth and heighten the atmosphere of Butcher Bay. Characters look great, with a nice re-creation of Vin Disel which you sometimes catch a glimpse of in cutscenes and occasional third-person moments. Despite how much it pushes the console, performance runs well, though the trade-off seems to be a bit of fuzziness when looking at distant objects. The sound excels too, with great voicework from the star-studded cast, a script which – thanks to tutelage from Diesel and writer David Twohy – feels faithful to the films and hard-hitting sound effects, ranging from the brutal strikes of combat to potently loud gunfire.
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That’s not to say everything works out flawlessly, as some issues can dog the game on occasions. Stealth usually works great, but there’s a nasty tendency for enemies to spot you sometimes despite facing the other way, particularly giant mech suits which are a major pain to fight. This can cause problems, as you’ll spend most of the game unarmed. A couple of sequences involving boss fights can also prove tedious, particularly a melee scrap with Abbott which is insanely difficult. The flowing nature of the prison is also effective, leading to a more continuous experience rather than a level-by-level case, but this can lead to frequent stops as the game has to load a new area, which can take you out of the experience. This is a shame, as a minimalistic HUD which places ammo counters on guns and rarely pops up with health blocks, goes a long way to immersing you into this world.
But these feel like minor qualms in the grand scheme of things, and Escape from Butcher Bay is a significant cut above most licensed fare. A hugely successful blend of melee, stealth and shooting means the gameplay is enjoyable until the end, and when mixed with the carefully crafted, expansive Butcher Bay, players will lose themselves easily in Riddick’s story. When you also factor in stunning graphics, Hollywood-quality sound and side content which encourages repeat visits, it comes together immensely well. It goes to show how high the bar was set here, as Butcher Bay remains one of the best movie tie-ins ever released, some 16 years after its initial launch.
But these feel like minor qualms in the grand scheme of things, and Escape from Butcher Bay is a significant cut above most licensed fare. A hugely successful blend of melee, stealth and shooting means the gameplay is enjoyable until the end, and when mixed with the carefully crafted, expansive Butcher Bay, players will lose themselves easily in Riddick’s story. When you also factor in stunning graphics, Hollywood-quality sound and side content which encourages repeat visits, it comes together immensely well. It goes to show how high the bar was set here, as Butcher Bay remains one of the best movie tie-ins ever released, some 16 years after its initial launch.
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VERDICT
"Stunning graphics, Hollywood-quality sound and side content which encourages repeat visits... Butcher Bay is bolstered by its source material, rather than hindered by it." OVERALL: 9/10 |