The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay Image
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 84 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 117 Ratings

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  • Summary: The most wanted man in the universe comes to your neighborhood in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. Set before the events of two movies, The Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black, the game tells the story of Riddick's escape from the previously inescapable maximum securityThe most wanted man in the universe comes to your neighborhood in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. Set before the events of two movies, The Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black, the game tells the story of Riddick's escape from the previously inescapable maximum security prison Butcher Bay, which is home to the most violent prisoners in the galaxy. Battle your enemies in first-person or third-person views using shooting, stealth, or hand-to-hand combat. With Riddick's eye-shine, you can easily see through the dark to take out your foes. Expand
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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay - Developer's Cut Gameplay Movie 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 84
  2. Negative: 0 out of 84
  1. 100
    Enormously high production value adds to the pleasure of playing this game. It's no exaggeration to say that these graphics are the best you've ever seen in a console game...A masterpiece.
  2. Official Xbox Magazine
    95
    This cracking game also proves the Xbox truly is the only console capable of running games with this level of immersion...Riddick should be waved in the face of every PS2 fanboy with a taunting "nyah, nyah." [Aug 2004, p.72]
  3. What's most interesting about even this game, though, is that in spite of its being single-player only, we're just as eager to go back and keep playing. With the exception of a few linear and otherworldly levels (which, by the way, out-Doom Doom), there are enough ways to try to escape from Butcher Bay that it's hard not to think about playing again.
  4. Often masterful, rarely boring, and beautifully presented - from the minimalist HUD and maximalist visuals to the reactive Gregson-Williams-inspired scoring and conversational feel of the dialogue. It is a critical darling because it dares to keep changing and still manages to maintain a high standard in spite of this. It satisfies our lust for variation and our lust for technical excellence.
  5. The average length of the game showcases the only real drawback to the game: its lack of substantial replay value. However, the open-ended structure, combined with the fact that every minute of the game is a satisfying experience, warrants at least a second time through.
  6. Each non-playable character was highly unique in their appearance, voice, accent and behaviour which helps to get across the notion that the prison is truly teeming with life, individual personalities, groups of friends, rivals and enemies.
  7. Boomtown
    70
    Unlike many other games, there is little satisfaction in the subtle degrees between the player's success and failure, only the obstacles in the way of the next point in the plot.

See all 84 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 63
  2. Negative: 1 out of 63
  1. Jun 1, 2013
    10
    Been a Riddick fan since the film Pitch Black and this game doesn't disappoint at all! Great stealth mechanics, good story, and an awesomeBeen a Riddick fan since the film Pitch Black and this game doesn't disappoint at all! Great stealth mechanics, good story, and an awesome prequel to the Riddick franchise! Expand
  2. ExcitedMan
    Jun 14, 2004
    10
    I got this game after the high reviews and hot screen shots. it is so much better than i expected it to be, this game ROCKS!!!. let me startI got this game after the high reviews and hot screen shots. it is so much better than i expected it to be, this game ROCKS!!!. let me start by saying, go buy this game now. owning an xbox and not buying this game is unforgivable. even though you hate fps and stealth, this game is a work of art that needs to be experienced. lets talk about the cool things: you can beat people up and see their faces all get bloody and bruised. rag doll effects in death and fight and body drag situations. you can sneak from behind and stick a screw driver in some bastards neck, blood sparying all over. you can throw the victims body over a ledge. the profanity in this game is overwhelmingly fun. you can hang out in the jail, talk to people and do favors for them such as finding things and beating up other inmates. graphics are better than halo...yup you heard me correct. hell, the games menu system alone is better than most xbox games out there; you have to see it to understand this. the stealth move and hide is also great and works well. the guns are nice and feel heavy, one bullet head shots and brain meets wall stuff is here and alive. you can grab a guards gun if you do it right, you can use his gun to blow his frickin head off, i mean come on!!!...thats cool. the colors, lighting and production design is so elegant and well done that i felt like i was there-in this kick ass sci-fi world...where you feel compasion and hate towards charachters, where you get scared and feel heroic at times, where you realize how big and fricking cool this prison you are in looks and is and how much brain gook you need to splatter to escape it.....riddick has set the new standard in action games. along with halo and splinter cell, riddick sits there high on top. Expand
  3. VideoGamer
    May 17, 2005
    10
    This is one of the best or maybe even the best action game on the Xbox. The grapchics in the game are the best I´ve seen on the system This is one of the best or maybe even the best action game on the Xbox. The grapchics in the game are the best I´ve seen on the system and the sounds, especially the music and the voice acting, are great too. The game controlls well and the storyline is interesting to follow. The game is a little on the short side, but it has a lot of replay value. For me this is the best game on the Xbox up to date. Expand
  4. Railer
    Jun 6, 2004
    9
    "and please don't rate games based on hype..." I would rather say "and please don't rate games based on demos..." Since the frame "and please don't rate games based on hype..." I would rather say "and please don't rate games based on demos..." Since the frame rate issues DOES NOT exist in the retail version. Expand
  5. Wongit
    Jan 9, 2005
    9
    Amazing, best game i have ever seen...great gameplay. only downside is its waaaaaay to short. this is the first time i been craving more of Amazing, best game i have ever seen...great gameplay. only downside is its waaaaaay to short. this is the first time i been craving more of such a magnificent game. Expand
  6. RedE.
    Jun 25, 2004
    9
    I like it, i like it a lot, but i wish it had multi play. i can also look past the jaggies, the gameplay and the story make up for it.
  7. KenE.
    May 25, 2004
    1
    Judging by the demo which I'm sure won't change a bit before release uh...Stiff Control + Jerky/Awkward Animations + Inconsistent Judging by the demo which I'm sure won't change a bit before release uh...Stiff Control + Jerky/Awkward Animations + Inconsistent framerate due to a graphics engine being used that is too much for the xbox to handle = Big pile of poop!!! Thanks but I'd rather play Nightcaster 2....yeah right this game will make the wait for Halo 2 more bearable. Chronicles will get the sleeper hit of the year award Expand

See all 63 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

9
7
#7 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2004
25
#25 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2004