Why are so many of our favorite videogame heroes such understated guys? From Master Chief to Gordon Freeman to Richard B. Riddick, there’s an inverse relationship between an FPS hero’s appeal and the amount of dialogue he has. In the Assault on Dark Athena compilation, Vin Diesel’s Riddick — an anti-hero gifted with “eyeshine” that allows him to see in the dark — reprises the role that has been far more popular and successful in polygons than on film, and this über-remake of 2004’s acclaimed Escape From Butcher Bay (OXM score: 9.5, Game of the Year nominee) also features a sharp new expansion campaign and a slew of new multiplayer modes.

A deft blend of gunplay, stealth, melee combat, light platforming, uncompromising brutality, topnotch voice-acting, and ahead-of-its-time visuals, Butcher Bay stands up well today for two key reasons. First, its precise but eclectic design is still just a fun experience, even five years later. By always keeping the action fresh — you’re interacting with NPCs in the prison yard, hunting guards in the dark, blasting hybrid humans with a shotgun in a survival horror–inspired sequence, or climbing into a mech suit and spraying high-caliber bullets — this 2004 game never dulls or grows repetitive. Plus, its tried-and-true prison-break theme is perfectly suited to both the Riddick character and the firstperson genre.

Second, the game’s return is no mere port. It’s obvious that the Xbox 360 edition has been wholly rebuilt, texture by texture, and it’s still quite a head-turner. Its visual impact doesn’t match the original’s, mind you — five years ago, Butcher Bay looked like an Xbox 360 game before the console even existed — but still, the looks of this 2009 version rank among the upper echelon of the 360 catalog. It’s also buttressed by improved controls (holding RB brings up a handy weapon-select wheel) and Achievements — something you wouldn’t have gotten if they’d simply made the original game backward-compatible.

Dark Athena, meanwhile — the standalone, newly created expansion for which this package is named — is a similarly brutal, equally wellacted 10-hour campaign that adds considerable value. (Special props for Lance Henriksen’s A-list effort as Athena prisoner Dacher.) Though it’d get stabbed by Butcher Bay in a game-design knife-fight for its blatant template-following (stealth, mech, and NPC sections are all mimicked), Dark Athena has a few uneven parts that force you into one play-style. Thankfully, its characters resonate — particularly the young girl, Lynn — and its biggest moments feel huge. Even on its own, it’s worth a look. And though it’s accessible without having to finish Butcher Bay, we recommend you play the original first: Athena won’t make much sense otherwise, particularly early on.

The other big new thing is multiplayer. The Riddick universe seems ripe for online stabfests, and the Pitch Black mode is an exciting one-onfive fulfillment of that potential. With one player as a blade-wielding Riddick, the other players — armed with guns — attempt to hunt him down in total darkness, aided only by flashlights attached to their weapons. Tense stuff, and you’re guaranteed to jump out of your seat at least once per session. Unfortunately, though, the other modes are all-too-familiar. Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and company have all been done before and done better in other games, so only Pitch Black is notable…but it certainly deserves your attention.

Ultimately, the allure of this package is irresistible. Fans of the original should pick it up if for no other reason than to experience it again and own a 360-fied version. After all, it’s likely been five years since you played it. Just consider the multiplayer complement and Dark Athena campaign as bonuses.

And for those who missed out the first time, Butcher Bay remains an impeccably designed first-person adventure, while Dark Athena is a worthwhile addition and the Pitch Black multiplayer mode is among the 360’s most unique. We think we understand now why Riddick doesn’t say much: when he’s got this much content to speak for him, he doesn’t need to.

On Xbox 360

+ Escape From Butcher Bay is still amazing.

+ Pitch Black multiplayer mode is an adrenaline rush.

+ Total package is an absolute steal at $60.

? Will we ever get a true sequel, or is this Riddick's swan song?

9.0