The original Chronicles of Riddick did what many considered unimaginable – it took a film franchise, and converted it into a good video game. Riddick’s first outing, Escape from Butcher Bay, was considered one of the best games of its genre on nearly all fronts, and some would even contend that it failed to receive the attention it truly deserved, despite its cinematic origins. Those who may have missed out on Riddick’s previous exploits have received a second chance in the form of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Aside from a revamped version of the original game, Dark Athena is equipped with a brand new game developed for current-generation hardware, as well as multiplayer gameplay.

This isn’t exactly The Orange Box, mind you. For one thing, only two real games are included. It is also worth noting that, despite their undisputed quality, these games are a bit on the short side. Nevertheless, this is easily one of the best packages to recently arrive on the PC for FPS action fans. The original Escape from Butcher Bay was considered a visual powerhouse in its time, so it holds up fairly well despite its age. This is due in large part to the great efforts made by the developers to upgrade the game’s visuals. Shadow and light were always an important part of the Riddick gameplay, so it is not surprising that they are the show stealers in this graphical remake. It would have been nice to see a few more things, such as animations, receive similar revisions. Still, this is much better than simply tacking on the original title untouched, which would have looked substantially more dated on modern PC hardware.

Utilizing the same elements of combat, stealth, and shooting, the sequel Assault on Dark Athena delivers a very slick presentation. Unfortunately, there are elements of the game that do feel like they could have benefited from more attention, such as enemy AI and level pacing. Although significantly more handsome than its predecessor, it almost feels as though Dark Athena was more of an expansion than an entirely new game – at least, given the amount of work that was clearly put into the original. Gameplay scenarios can range anywhere from an intense melee struggle to a somewhat contrived RPG-style fetch quest. An extended set of features might have jazzed up the gameplay a bit more, but as it stands, Dark Athena is still a very solid shooter. The multiplayer aspect, while interesting, also feels like it could have used a bit more polish. The main attraction here is the Juggernaut-style mode, with soldiers ganging up on a single Riddick, who tries to elude his foes using the trademark shadow-lurking capabilities.

Despite these grievances, Dark Athena is s a great value. Perhaps what makes it seem less impressive is the inclusion of its renewed predecessor, which almost unilaterally steals the spotlight from the entire package. Although the sequel does make an effort to introduce new elements, it makes inexplicable deviations from mechanics that made the original game so fantastic. Both of them remain very easy on the eyes – not surprising, given the emphasis on light and darkness. Audio is equally and perhaps even more impressive, with a skilled cast of voice actors lending consistent credibility to the characters, the likes of which I have not seen since Bioware’s Mass Effect. With any luck, the developers will learn from the weaker bits of Dark Athena to create a truly incredible third game for the franchise; the potential is certainly there. Although clearly too gruesome for younger audiences, Assault on Dark Athena provides more than enough entertainment for FPS lovers, even if the total package feels a little on the small side.

Gameplay: 8.0
A nice variety of mechanics at the player’s disposal keeps the game fun even after the initial play-through.

Graphics: 9.0 
Though rough in a few spots, Riddick is a fairly striking visual experience.

Sound: 9.0
Sounds and music pack pristine punch, and how can you beat Vin Diesel’s pithy baritone?

Difficulty: Medium
The AI isn’t what it should be, but the challenge is generally appropriate throughout each game.

Concept: 8.0 
A movie game that’s genuinely good? Now that’s innovation.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Multiplayer is cool, but more of a distraction than a hardcore attraction.

Overall: 8.8
Solid mechanics, lavish presentation, and strong audio all combine for one great gaming value.