Attention, attention. Calling all career assistants, Vin Diesel is on the prowl again and ready to put his career back on the right track. His first step, returning to the franchise that made him a Hollywood player: The Fast and the Furious. The fourth installment of the franchise, Fast and Furious, earned over $70 million in the box office in it’s first weekend and will undoubtedly gain another $24 million in its second weekend to pass the $100 million mark in no time. So what’s Diesel’s second step? Well, it has to be the revival of The Chronicles of Riddick franchise. Does the next installment in this thrilling saga have what it takes to bring fans back? The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is one of the best packages to release on the Xbox 360 since Valve’s The Orange Box.
Basically two-and-a-half games in one, Assault on Dark Athena is a brilliant title that deserves to be in everyone’s Xbox 360 DVD drive for the next few months. What does it offer? For one, newcomers will be able to experience the original remade with Xbox 360 HD standards. Secondly, gamers who’ve played through the original will have a whole new sequel to play through that is more action-oriented to please your needs for new material. Lastly, there’s an added in online portion to keep competitive multiplayer fans in the loop. Since it’s more than a straight up remake, the sequel’s new campaign does offer a new outlook on how Riddick could be played. The stealth aspects aren’t as heavily featured due to that the first-person mechanics are pushed to the forefront with more gun action. This isn’t necessarily a negative aspect of the title, but it certainly does feel different than the original. The original hasn’t been touched too much when it comes to feel of the gameplay and this is a definite plus since the original is one of the Xbox’s finest masterpieces.
If you’ve never played the original, it serves as a prequel to Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick film. Riddick must escape the legendary Butcher Bay fighting his way through prison brawls, getting past guards and much more. It’s an epic uphill battle and one that deserves all your time and attention. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena takes place right after the events of Butcher Bay as Riddick is captured by mercenaries, paid to hunt him down. Now once again looking to escape (and for a little retribution), this time from the confines from a gigantic mercenary ship, Riddick is once again ready to show how dangerous he can be. In comparison to the original, the sequel isn’t on par in quality in storytelling or stealth elements, but it didn’t have to be since the developer set out to deliver a unique experience.
