The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Review PC Game Review

Support me on Patreon: tinyurl.com/zd48qvf
Follow me on Twitter: / ggdograa
Join the Gggmanlives Steam Group: steamcommunity.com/groups/gggm...
Reddit Fanpage: / gggmanlives
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is a science fiction first-person action video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X. The game is a sequel to The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, which was remade and included along with the Assault on Dark Athena campaign. The game was released on April 7, 2009. A demo was released on Xbox Live on March 4, 2009, with a PlayStation Network release following on March 12, 2009. Virtual Programming released the Mac OS X version on April 16, 2010 as a download through Deliver2Mac.com and other digital distribution web sites.
The game was developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by Atari. According to Ian Stevens, Head of Production at Tigon Studios, the decision to do a remake was because Microsoft could not make the Xbox 360 backward compatible with Escape from Butcher Bay, and because they wanted to get the Escape story to a larger audience before progressing further.
Dark Athena has improved graphics and AI from Butcher Bay along with the addition of a multiplayer mode. The single player mode has also been expanded to include Riddick escaping onto a mercenary ship called Dark Athena. Vin Diesel, the voice and likeness of the title character, was involved in the production of Assault on Dark Athena.

[@Kem1kal13]

Vin Diesel was born to play Riddick. Could you really imagine anyone else?

[@Jake-vg2oq]

Yh me

[@amebchen]

Jason Statham

[@glitterbrains69]

@@amebchen who's your dealer? i want some of that

[@amebchen]

@@glitterbrains69 Because I'm so right or so wrong? :D

[@glitterbrains69]

@@amebchen soooooo wrong man, c'mon now. Statham's accent alone would kill it, more like monty pythons Riddick haha

[@darkriff777]

In Prey 2017, you can become the teacup.

[@okurcute]

In Prey 2017, you can become the teacup

[@okurcute]

@James Ervin it's a damn shame there isn't a bow emote but I'll try my best, 🙏👺

[@TheMikeWithaD]

When that latest Riddick movie came out, I played through these two games and watched all the movies in chronological order and it was pretty great. Even watched that weird Dark Fury anime.

[@officialkidwizard]

Chronicles of Rueben: Assault on Expectations ft. Sonny Jim Prime

[@Ghost1170]

DLC: Angry Sonny Jim, Return of GGG the Undisputed

[@RealCoachMustafa]

I wish the sequel to this game would get developed. I loved both this and Escape from Butcher Bay. Sad that it didn't sell well enough for them to continue the series.

[@totallykyle484]

Such a good series but I blame fortnite.

[@DarkGhostPepper]

@@totallykyle484 Why?

[@xman777b]

I would recommend Syndicate

[@amazingdany]

Starbreeze studios is not what it used to be anymore.

[@UVtec]

"Is she coming back?" "When I say goodbye, it's forever."

[@chris.shamblin]

The Riddick franchise survived and has grown based solely on the passion of Vin Diesel and David Twohy. It's really impressive. It's a cool universe, too. I'd love to see more games and movies. I'd be happy with some novels, too.

[@m-copyright]

Dark Athena is better than Butcher Bay? Yeah right Sonny Jim.

[@Gggmanlives]

Fight me.

[@cheyenegarwood9875]

i love you man 0_o

[@Sarevok57]

hahahahahhahahahahaha, perfect come back

[@m-copyright]

Alright. Name the place, date and time and I'll be there.

[@Gggmanlives]

muiecopyright Right now, your house. I'm out the front.

[@AyyMatto]

I’m GGGMAN, and this is my Review Channel. I work here with my Reuben sandwich and my son, Sonny Jim, Everything on here has a story and a price tag. One thing I’ve learned after 3-4 years - you never know WHAT is gonna come through that comment section. Come on skype by the way bitch.

[@salokin3087]

I second that

[@AyyMatto]

He's too cool for for us now, thought we were his main bitches, ya feel?

[@salokin3087]

PenguinSpaceMarine :"( i'm willing to be his sandwhich bitch if that what it takes.

[@JohnathanMahones]

You sir have made my day.

[@AyyMatto]

No john, you've made my day babe.

[@Gfunk839]

Sonny Jim

[@salokin3087]

No, he's our Master Jim

[@Flaynustheflayedanus4815]

BIG DADDY JIM

[@Gfunk839]

Tristan Jones I was first so had to think of something to post quick

[@DankDawson]

Jonny Sim

[@mehmet5389]

Jonny Sins

[@b1thearchitect401]

The package of Butcher Bay & Dark Athena together is an incredible package. I had heard over the years that Dark Athena was a bit weaker, but I'm nearly finished it and I can honestly say i think those people are just straight up wrong. If anything, I think the only real issue with it is that it doesn't significantly change the gameplay formula in any major way from Butcher bay. But if you look at it as an extension of the same game or a DLC type piece of content, it's really quite phenomenal. Some great voice acting, level design, IMO improved combat, stealth and gunplay. It's just a really great package overall, and playing these 2 games on modern hardware at 4k 120 fps it's pretty impressive just how damn good some of the lighting & animations still look

[@Sumbdy_u_know1999]

Game looks so good at 4k . ID tech engine has its own stylistic graphics which that wont ever get outdated, I remember reading about Butcher Bay on a NAG gaming Magazine along with Half-Life 2, it received great scores and reviews when it released back then

[@lightseeker6066]

Exactly my thoughts! So happy to have both the 360 and the pc version, to play it in 4K 60fps. Those animations deserve to be seen with a buttery smooth framerate.

[@wesleybcrowen]

This is the first time I've seen someone giving this a positive review, let alone thinking it's superior to Butcher Bay. I thought it's just ok for what it is.

[@salokin3087]

Riddick: Big Daddy Edition

[@DrearierSpider1]

I replied to you again on the EfBB video, but KZbin seemingly deleted it. Would you be interested in going into that debate further over Skype and/or as a livestream?

[@salokin3087]

+DrearierSpider1 eh it depends, what subjects and why. Look just pm me via my gmail on my channel. Don't hack me now!

[@salokin3087]

DrearierSpider1 Though, tbh, i am surprised.

[@shagmeister3885]

We need a third game so bad. Who’s still playing these two in 2021?

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Can you even play the STEAM version nowadays? (Yes! I have it)

[@RevanStarrrR]

Don't really see how this is better than Butcher Bay. Butcher Bay was made unique by its prison setting. Aside from the Drones, this is pretty standard sci-fi. I liked this game but Butcher Bay is among my all-time favorites.

[@Gggmanlives]

"Aside from what makes this unique, there's nothing unique about it"

[@NSFSponsor]

+Mr. Mojo Risin' Hey he was just pointing out something that doesn't quite make much sense. Not like he said "nuh uh u wrong dum ass"

[@RevanStarrrR]

The Drones give the game an unique story element but as far as gameplay goes, their general behavior is not much different from standard human enemies. The prison setting of Butcher Bay affects nearly everything in the game.

[@SA80TAGE]

Yep pretty much how I see it... I'd have played Butcher Bay just for being a futuristic prison break game even without the Riddick name, Athena only got my attention because of it, and because of it's status as a sequel. Butcher Bay felt like "a week in the life of Riddick" and is centred round an important point in Riddicks life, when he got his eyeshine, adding to the lore... Athena felt like a forced and contrived story purposefully giving us someone we can feel justified in killing along with a faceless army and adds very little if anything at all. Compare the smug "villains" of Butcher Bay that really make you hate them, despite not all of them being corrupt dickheads, they're prison guards after all technically the good guys, some with families and with that context suddenly you have actually became the boogeyman known as Riddick. That guard who's neck you just snapped... that was Gary, he was struggling to support his family and had to leave his kids long term to take a job in another solar system guarding the scum of the universe. Athena gave us faceless drones lacking humanity and freewill to mindlessly slaughter. And even the drone sequences aren't all that unique to Athena, there are a couple sections where Riddick jumps in the walking tank power suits and cuts loose in Butcher Bay but are rare and short lived. Killing that cunt of a Warden never gets old either, satisfying no matter how much times you do it, just because the writing really makes you hate the guy. Any game where we get to kill Xzibit always earns bonus points too.

[@rasamafu4823]

#Garydidnothingwrong

[@salokin3087]

But...but i thought powerful and non-Sexualised female characters didn't exist! Such madness Sonny Jim!

[@bergonath8851]

Yeah, it's fucking weird. Where's her space bikini armor?

[@salokin3087]

Good point, this game's garbage now

[@salokin3087]

+BananaCriesSheep unfortunately for him, yes I am that scumbag

[@Gggmanlives]

Top dog comment again.

[@salokin3087]

Gggmanlives You can't fucking stop me bruh

[@larry69champ]

Surprised to see such a positive review. I'm sure you can understand why we loved Butcher Bay back 12 years ago if your enjoying this one. Good review.

[@VelvetSky1102]

Butcher Bay is more memorable

[@honoredshadow1975]

Agree. Just played both.

[@ordohereticus3427]

Phenomenal game. Or rather, phenomenal remaster of one great game paired with a sequel as a bonus in one package deal.

[@herohunter81]

I’m glad you usually tell what systems the games were on in the beginning.

[@ToasterNinja]

This is the first positive review I've seen of this game.

[@piggosalternateaccount4917]

I miss games like these.

[@TheDeadbart]

Another well made review , well done my man

[@mbe102]

Are you going to do a review of Dark Ath- oh... oh here we are :D.

[@jgunner280]

Nice review. Feels weird to hear someone say Dark Athena was the better game, but I wont exactly argue as I haven't played through this one fully yet. What I did play of it so far was pretty great though, and felt like a good follow-up. Either way I can't imagine anyone going wrong with either game, and with the double pack deal, they're just great games.

[@chris0.o]

Great video as always. You know what would be cool? You know that ice planet Riddick hides out on at the beginning of TCoR movie and butcher bay? How about if you get to play as Riddick (fps of course) hopping planets while being tailed by multiple bounty hunters? Would be pretty cool. I love the Riddick series. Someone get on it! Lol cheers

[@stormoninja7869]

Keep up the good work Gggman.

[@Pulsed101]

Don't normally care for reviews but these are really well done and entertaining to watch.

[@andrewstagg7603]

I really enjoyed both Riddick games on the 360 , great review.

[@modernmobster]

hey gggmanlives, id really love to see a retro review of fur fighters. not a title many have heard of but I remember loving the game and it having an incredible soundtrack.

[@chrisevans5082]

God I'd forgotten about these games. Played them to death on the xbox. Just picked both games up for pc at a bargain 11 quid from gog.com and played 4 hours straight. As good as recall . Thanks for the reminder and one of the main reasons I subscribe to your channel!

[@Zeratulnz]

Thanks for your videos, good stuff keep it up.

[@pleasebekindtwnty4sven]

Lol I don't even want some of these games he's reviewing I just love his reviewing overall it's just so interesting to watch although I don't want the games he does such a great job on everything I love this channel

[@sufu__]

love your stuff man. Can you review SB's other game syndicate?

[@BoroPrideHoorah]

Would love a new review on this with actual gameplay footage

[@nonamebob8012]

I'll need to take a look at this ...loved the first game when it was released, really a surprise hit since movie license games are usually so bad

[@meisterproper8304]

Bob Rolf at least they are better than video game movies, I can only say Uwe Boll....

[@DooMedSean]

I love the movies and wish they would continue the games. Having just found out they are working on a 4th Riddick movie I have hopes for a new game, but I'm not holding out high hopes for another game sadly. I know this review is old, but I'm just diving into the games and movies , but the fact that I have so much to get into is still a lot to digest. But I feel when I'm done, I'm going to be left with the feeling of wanting more. These games are fantastic, and I hope at some point in time that there will be another game at some point. I'm just glad that there's another movie on the way!

[@TuNrIs]

You seem to be able good at keeping an open mind. That's admirable!

[@cheyenegarwood9875]

legend has it, if its ur bday, your fave youtuber will reply to you!

[@Gggmanlives]

Is it your birthday?

[@cheyenegarwood9875]

0-0 omfg i just died....

[@cheyenegarwood9875]

yes...

[@Gggmanlives]

BuZz CheruB Well happy bday then sonny jim!

[@cheyenegarwood9875]

love u man! hope you reach 1 mil one day!

[@leegreen8344]

Was surprised at how polished and enjoyable the sequel was since it didn't have the same reputation as the original. Great game, and that final line was epic.

[@stefanm.734]

RIP PC version. While you can still find copies of this version floating around, it has a DRM called Tages that is no longer functional, making it impossible to activate your key. There are some workarounds on the Internet, but a lot of these are questionable and involve downloading cracks.

[@sting7789]

The Darkness, Riddick games was the reason Starbreeze was badass.

[@skutsenkow]

I always thought these games were really fun and well done.

[@yfrank5919]

the SCAR gun is the bane of this game's existence... that gun pissed me off so hard.

[@OldeVikingOriginal]

I think that the level design in this game is inferior to the first one though, still a great game. Awesome review as always!

[@DanielLehmannMusic]

Assault on Dark Athena was a pretty good game, but storywise I liked Butcher Bay more. The setting & story was just way better and it felt much more like an interactive movie because of the atmosphere.

[@mancamiatipoola]

I love it how Gggman says "sonny jim" whenever he is irritated by something or to accentuate something. Is this a common auzzie expression?

[@s.sradon9782]

Good luck getting the PC version running!

[@johnpatrickfay5288]

2020 And still a stellar package..

[@trobriandstorm]

Great sequel, not as great as the first one but still a great sequel. And yes, this is easily the game with the best voice acting i've played.

[@UncleDaniel]

try legacy of kain series. theres no better voice acting

[@FallenOne3]

The Syndicate reboot from 2012 (also from Starbreeze) abuses bloom and depth of field effects. I hope you review it someday.

[@BlackSmokeDemonOG]

I might start this game again

[@shanetaylor761]

I was feeling nostalgic and decided to watch this video(recurring theme in alot of gman videos I watch). And I can't help be impressed with how well these graphics hold up. I remember at the time this game looking amazing. Sadly I hated stealth games except for mgs which was too good for me to not play.

[@TheKingArabia]

This game looks amazing although it is from 2009!!! It looks more beautiful than many half-assed recent games like Syndrome that I hate so much!!!

[@TechnologicallyTechnical]

Nice, checked his channel right when he uploaded. Wonder if he'll review an old first-person game called Titanic-Adventure Out Of Time.

[@peppermillers8361]

man, that would be swell.

[@MrSammersELsoho]

We need a sequel with Vin Diesel as a producer as he was deeply involved with the first two great series not many celebritys can say they have been in two awesome and loved games.

[@DrearierSpider1]

Hmm, never played Assault on Dark Athena, but most people seem to deem it inferior to Escape from Butcher Bay. I've got it in my GOG library, I'll have to give it a go soon.

[@ilmanu2275]

Because it is. whereas in escape from butcher bay you had the freedom to approach the enemies in the way you preferred, in this one you just go shooting brainless drones after drones after drones after drones after clunky climbing sections in places after retarded bossfights and then again, guess what, shooting drones. I read once it was made just to appeal to new console gamers for a sequel that never happened, a bonus for the remastered EFBB, and it shows. I stopped playing after a bit because it was really boring. At least in the design section they did a fair good job, even if sometimes it seems a rehash of the borg from Star Trek, but to my opinion it is perfectly skippable. Not that much of a loss.

[@ilmanu2275]

There is only one short instance in which it is required, it is forced and not the result of the player choice, whereas in EFBB to me it feels more of a strategic option than anything else, except maybe for the X-bit bossfight.

[@risingmoon2270]

Hey triple G could ya do a review or a mod corner (whatever you prefer) of some fps dos game mixed with super Mario? Super Mario doom, super dukem bros just to name a few. If you think about doing it thanks in advance sonny Jim!

[@justsomeguy8385]

I beat Dark Athena in probably 4 hours too. I wished it was longer, but it's just an expansion when it comes down to it. I never expected it to be as long as the original.

[@TheJrm166]

i must agree with you, aoda was much better. It felt like the developers actually listened and improved on *most* problems. Another great video!

[@vinterskog]

I need to replay this, I have a very fond memory of it. BTW, sick and tired to hear in so many reviews of this game that the previous one was better, which simply isn't true. Butcher Bay was good but clunky. Nice to see we're on the same page.

[@KingLouis51]

I'd really like to see you review Syndicate (2012) -- I feel as though the only person who enjoyed that game as much as I did was Jeff Gerstmann. It gets so much hate but personally I thought the combat and co-op were outstanding and its only real flaw was its short length. On a side note... while it's a good game, there is no way Assault on Dark Athena is "far superior" to Escape from Butcher Bay!

[@rainabsolute2087]

Damn, i have to buy this game, dark and futuristic action with bad ass Vin. I love movies also, so lets check this. Thanks Sonny Jim!

[@johnnyringo5777]

Riddick is such a weird property. It feels like the kinda story that would've been based on a comic but it isn't

[@srankedchad8330]

GGGman,would you review Metriod Prime Federation Force if you have a 3DS?

[@wikan90]

I really want a sequel or at least more game like this...

[@Enroth186]

You should review Starbreeze's Syndicate game sometime ;)

[@JoshMC2000]

so dump question in bound. (Im Sorry if you have already answered this) if i get this of G2a for steam will it come with the remastered bucher bay

[@cyborgparrot1996]

Can you do a Review of Dino D-day, that WW2 FPS with Dinosaurs?

[@killerkendro]

Loved Butcher Bay so damn much. Underrated classic. Just could t get into Dark Athena… it’s just felt like less

[@skullkrusher4078]

Wish they would put both of these games on Playstation Now. Played Butcher Bay on both XBOX and PS3 several times, but only got to play Dark Athena thru once.

[@abman136]

Were you able to play this game on Windows 10 without drm troubles or did you play it on older windows because I heard that people had a hard time playing it at all doing this? I just wanted to play to this game, but I didn't want to waste my money with this problem.

[@starkiller23610]

Just bought the Riddick trilogy and anime just to play this game!!.. Also he movies are welcome.

[@detectivelizard9532]

Everyone appears to be yelling Sonny Jim in the comment section... Sonny Jim.

[@461Masterchief]

Speaking of movie-based games, have you checked out Blade Runner from 1997 made by Westwood Studios? The game is abondonware, so you can get it for free legaly. It does run on modern systems if you get a fan-made patch, fuck with the compatibility settings and run it in 640x480.

[@portalfreak7628]

1. Didn't the guys who made this also make the new wolfenstein games? 2. I'm not sure why, but the type font used in this game for E button prompts makes it feel "budget title-y", not to say that the game's bad or good it's just something I noticed and don't know why.

[@aedanclarke]

MachineGames are made up of developers that worked at Starbreeze, yes.

[@kombat1275]

No Wolfenstein is id

[@kombat1275]

+Aedan Clarke no because if people from starbreeze moved to machine games, than machine games isn't starbreeze it different

[@kombat1275]

+Aedan Clarke and just because some of the devs of starbreeze moved to machine games than the game is not machine games its starbreeze then again no

[@kylele23]

+Kombat127 Gaming The question was "Didn't the guys who made this also make the new Wolfenstein games?" Notice the "Guys" in the question. If it's the same guys, it's the same guys, company or not.

[@Larry]

I really enjoyed Dark Athena, but it did feel like a DLC pack because of it's longevity. My downside is the multiplayer is the most laziest addition I've ever seen for a game, the maps are literally a couple of cubes and the odd slope to run up and down, something you'd make in 30 seconds in a level editor. There is a sort of predator mode where 4 players take on Riddick (they did it before Evolve :D), but it feels half complete.

[@RazKob33]

All I wonder is, when are we going to finally see Riddick go back to Furya?

[@momsspaghetti7719]

Does anyone remember that extra snow mission what happened with that was it a dlc or were they planning on making a 3rd one

[@johnpatrickfay5288]

Butcher/Athena are both great games.

[@moonerboi313]

That music after you finish the game tho...

[@jojotoofor9eight766]

Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport and Irom Storm PC review

[@locomotivere4497]

we need to fix the checkpoint system! Rio, beach volley, Military boat.

[@RSK412]

excellent vid.

[@nameless5413]

i have exact inverse reaction to Butcher's vs athena than Gman, infact i utterly hate the final fight in athena, whereas the butcher's has brutal RIDDICKoulousness.

[@mattc7420]

I heard some people say the new Indiana Jones looks like this game. I'm intrigued.

[@AkifZahid]

2019 ? Sonny Jim

[@hemangchauhan2864]

So, what's your thought on the the original Butcher Bay vs. the 2009 package (remaster BB + Dark Athena)? I heard many people saying that the original BB should have been left untouched, and the 'remaster' botched it. So, I'm kinda worried.

[@aedanclarke]

Calm yourself, Johns.

[@Mr_Meatbox]

I'd love Dark Athena if it was a little longer

[@StarFury2]

Ex-Bob is the best character here :)

[@grumpymonk824]

You ever going to go back and review any old cod games ( finest hour, big red one etc)

[@jhm8798]

Could kill dudes with coffee cups in one of the Hitman games. And good game, good review dude

[@lukasgamcik1614]

Silent Hill retrospective please :)

[@blueshit199]

Totally agreed. I had a lot more fun playing AoDA than I had in EfBB (it's still a good game, but Dark Athena is better imo) :)

[@sneezyfaun8728]

BlueShit199 never thought I'd see you here

[@marten4975]

I actually enjoyed Butcher Bay more, Dark Athena felt like a non-canon fan fiction. Where Butcherbay was a origin story. I'm one of few people who favors lore/story more than gameplay/design.

[@theblacksheep1000]

06:48 LMFAO wow such a mind reada!

[@wade_says]

Just got it for PS3

[@BobExcalibur]

OW THE EDGE

[@josealvarez8830]

I think they did those weird camera angles during cut scenes to simulate the movie feel

[@Crow667]

Nice review, personally though I thought Dark Athena was worse. The boss battle at then end is especially laughable.