The History of Vin Diesel's Surprisingly Excellent Riddick Games

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When Pitch Black released in the year 2000, moviegoers were treated to a flawed, yet entertaining slice of science fiction. Its plot - which saw a crew of interstellar travelers band together to survive a hostile planet - was formulaic, but its setting and cast captured the imagination. And no other character on its cast did so better than Richard B. Riddick. An enigmatic antihero portrayed by Vin Diesel, Riddick’s mixture of smarts and physical abilities proved decently popular, and all but guaranteed that audiences would be seeing him once more on the silver screen.
Few could have predicted that on the eve of his next cinematic appearance, a little-known Swedish game developer called Starbreeze would release a expertly-crafted video game starring the anti-hero - and that it would prove more popular than the movie it released alongside. This game was Escape from Butcher Bay, a stealth-centric action title that followed Riddick’s numerous attempts to escape from a maximum security prison using whatever means necessary.
While circumstances surrounding its release prevented Butcher Bay from being as massive of a success as Starbreeze wanted it to be, its critical acclaim put the studio on the map - and before long, a follow-up called Assault on Dark Athena made its way to market. The latter featured a higher emphasis on action over stealth, and ended up being less well received. But its reception did little to sully its predecessor’s legacy - or prevent the people who made it from eventually going on to do bigger, better things.
This is the videogame history of the Chronicles of Riddick.
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[@UncleSalie]

Notice how there's no HUD in the gameplay. All weapons have laser sights, and when in stealth mode, Riddick could hear enemy heart beats for situational awareness. This game was way ahead of its time.

[@maiastniki]

im horrible at stealth games but im intrigued by games that have gameplay whose depth goes far beyond games now

[@Bobbiloff]

Exactly, love this aspect of the game

[@oasisbeyond]

It was, was more movie like which every game is like today, aged so well.

[@majik5194]

@@oasisbeyond I'd go as far to argue that games nowadays try TOO hard to be cinematic, instead of hitting a nice balance

[@lucascoval828]

@@majik5194 True. I feel like Beyond Good & Evil was another good example of cinematic/gameplay balance.

[@himynameisaaron86]

Starbreeze' releases of Butcher Bay, The Darkness and Dark Athena were a fantastic trio of games and should have turned them in a AAA studio.

[@CP-uw4ts]

They’re publishing the payday franchise now.

[@biikuajet]

Enclave as also awesome.

[@himynameisaaron86]

@@biikuajet never got a chance to play it.

[@theresapimentacointheglove8760]

@@CP-uw4ts True, Starbreeze is now publishing Payday. Though, the team responsible for Butcher Bay, Dark Athena and The Darkness ended up leaving Starbreeze (shortly after finishing The Darkness) to start a new studio Machine Games. As Machine Games, they created the recent Wolfenstein games, which are also fantastic games (except for the turd that Arkane Studios created 'Wolfenstein: Youngblood').

[@CP-uw4ts]

@@theresapimentacointheglove8760 nobody speaks of Youngblood…..

[@system-error]

Starbreeze made some legit classics. The Darkness is one of the best FPSes I ever played, and so is EFBB. I've started playing Syndicate and that, too, is off the chain.

[@xgrillsenx]

I feel like the darkness took what butcher bay did and improved on it in almost every way. The semi open world design was great because you had all the outside areas you go to for missions and the subway as a central hub that you return to often. The subway always had new and interesting people to talk to with fun little side quests to do for them. Both games did a great job at making the world feel alive and lived in.

[@system-error]

@@xgrillsenx yeah there's something really atmospheric about their approach, it's very experiential - I remember having a real 'zen' moment just watching an old cartoon on that TV in the subway in The Darkness, I was like man it's so cool just to exist inside this game. And they tell a great story too, you really feel like you went on a journey with your player character.

[@bencegyorog2897]

Enclave is also a lot of fun, some really atmospheric maps in that game.

[@Cavemanner]

@@system-error I never even played either Darkness game, yet the name JACKIE ESTACADO just randomly pops into my head throughout the day and has for years. They had such excellent marketing and story building for that game.

[@nkvd1606]

Syndicate is criminally underrated. The chaingun section was nothing less than glorious.

[@jens.einzelgaenger.mp4]

If any of the Devs read this: I thank you for the many hours I spent on Escape from Butcher Bay. I love Pitch Black and finding out there was a prequel story game for it, I had to get a copy.

[@1Fresh_Water]

I absolutely LOVED Butcher Bay. Pitch Black made a massive impact on my preteen self, I watched it back to back to back and could probably quote nearly the whole thing even today. And for me, being able to see Riddick's body in a lot the 'cutscenes' in game, when you jumped into vents, shimmied along pipes, etc was so incredibly awesome.

[@360spinupdownup]

Starbreeze has made most of my favorite shooters. I'm very fond of being able to see the character model and moving in game. I'm fond of how tactile the environments can feel as I play. I hope to see all their games remastered for newer consoles and holding out for a new Riddick game.

[@PsychoRavager]

Escape from Butcher Bay will forever be in my heart! Thank you, GVMERS!

[@boigercat]

Growing up as a young teen with games like riddick, the darkness, fear is just something that's so hard to explain. No matter how great games look today, being in that mindset and playing these during their peak was just something else

[@maskoblackfyre]

Games back then were less samey and more willing to experiment. They were built with smaller teams, more focused on a singular vision, less focused on mass appeal and made as games the devs wanted to play, not just a product to monetize.

[@boigercat]

@@maskoblackfyre that's definitely a big part of it

[@shepardren8006]

The love and dedication just shines in every aspect of these games. They show their age but...damn. They still look good. and feel great to play as well

[@kharlopena7512]

I had no idea that Starbreeze staff moved on to Machine Games. That makes sense considering how good Wolfenstein is.

[@irishboi7100]

One of the funniest moments in the game is one part when you're going to the mines you can buy a stun gun a guy took from a guard. If you shot him with the stun gun he would say before he went down "I knew you were gonna do that". It always cracked me up

[@RAMBOJVR]

Man what an interesting time early to mid 2000s... High Shcool years for me.....All the fps rage was Halo Halo Halo.... But there were gems that got popular by word of mouth. Republic Commando and Butcher Bay. I remember I was sooo envious of those that owned a Xbox and wishing I could play those two games. ugh.

[@mikaelmellbris6103]

This is probably the best movie-to-game release ever. It took everything that was interesting about the movies and expanded on that into a setting that was only teased by word in the movies. I mean, as soon as Riddick talks about how he escaped a prison, your mind goes to that place immediately. Add to that a thick atmosphere and Riddick´s f*ck you-attitude. Excellent work by Starbreeze and it´s partners.

[@CGoody564]

RagnarRox did an amazing 1 hour and 20+ minute video on the Riddick games, and he really did them justice. That's a video that anyone who's interested in these games should watch, and it's a great channel in general for video game horror history.

[@maltsutty]

This video made me want more thanks for the tip

[@Josh-99]

I agree that the Starbreeze series of games were amazing! They had a few bugs, but they not only had an engaging storyline, but successfully combined exploration and some light puzzle solving with EXCELLENT combat.

[@onlyonewhyphy]

Played it, loved it. Totally blew all my expectations out the water.

[@Cavemanner]

Going to see Riddick 3 or whatever you want to call it was a seminal moment in my life. It was the first time I drove myself to the movie theater to go see an R rated movie by myself. I hadn't seen the other movies (beyond catching bits and pieces of Pitch Black on cable) and was going in without having seen a single piece of marketing for it beyond posters. I was blown away by how hard I instantly attached to this character, and it was just a cool movie all around. Can't wait to see whatever gets added to the universe next!

[@kevinsuggs1]

Butcher Bay is something I still play every few years. I've beat it about 4-5 times. It still holds up to modern day standards of graphics and gameplay. There really is no other game like it. And Dark Athena is awesome too

[@Cobycuz]

Thank you for making this video! I loved this game but was quiet young at the time and don’t remember much of it, this was great to watch

[@Jazzadrin]

Loved Chronicles of Riddick Escape From Butcher Bay/Assault on Dark Athena. I would like to see a new one. It had some issues, such as AI inconsistency, but overall the gameplay, puzzles and story was a really great experience.

[@tariqs4357]

Long overdue, this great game was ahead of it's time & for that reason it's one of my favorite gameS of all time along w/ my splinter cells & Rainbow 6's back in the OG Xbox era, I replayed it to death. Its crazy but never heard of the Sequel til watching this video, thank you GVMERS.

[@TobiaLaurentum]

06:18 Fun Fact: the game actually functions perfectly in 3rd person, via console commands on pc, even allowing you to swap between 1st and 3rd on the fly. I played through the entire campaign almost entirely using 3rd person and it was great.

[@jdblick1002]

9:10 It amuses me to hear a narrator that brings an air of gravitas to these video game docs simply through his voice alone, describe something as 'badass'. I totally agree but didn't think I'd hear it spoken by someone who sounds like he could be an actor in a theatre play.

[@gae_wead_dad_6914]

I remember playing this at release, i was still a kid And i was absolutely floored with the presentation. The bleak, dark atmosphere dripping. The feeling of constant dread/no hope as you go further and deeper into the facility in order to "Escape" The way the robots scared the living bajeebes out of me. The dark tunnel parts are still not as bad as going against those... fucking mechs which would instakill you if you got too close, and they were always closing distance. Damn, this game truly was deserving of all the praise

[@ComradeStrogg]

Good timing. 3 days after this vid, Diesel teased that Furia may be closer than we think.

[@Menhtrol]

This franchise deserve way much more attention... There is so much they could do with it

[@goblinpyldryver]

It's really nice to see this underrated franchise getting some coverage from you guys

[@MishaElRusito]

I am surprised to find out the Riddick game was poorly received. For me it was a masterpiece, the graphics at the time were superior to the other games. Even now it holds up pretty well. And the gameplay... the quests, the fist fights, the stealth. Matter fact Im gonna play it right now lol

[@Blur396]

I've been thinking about these games a lot lately for some reason. Super slept on, I wish we could get more.

[@bradybroussard]

Escape from Butcher Bay is my childhood!! Spent hours running around in that game lost and it's insanely hard😂 somehow managed to beat it several times tho thanks for this video!!

[@nostromer]

How do you guys not have even 1m subs yet? Its insane, you're the best game doc series, I've watched this channel for literally years now.

[@simongravel7407]

I just completed the two games back to back and had a really good time. They're quite engaging.

[@MrRom117]

enclave and escape from butcher bay were 2 of my fav games back then :)

[@VelvetSky1102]

it's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop at the bottom

[@Midekai]

I played through Butcher Bay countless times on the original Xbox back in the day. I'd love to see the series continue. I'm at least glad Starbreeze is still around though.

[@eartheternal3565]

Escape From Butcher Bay is one of the greatest games, ever. I first knew about Starbreeze back in the 90's because they developed a music multitracker of sorts called "Fast Tracker 2" or "FT2", which allowed me to write songs for free and without the need for synth hardware. I already had so much respect for Starbreeze for this and when I heard about Escape From Butcher Bay, I was very excited about it. They did not let me down.

[@MJ-mu3kb]

Starbreeze has always been SO overlooked as a dev company.

[@maltsutty]

Except when they made Payday 2 and you could literally not even visit a single gaming website without being bombarded by fanboys urging everyone to play it …. Honestly the online word of mouth was so out of hand I thought they hired a marketing company to just make Reddit posts lol

[@maltsutty]

But I agree still , most of there games are too notch with some classics in there

[@MJ-mu3kb]

@@maltsutty didnt even play Payday 2 myself, I just know I really enjoy the 2012 Syndicate and The Darkness.

[@celticfrost86]

We need another Riddick game. They were so good man.

[@nooberloober4276]

Remember playing Butcher Bay as a kid. I don’t think I had ever seen pitch black, but something about the prison missions and escape was amazing! I probably watched the movies years later lol.

[@DeadPixel1105]

Escape From Butcher Bay was one of the greatest games I've ever played in my entire life.

[@OmniscientSloth]

I remember being shocked at the graphics of Butcher Bay as a kid. It felt very realistic and raw. Loved it

[@Neo.Jordon]

Underrated everything with this franchise. Vin diesel's been killing it

[@Хорошийигровойканал]

.. with a cup

[@bikboi8768]

Hands down one of the best game I've played 🥺.....Bring it back

[@BEAT.SWEATS]

i remember finding the demo on the dvd when i put it in my xbox and being blown away

[@brianpj5860]

Butcher Bay is a masterpiece. There needs to be more games set within Prisons. A 3PS/FPS game within a prison setting resembling Butcher Bay, with improved melee brawling, weapons & blocking/countering mechanics Similar to Riddick/Skyrim/Condemned1&2. Maybe throw in a subtle Occult/Paranormal Horror element into the overall plot, and we could have creeping Cult-favorite in the making!

[@Thraakull]

Video game version of Riddick is the exact example of a great concept DONE RIGHT - there is so much movies which would work better as RV show or a video game - BUT STILL, and this counts for almost anything, a rushed project is a bad thing. Butcher bay was oozing with the right atmosphere, when I have first played it some years ago, I was realising how much more cinemaric it felt than the actual movie.

[@realdiesoft]

I didn't get a chance to play dark athena but I played butcher's bay and LOVED it. I also adored the darkness and am really disappointed it didn't get a proper starbreeze sequel. The one we got was fine but I enjoyed first one more.

[@Capt_CrimsoN]

Its criminal that this series isn't on Steam.

[@ahhdee1996]

Love your guys sense of professionalism. Keep putting em out and I'm gonna keep watching!

[@ACMANISH]

GVMERS Team!! Please do Tragedy Series on The Getaway series!! (PS2 exclusive games, including scrapped sequel for PS3 and cancellation of the series...)

[@ivansoedjono]

Ah man every once in a while I replay these games, usually when the movie shows up in tv. Really love these games!

[@Juliosguitarstuffs]

The narrator sounds a lot like the UAC presentation guy (in the videos throughout the game) from Doom 3.

[@Kashanca667]

You forgot to mention that Escape From Butcher Bay was very first game in history with superb, professional voice acting, awarded multiple times just for it. Also, you didn't mention that game was ported to pc, with additional levels. To be honest original game still looks absolutely fantastic, for me better than Assault. Also, it can be played entirely in 3rd person perespective... Interesting fact: it was the very first game with native support of Original Xbox controller on pc. Controller, that worked with pc only when was modded 😃

[@Ersymondequartiere312]

Well done reconstruction, like always!🤟🏻❤️

[@TevyaSmolka]

I love the chronicles of Riddick games they were really awesome and tons of fun.

[@Cavemanner]

The last truly good movie tie-in I played was Mad Max by Avalanche Studios. I hope the tides change in the coming years!

[@jimthar17]

Would love another Riddick game. I still have the PS3 disc with both games on it. I'm still waiting for the 4th movie as well.

[@Throbingkcoc]

I just bought both these games at a local gamestore. I got home and realized the sequel came with a remastered version of the first. Still play the original Xbox version anyway. Great game.

[@maciej5866]

I'm always shocked how Americans always tend to forget, that there is something called PC and it can run games. Chronicles of Riddick Escape from Butcher Bay came to PC this same year as Xbox version. I still have my CD.

[@b4ds33d]

I’m shocked you’re so ignorant about what Americans think whilst thinking you know so much about what they think.

[@CrimsonSp33d]

Love that one of my most played games as a kid was the same makers of enclave, another one of my most played first games.

[@partymantis3421]

These games need to be put on steam and/or GOG. So underated, these were so underated and ahead of their time

[@abbath1586]

I absolutely loved these games growing up in this era.

[@KellyKMc]

These Need to be on the back-compat list.

[@TheStrayHALOMAN]

The same people who made the Riddick games also made Wolfenstein the New Order and Old Blood... And you can tell because they play ALOT like the Riddick games with more action.

[@sillkthashocker]

For the longest time I thought Butcher Bay used the Doom 3 engine but it didn't!

[@krono5el]

Held on to my day one copy of butcher bay on og xbox, its a classic for me.

[@cookster2471]

Never read any of the reviews back in the day just bought them and loved them :D

[@thedevilwp]

Amazing videos every time, each video definitely deserves more views!

[@marin3933]

Butcher bay was such a good game.

[@linesided]

Vin will win - the most underrated scifi/action movies out there -

[@maegnificant]

these need a remaster

[@spencerkaines8193]

I Remember playing the demo for this game many times

[@sting7789]

Do True Crime series next. I love streets of LA. Nick Kang forever

[@gretelsgooch1676]

You should look at the studies other game series "the darkness " would be amazing to see some recognition for this forgotten gem.

[@fyffitness]

I think this was the best movie to game release ever, magnificently done game.

[@SimianScience]

i bought a 6600gt and got far cry, half life 2, doom, tribes vengeance and played all of them. then lastly played riddick and was blown away. its still the last truly great fps ive played aside F.E.A.R

[@ok-tchau]

I remember Escape from butcher bay being not only an amazing game but also a groundbreaking experience. Games at that time were not that cinematic. However, I also remember that PC gaming in general was on a weird spot at that time.

[@babayega1717]

This is what did it for 11 yr old me me. Will never forget how we'd make up things about the game related to how unbelievable the graphics are. _YES, and u can see the hares on his hand move GAWAAAW!"!$_ ... in the meantime 3 out of the 4 kids have never seen the game outside of a magazine scrcap..

[@lemonberries]

this channel is incredible

[@adambomb51]

As always, Great work y’all!!

[@lknanml]

We have way to little Riddick in this world. The movies are not going to win an oscars but every single one of them was damn entertaining. I completely missed this game. Had no idea it existed for years. (Deployment) Need to add this one to the backlog list.

[@FrostlightX]

What an astonishing games, hopefully someday someone will continue it...

[@digitalxtremehg]

Still own and play both on my 360 , One reason why I still own a 360 .

[@CybershamanX]

(6:54) Any devs that have a miniature of the Space Jockey from the movie Alien are OK in my book. 😎

[@CoercedJab]

And 6:58 what a Hugh Mongus display piece 🤙

[@ricmamaddafakka7248]

I entered Riddick movies through the Riddick games.

[@TheZanzibarMan]

Escape from Butcher Bay is one of my all time favorite games

[@MiddleSpoon3461]

Loved this game. Wish there was a remaster I could play now.

[@willvisions]

I loved everything about Riddick. Hope there's a new game or movie

[@mikvance]

Now this is quality content.

[@TheAquarius87]

Im really glad I got these games while still available on steam. They're really great

[@pdub420]

Escape from Butcher Bay was the second best game I played the year it came out. The other was a little known game named Half Life 2.

[@amaurysutre2494]

For the love of everything good in this world, can we please have a new riddick instead of a new iteration of the Fast and Furious franchise ?

[@Skully_14]

Riddick is one of Vin Diesel’s best characters!

[@porkysoda5899]

I recently found escape from butcher bay in a Music Store that sells other entertainment media. Sadly that game is not backwards compatible on the series x.

[@MrBrandonman20]

Wish we could get a remaster of butcher bay 🙏

[@Gr4yF0x]

When I first played this game on Xbox (2004) I couldn't believe it's graphics. They were so ahead of everything back then. It was like a portal to the future.

[@Fuuntag]

Butcher Bay, sigh, good times and back before we all realised Vin Diesel wasn’t in on the joke of his own persona.

[@F14koFreegun]

Bro escape from butcher Bay was fuckin dope played through it hella times the environment and gameplay were on point loved the hand to hand combat 🥰🥰

[@jakedill1304]

I don't know what the hell people were talking about, like don't get me wrong butcher Bay had interesting characters mostly on account of just swag appeal like it's really hard to be any voiceover with Ron perlman exhibit Michael rooker etc.. especially Rooker like that's a voice that just works.. but as far as flushed out and depth goes well not so much.. not knocking the first game it's brilliant I love them both they're probably two of my favorite games of all time, might even be.. I certainly go back and reference some more than anything... Even if Wolfenstein is technically a better game, I don't even know how true that is because well Wolfenstein mastered their genuinely near perfection version of first person awareness which.. God I wish more people would do it that way they really really nailed it.. and then when they made it to functional and smooth that was that was always the trade-off to a perfect first person awareness, and one of the things everybody bitched about but you can't say Wolfenstein New order doesn't play smooth, so I guess technical I don't know whatever... But the second one had far more deep character interaction even if it's not CD projekt Red deep, I mean what the fuck is other than maybe Wolfenstein New order LOL.. those are two companies that understand how to write characters and dialogue probably on a level, I think the only other contender I can think of is Chris Avalon with bloodlines.. at least in the western market, there are definitely a few that can do it but in AAA space I guess... The interactions were more flushed out, the stakes were higher and as far as variety of gameplay goes it was far more varied, I mean it was more varied considering we're talking about a proper immersive Sim style very veried gameplay set... The combat was better the new moves made the dark Athena version of Riddick even if it is the modern hardware compatible version thus by default quintessential version.. it would be the version I would play if I had a choice in any regard. The shooting was better, I actually like the shooting in the first one but they figured out what they wanted to do with the shooting for the second one and the fact that it carried over to the first one giving it inherited all the new combat features, all the better.. The same you talk about the set pieces.. and the fact that they're interactive set pieces that's always nice, you don't see that that much anymore outside of QuickTime events. I don't know I can keep going but I'm really just reiterating the same point over and over, cuz there's just it's kind of a night and day they're both different they're both the same, but on all accounts of what these guys mention it was lacking they're kind of objectively wrong now whether or not you prefer it that's another thing but you can't say it wasn't more varied, just because it had better shooting segments it's not like you had to shoot anyways, one of my favorite things is still too she's the assault rifle guys with one of the knives or The hairpin.. and you just back up so you don't flip the gun around and cut the throat, then you end up prison shanking them and then shoving it down their throat at the end, totally worth it.. there's a ton of different combinations you can do outside of the boss battles of course which are the same more or less but again because the stakes are higher it's still better that way, and they even did carry it up with the giant Borg fuckers, call it a gimmick they used the gimmick really well as far as the mining gun goes it was a good gimmick, and in a tool shed that is you know not exactly something you can fit in your backpack pretty much, who cares I don't know why people knock on that one LOL other than that it was a gimmick thing and fuck I don't know maybe we need more gimmicks and games, or at least flushed out ones.. And it's not like these guys aren't well adept journeyman to Masters at flushing out gimmicks and I'm just looking at the darkness LOL.. which is still one of the not situationally more unique but combine that with their first person awareness and the fact that it works, I can't I can't say I've seen that before certainly not presented that way... I am really glad that these people are still making games, when starbreeze split and like payday came out and I just figured it was the end cuz that was you know the way that usually goes for the studios.. too good to be true right too good to last, I ignored the new Wolfenstein game just figured it was some dumbass consulatus edge Lord shit, when I finally got bored and picked it up and realized it was really good and really familiar for some reason.. imagine the smile on my face when I hit that shift Alt tilde just just cuz I was wondering and lo and behold they're the only ones I know of that use that combination for a console and they're the only ones that have a dynamic background in their console, and smile on my face was quite wide and very happy.. hopefully they stop taking gameplay tips from Bethesda, LOL just go back to doing what they do.. which I have no reason to doubt that they won't considering everybody is pretty concise or consensus on how young blood kind of played out compared to the prior two... I hate to fall people for trying but, at the same time they kind of probably already knew from the ground up.. I wouldn't be surprised if the resources they had for that game were specifically designed around the idea that it was a test demo for a gameplay style more than anything else.. so yeah... God bless those people, definitely a treasure, the fact that they're both incredibly competent immersive scent makers, machine games and arcane and they're in the same sphere of influence, ironically both owned by possibly the worst gameplay dialogue and character writers, story writers too honestly they don't even try with that though.. that always cracks me up but with the exception of human head studios that got fucking traceland as an example I guess to being uppity.. so far Bethesda hasn't seemingly fucked up their game, with the exception of young blood which I still I have no evidence to blame them but it wouldn't surprise me LOL.

[@lions4528]

Man all these companies remaking less than a decade old games now a days.. someone needs to remaster escape from butcher bay, now that's a real mvp!