I've heard a lot of hype about this game.. and I just don't get it. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay is your standard first-person shooter/action game that doesn't do anything that hasn't been done many times before. Some might think that the 'eyeshine' and stealth features, allowing the player to see and hide in the dark, is innovative, but it's not. Countless Spinter Cell games, and the Alien vs. Predator series, all had similar variations of this same mechanic long before this game came around. And they did it better. Play them, and you'll see what I mean.
The action quests are standard fair, and often 'buggy'. Characters are prone to ignoring given actions needed to advance, and therefore, leaving you with no choice but to abandon the quest. And the rewards for said quests seem pointless, as there is no true benefit to having done them to begin with, and game will progress no differently either way. It can barely be called a shooter either. In that regard, it's pretty plain, not offering anything new, and that's only when you get a weapon to begin with. That, is understandable, given your character is in a prison. But it's a handicap that keeps the experience dull, as the non-shooter component of the game isn't terribly exciting either. The mechanics for the fighting sequences are simple, clumsy, and not a whole lot of fun. The graphics are fine, but nothing special. The story is easy enough to follow, but not terribly interesting or engaging. The game's lack of suspense makes it's attempts at scares more annoying than terrifying. Also, the absence of boss battles makes the game feel a great deal longer than it actually is.
I'm guessing those who gave this game high praise have not played similar games that have a lot more to offer, like the Half-Life series, the Batman Arkham series, Alien Vs. Predator, etc. If you haven't, then you're missing out. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay is a game based on a sub-standard sci-fi character that can't decide whether it's a shooter or stealth game, and doesn't do either all that well. Can a game combine genres and become something unique? Of course, but it has to excel at something. Unfortunately, this one doesn't excel at anything.