Well the rumor mole in the OXM did say there was a reason Riddick wasn't BC yet. I don't think I'll buy this. Riddick already had good graphics. Was a tad short though.

Remake? No thanks. The xbox1 version STILL puts some 360 and PS3 games to shame, and if they had it BC, then we wouldn't need a 60 dollar remake.

man nothing was more awesome then the melee in that game.

I'd gladly play through this game again. With new shiny graphics. I really enjoyed the director's cut release for PC.

This isn't shockingly new...Q-Mann from EGM hinted at this a few months ago.

This game would be awesome, Why cant they just BC the original?! It was good enough as it is.

I've been meaning to play this, but of course, I only have a 360 and not an original Xbox. If only the remake was reduced in price slightly. At least sell it for the Xbox price and not next-gen price, since the original version costs, what, 15 bucks now? I don't know, really. Still, I'll buy it eventually, but if it costs $60 for 360, I might just get the original game for PC.

A game that was better than the movie, I'll be itnerested to see how improved the graphics get.

I never got to play this because I had a ps2 and am getting a ps3, so fingers crossed for a ps3 version.

By the way, I'm all for the idea that this could be testing grounds for a Riddick sequel. If a remake (or spit-and-polish job) were to sell well on the next gen platforms, a sequel is completely viable. The character and mythology are deep enough to come up with new and unique stories, or at least some badass gameplay.

the one case when the game was ten times better than the movie.

New graphics, new level, and multiplayer might make this worth considering but to misquote Meatloaf in this case "Two out of three is bad."

I loved the game and would be happy enough just to see it added to the BC list since this is the best game out of the three or four I have that aren't BC. Graphically the only thing that stood out to me as bad were the horrible jaggies on the shadows. Other than that it looked and ran pretty good (better than many games that looked worse).

P.S. The reason this game was better than the movie (either one) is that it wasn't based on the movie, it was based on the character with a few loose references to the movies. If they did this more often we might get to play better games based on movie IP.

Depends on which movie you mean. Escape from Butcher Bay is certainly better than the Chronicles of Riddick movie. However, I myself enjoyed Pitch Black quite a bit. Not a super movie, but definately entertaining.

For those that don't know, here's the breakdown of the timeline(thusfar) in the Riddick Universe:

-Escape From Butcher Bay (game)
-Pitch Black (first movie)
-Dark Fury (animated movie)
-Chronicles of Riddick (second movie)

So the game is pretty much as far removed from the movie that came out at the same time as can be, time-line wise. and it's definately worth buying on at least one system. I'd prefer backwards compatible, but I didn't bring my copy of the game to Japan, so it's either ship it out and hope it eventually goes BC, or just buy a new one. I'll probably pick it up with shinier graphics and an extra level just 'cause it's easier.

I actually really excited about this game. Riddick was a way better game than it should have been.

id definetly pay for a sick remake of this game complete with a new level or two updated graphics and some kickass achievements

This game would be badass on the Wii and you know it.

For gods sake give me a sequel. Chronicles wasnt that great but Riddick is such an interesting character, it made it worth it.

Never played the game, but I'd heard it was good. Should I invest in the Xbox version? Or should I wait (I don't have a 360 yet)?

I liked Pitch Black, but I didn't really get into Chronicles.

@Regulus: Simple answer: Yes, if you can find it... It should be dirt cheap too. Its a great game.

Damn, I picked up this game in the bargain bin for $5 in the hopes it would be BC in the next update(not holding my breath but you know . . .)

I for one loved Chronicles of Riddick, sure the fire planet was dumb but everything else rocked . . .

I'd hit it.

Probably the most under-rated FPS game ever.

It's the best FPS from the last gen IMHO (yes much better than the Halos) so it's good to see Riddick getting another shot. That said, I'd have preferred a sequel instead of a port. Still we have The Darkness to look forward to...

@cwith

How is it "the most under-rated FPS game ever"? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that they didn't like the game. I think everyone was so blown away that a movie-based game (let alone one based on the Riddick series) was pretty good to ever say anything bad about it.

New visuals, extra level...sweet. But the one thing I think this game needs, and mostly because of how awsome all the firearms felt, and how good it could be is.......Multiplayer.

If Starbreeze put multiplayer into Riddick (context be damned) the game would probably be a must have. If not, there's agood chance it might be successful, but I'm guessing it will live on in sleeper-hit-ville for eternity. Come on, do it Starbreeze!!

Perhaps not "under-rated", but certainly below the radar of many people who aren't really into games. It got great reviews, but for many, it was a surprise hit. It sold fairly well, as I remember, but it didn't pull Halo 2 numbers or anything.

People talk about single-player FPS games being dead, but Escape from Butcher Bay proves a sufficiently deep and story-driven shooter can be compelling and intricate.

That being said, it wasn't as well hyped as Halo 2 or many,many other games, so while those who played it, loved it, many over-looked it because A) it was a game with movie tie-ins, and B) it was an unproven franchise. While I'd love to see it be BC, I think this might work in our favor. It will be even better looking, it'll be a good game for the PS3 (which needs good games badly) and it could be hyped more this time around.

We might not see a Halo-esque folowing, but if a sequel is going to be made, this game is a good step in the right direction for green-lighting further games. Here's hoping they do it right, and add levels which fit well with the original story, and aren't just filler. Expanding the story a bit can only work in their favor, if it's well-written.

@theALLseeingEYE:
ugh...please no multiplayer. Not every game NEEDS multiplayer. and in this situaiton, it makes no sense whatsoever. A bunch of Riddicks running around calling each other "newb"? No thanks.

The only way multi-player could work would be similar to Splinter Cell versus, with a single Riddick on one side and guards on the other. Even then, I'd rather them focus on making the single-player experience longer and more robust than having them create yet another in a long series of FPS games with mediocre multiplayer that nobody uses (I'm looking at you, Doom 3).

Multiplayer is a nice way to extend the life of a game, but Riddick is about combining stealth and action. If it's not a single Riddick versus all guards, then you're all either guards (which makes it generic deathmatch game #476) or you're all Riddick (which negates the stealth aspect of the gameplay, since EVERYONE could see in the dark).

I hope they focus on improving visuals, adding some depth to the story, and fixing small tweaks to the gameplay at hand, rather than allocate resources to add something that isn't needed to make the game worthwhile.

I just hate the concept that any game where there are guns requires you to use them against another player. What I wouldn't mind seeing is a potential co-op option, where another player helps Riddick (obviously without the eyesight) and there are different/new puzzles that require both players to use their individual skills to overcome (of course, the second player would have to die or be left behind for it to work in the story.

But I'd settle for exactly what the rumor is: shiny graphics, new level(s).

I guess this is good news for those who managed to somehow not believe those of us who claimed that those who hadn't played it were missing one of the best FPS games EVER. Now, hopefully they'll pick the game up, realize we were right, make it a best-seller and then all of us will benefit from a sequel. Really, guys -- this game was probably my favorite on the 360. Yes, better than Halo or Halo 2. Or Halo and Halo 2 combined.

I'm going to wait for actual details. The Game Informer blurb is probably credible, but I'm sure there's more to this than just "an added level".

I am expecting to completely crap my pants when I find out what they're actually doing to remake perhaps the best Xbox game of them all. Something tells me this is just going to be sweet as all hell.

By the way, I'm pretty sure that only Microsoft controls backwards compatibility. There are several developers out there that want their Xbox games to be BC. I think Psychonauts and Riddick are in the same boat. I've read in several places that they both wanted it, but for whatever reason Microsoft wasn't making it happen. So maybe they're doing this BECAUSE they can't get it BC?

We'll see!

I never got to play the original, so this rumor is totally cool with me. I'd like one Riddick Sigma to go, please!

@superstinkpoker: Psychonauts has been BC for a while now. That's another game I never got to play, so I scooped it up as soon as I saw it was compatible.

The reasononing for the limited BC, I'm told, is that MS switched from NVIDIA hardware in the original Xbox to ATI for the 360, and NVIDIA charges MS on a per-feature-per-game basis for the emulation software licensing. In other words, the less copies a game sold and more complex its visuals, the less likely it is to ever make the list.

This is really exciting and really terrible news. I LOVED Riddick on the Xbox, but the game still looks great now! I would be perfectly happy with a backwards compatibility update. I don't know if I'm ready to shell out $50-60 for a game I've already purchased once that isn't even that long of a game.

If this game came out at a lower price point I would love to pick it up. But, at $50-60 I'm just going to have to wait for a price drop to make it worthwhile.

@Toasticus
Sounds about right to me. Unfortunately, that likely means that I'll never see Deus Ex on my 360. It wasn't the best game ever, but I definately enjoyed the customizability factor in a FPS. The storyline was pretty solid (not so much as the orignal, but I still enjoyed playing through all the endings.)

I'd love to see a 360 Deus Ex. Heck, if they're liking the whole "re-release with a few changes" aspect of Riddick, maybe they'll do it for Deus Ex, which might eventually neccesitate a new one.
Mmmm...I'm gonna go see if I can buy the original anywhere now.

I hate games based on movies, and don't go for FPS and FPS style games in general. And man, Riddick was badass. THAT'S how you use a license.

Those asscocks. I was always annoyed that Riddick wasn't backwards compatible, now we know why. Those fucks, now I have to buy it again.

Sometimes I feel like a corporate whore for shit like that. I'm that guy, the dumbass that's like "OMG RIDDICK! I HAVE THIS GAME ALREADY AND I'VE PLAYED THROUGH IT COUNTLESS TIMES AND GOT ALL THE CIGARETTE PACKS AND SHIT, BUT IT'S GOT NEW GRAPHICS SO TAKE MY MONEY! YAY!"

Yes, I'll be buying the Legendary Edition of Halo 3, thanks.

@iameleveneight: what i know is that the wii would have a hard time putting out those graphics.

@Regulus: I'm with Scazza. You will enjoy this game a lot. Interesting environments, good gameplay and a real storyline (well, it dwindles at the end but hey! most games have no story).

Pick it up cheaply for your original xBox now. It's good enough that a remake with maybe a new level and achievement points isn't worth the extra cash. For me, at least, although I'll buy any remake for Beloved. Because that's what wives do.

God damn it. Make a real sequel, you bastards.

@Phenix: Me, too. A remake or sequal would definitely float my boat.

Of course I am counting the days until The Darkness comes out from the Escape from Butcher Bay team.

In the magazine, I'm pretty sure they said another chapter would be added. If I remember from the game, a chapter was like a whole third of the game.

So it was a money-making conspiracy, not gross incompetence, that kept one of the best Xbox games off the backwards compatibility list. Well, that makes all the difference in the world.

I think folks here are missing the point.

Only Microsoft controls backwards compatibility. It's starting to sound a lot like they're doing this remake because they couldn't influence any decision to make the game backwards compatible in the first place.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing either because now PS3 owners can play it too.

Again... waiting for more information. I'm sure there's more to this than that tiny little itsy bitsy psuedo-paragraph in Game Informer is actually letting on.