In addition to the first-person fighting you have the option of taking a more stealthy approach. You can crouch down and keep to the shadows, sneaking up behind your enemies and applying quick and fatal neck realignments. You’ll be able to tell when you are undetected in the shadows by the way the game’s lighting subtly changes shades – a unique and effective mechanism. During the game you’ll acquire Riddick’s famous eye shine that allows him to see in the dark, making stealth an even bigger weapon in your arsenal. The best thing about the game’s stealth element is that you are never really forced into using it. The less patient gamers out there tend to really dislike stealth games and the slow, repetitive pacing it can force onto a game. In CoR, there are no long stretches of the game where you are forced to use stealth. Instead it is more of an option that is available to you when you need it. With so many games dictating where and when you have to use stealth, it is nice to see one that makes it your choice.

The AI in the game is excellent. Inmates will converse with each other, guards patrol their areas, and if you get too close to an inmate or guard you’ll receive a little verbal and physical abuse. Inmates are no pushovers when fighting with their fists or shivs, and you’ll have to be smart as to when to attack and when to try and block. You’ll need to be smart during gunfights as well, because guards will make good use of cover and tactics and will make you pay for foolhardy rush attacks.

The PC version of the game is billed as “The Director’s Cut” and like the title implies there are a few extras not found in the Xbox version of the game. There are a few extra sequences to play in the PC version such as the opportunity to take control of a prison security mech. The biggest extra you’ll find, though, will come after you’ve completed the game. You can then re-enter the game and as you play through the second time you’ll notice the addition of some floating icons. Clicking on these pauses the game and plays designer commentary about the design and development of the level. This is a cool feature found in most DVDs but for some reason it has heretofore been absent from gaming. I must admit that it is pretty cool to get a glimpse into the minds of level designers, especially those talented enough to design a game of this caliber. Of course, you still can find things that appeared in the Xbox version such as cigarette packs hidden throughout the levels that unlock concept art and similar goodies, a very clever way of presenting the gameplay tutorial, and levels which do an excellent job of bringing the dirty and claustrophobic Butcher Bay to life.

Don’t let your prejudices or biases prevent you from experience Escape from Butcher Bay. If you do, you’ll miss out on one of the best efforts to date to meld a compelling movie-like story experience with an exciting action game.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 95%.  Every PC action gamer should experience the thrill of trying to escape from Butcher Bay.

System Requirements:  Pentium IV 1.8 GHz; 256 MB RAM;  64 MB Video RAM; 16x CD-ROM;  3.7 GB Hard Drive Space;  Mouse.

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