Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Review

The game uses standard WASD keyboard and mouse controls, with several keys around the movement keys for different modes (switching weapons, interact, night vision, etc).  The game is primarially in first-person mode, and automatically switches to third-person mode when climbing ladders or navigating poles.

The usability could be a little better when interacting with objects.  Some objects can have multiple actions, and it’s not immediately obvious that you can select another option.  For example, there is an part of the game where you have to shoot out a window to continue past a locked door.  You must take out a guard and use his gun, but the gun is permanently attached to the corpse.  If you aren’t in the line of sight of the window, then what do you do?  When you interact (press “E”) you are given the option of picking up the gun… but you can use the arrow keys to select “move the corpse”.  You must use the arrow keys to select this option, then press E to move the body to a place where you can see the window, THEN interact again with the body to use the gun, and then shoot out the window.

Take em out one at a time

	control action Left mouse button Fire / Punch Stealth kill (while closing in on an enemy from behind) Counter Move (when standing close in front of an armed enemy performing a melee attack) Right mosue button Block Aim / Alternate fire Zoom (when using a ranged weapon) Grab (When standing close behind an enemy.  Grab a drone for a “meat shield”) V Lean Z Select Weapon Mouse look F Melee weapon attack WASD Move (press Ctrl to sprint in multiplayer). Melee attacks made in the direction you are travelling Q Eyeshine (light amplification) G Flashlight (if available on your weapon) 1, 2 Weapon hot keys (when selecting a weapon, press 1 or 2 to assign that hotspot) Arrow keys Scroll through menus, dialog options, and in-game shopping interface R Reload weapon Skip dialogues and cut-scenes (why not Esc?) C Crouch (stealth mode) Spacebar Jump (also takes you out of stealth mode) E Use (doors, drag bodies, consoles, pick up things, use NanoMed Health Unit) J Journal / Inventory Esc Pause Menu

On the following page we explore the gameplay dynamics…