The dark. Home to lurking monsters and bogey men, if irrational childhood fears are to be believed. Luckily we've grown out of such superstitions, though if we're ever unfortunate enough to visit the brutal prison facility of Butcher Bay, we'd be watching our backs for more than just shadows. To accompany this summer's blockbuster movie release, Vivendi Universal has stepped up to deliver a stunning-looking FPS title that has garnered salivating previews and graphical comparisons with the mighty upcoming Doom 3.

Set before the original Pitch Black movie, we get the chance to tame the robust Richard B. Riddick. Hailing from a brutal race of people called the Furyans, Riddick has unsurpassed predatory and physical abilities, so we male like Kylie and step back in time to relive the episode that made Riddick the infamous outlaw he is today: his audacious escape from the triple-max Butcher Bay prison facility.

The opening cutscene is typically cinematic and gorgeous, and sets a precedent for the upcoming visual delights throughout the rest of the game, Now we know Riddick is something of a badass, but slaughtering a fearsome Yeti with his bare hands? This guy's harder than a frozen Vinnie Jones. Rewinding to Riddick's incarcerated descent to the fearsome facility, the first thing on his agenda is to kill the bounty hunter who brought him in. To this end, Riddick acclimatises himself with some rudimentary gunplay courtesy of a satisfyingly beefy shotgun. Riddick makes his way through the prison and out of the sewers to freedom... or maybe not, because a great touch reveals this was merely a dream, and the real landing is only minutes away.

But don't think this hopeful hallucination serves as a mere tutorial that familiarises players with the basic controls; the lessons learnt here, like stealth techniques (gruesome silent neck-breakers included) and the painful penalty of picking up DNA-encoded rifles, are invaluable for the rest of the game. And so the ever-twisting plot finds Riddick thrown into the notorious A wing,

run by ruthless chief guard Cole, and here's where the game takes a significantly different tack to other FPS games. We're still seeing the world through the (as yet un-shined) eyes of Riddick, yet denied the luxury of a decent weapon in his hands, the muscle-bound maverick must find a different route to freedom. BT says it's good to talk, and although its logo isn't daubed in blood on the walls along with the other 'rules' of the wing, Riddick learns a hell of a lot from conversing with his fellow inmates. The numerous responses and multi-branching conversations pave the way for a whole host of non-linear missions more akin to an RPG/adventure title than an all-out actioner.

Using his fists, Riddick must fight his way through his fellow scum, accepting or declining side-missions and requests from inmates. This degree of choice is emphasised during the lower prison levels, where Riddick has the option of peacefully making his way down to the mine level (by getting caught selling drugs) or violently beating his way to the door, both methods entailing various sub-missions. There's a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing between bouts, and frequent loading screens will start to grate a little, but this is the slowest part of the game so bear with it.

The combat controls are simple, and it's vital to get tooled-up for these bouts too, so acquire a shiv (more choices - either buy one or carry out a few favours) and you'll be meaner than Scrooge before payday. There's a fair degree of unarmed combat throughout the game (Riddick is frequently recaptured and stripped of his weapons), and although it could've turned out to be a really monotonous interruption to the action, great execution and just the right mix of fisticuffs and firearms keeps the game cracking along at a good pace.

It's all very well talking the talk, but boy, can Riddick walk the (cat)walk too - this is one of the best-looking games ever to blast its way onto Xbox. From the stylish, moodily scored movie-style follow-cam opener, we know we're in for a visual treat. Absolutely stunning real-time lighting is used to great effect, creating gorgeous shadows and gloriously gritty or stunningly slick and sleek textures and surfaces. We're talking Kelly Brook meets Rachel Stevens here. And on the subject of models, Vin Diesel had a huge part in the development process, and the great character modelling means Riddick looks and moves exactly how he would in real life. Atmosphere is one thing, but Chronicles takes it further by successfully recreating the hell of Butcher Bay at its grittiest. You can practically feel the stagnant water dripping over you in the deserted service areas, smell the musky ruins of the mining levels, and the sewer levels, packed with disfigured mutants and you with only a fading flashlight for comfort, has to be played to be believed. Just keep the lights on...

So, enough of the exterior - how does the game really play? Well the engine bounds along smoothly enough, and a decent framerate makes for an enjoyable, immersive experience as you work through the facility, wasting guards left, right and centre. The camera switches to a third-person perspective when Riddick starts clambering around and over objects, and although this allows greater manoeuvrability than in FPS mode, players can't shoot and climb at the same time - a pain if you emerge at the top of a ladder at an enemy's feet. Certain pre-rendered cutscenes show Riddick making a daring escape, but we'd have liked to physically play through them ourselves.

We've covered the gorgeous lighting, but the shadows are soon dispersed by the blinding muzzle flash of the arsenal of meaty weapons at Riddick's disposal, including pistols, shotguns, grenades, automatic rifles and a fearsome mini-gun that peppers enemies all around the screen, making use of the fantastic ragdoll physics engine. The mix of unarmed combat and gameplay is finely judged; just when you start to tire of stealth kills and yearn for a weapon in your hands, along comes a guard with an un-encoded, and very inviting shotgun to have some fun with.

The great-looking environment is also open to interaction, including some destructible scenery and those conveniently placed explosive barrels that no shooter would be complete without. Once you get your lovely shiny new eyes, light switches can be toggled on and off and bulbs blown out to create your own darkness, confusing enemies and gaining the advantage. But enemies will only be confused to a certain extent, because the AI is top notch. The inquisitive guards will investigate the slightest noise and actively seek the best cover when you fire at them. The crafty beggars will roll back and forth behind pillars and strategically back each other up through intelligent firing positions, proving challenging opponents. Just try going toe to toe with a guard beefed up in the brutal Battle Armour and see how long you last.

And so the story twists and turns, with Riddick, no matter what he does, seemingly incapable of evading recapture. Worming his way out of the desolate mines (after unleashing hordes of murderous monsters), the game shifts up a gear and everything really starts going off. The guards and beasts are going at it in the shower block, providing ample distraction for Riddick to pick them off at will and make his escape. The terrifying darkened corridors return, and the creatures do their best to scuttle around your flashlight beam and catch you unawares.

After waking up in the cryogenic chamber, the hulking hero wastes no time at all commandeering an armoured walker. This is fantastic fun to wander around in, laying waste to the entire level. It's a bit of a shame then, that this hectic pace couldn't have been sustained all the way through the game, because as far as balls-out blasting goes, this is right up there with the best of them.

We could chastise the lack of multiplayer options (there aren't any at all), but the game does exactly what it set out to do: provide a gorgeous-looking, scintillating single-player action title to accompany the film. The brilliant mix of hand-to-hand and armed combat, paired with an intriguing plot and various sub-missions, means you'll be hooked right through to the end of this Diesel-fuelled, Riddickulously slick shooter. Don't be afraid of the dark when it looks this good.

1. Looks gorgeous
2. Very atmospheric
3. Ace mix of unarmed combat and gunplay
4. Numerous sub-missions to complete

1. No multiplayer options

Power
Brilliant lighting and environments push the Xbox, but are countered by frequent loading screens.

Style
Outstanding visual feast, backed up with the authentic actors voicing a tight and twisting script.

Immersion
Brilliantly intuitive controls, and the leap to first-person adventure is absorbing and addictive,

Lifespan
Most players should clock this in around 12 hours. Replayability is to be found in the sub-missions.

Summary
Stylish, atmospheric and violent, it shows how a film licence should be done. Fantastic shooter in its own right too.