Hand-to-hand combat is no less important in Riddick, as was illustrated in the aforementioned scenario. With a shortage of buttons on the trusty Xbox gamepad, the controls are cleverly setup like those of a fighting title. Moving the left analog stick in conjunction with the right trigger permits you to execute a variety of punches; left produces a left jab, right executes a right jab and so on. You’ll also acquire a number of augmentations as you make your way through the game, all of which should make life a little less worrisome. Shivs, clubs and even brass knuckles make it much easier to take down armed opponents.

Like Halo, Riddick employs an auto health regeneration system, but only so much damage can be recovered through this, meaning that at some point in the adventure, you’ll have to replenish your energy. Though you’ll occasionally pick up small medkit-like cartridges, healing is only permitted at strategically placed medical stations called NanoMed machines. Each of these outlets carries enough energy to refill four bars on your health gauge; should you require more, the abovementioned med packs can be used to restock the supply. In addition, there are very special, full-body NanoMed machines scattered throughout the levels that not only refill your entire energy meter, but also increase your potential health.

The game’s stealth features may initially seem like a gimmick, as they serve little use in the beginning, but once you reach the mines, you’ll come to rely on these techniques. Crouching whilst in the shadows renders you completely invisible to the prison guards, something that comes in handy when attempting to execute the silent neck break. The loud version of this maneuver simply requires the player to position themselves behind their enemy and tap the right trigger, though this isn’t much good when you’re trying to keep a low profile. The same setup is required for the silent neck break, but you must hold the left trigger instead of the right, while tapping the X button to overcome your enemy’s struggling. Even hiding bodies is important to avoiding detection, though there’s certainly no shortage of darkened areas in which to do so.

Navigating though these dark environs can be a challenge, especially when you’re deprived of a flashlight or flare. Those who’ve seen the movie Pitch Black will already be familiar with the eyeshine ability, which is bestowed upon your character during your escape from Butcher Bay. Once given this ability, you’ll be able to see in the dark by pressing down the right analog stick. It can be quite advantageous to shoot out a room’s lights and quietly dispose of a patrolling guard, but be careful, as the flashlight mounted on their guns (or any other source of light) can blind you if flashed in your direction with eyeshine enabled.