New version of Butcher Bay vs. original

[zoinks99]

I have the original retail PC version of Escape from Butcher Bay but haven't gotten around to playing it yet. Is it better to play the original first or just play this remake? I see that they did release the developer commentary as a free patch for this version but I'm wondering if anything else is notably missing/worse.

[Sweetz]

I wouldn't say there's any reason to play the original first. One tiny little section of the game was changed to be a bit easier and some pedantic types don't like that change, but for the most part it's an improvement over the original.

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[MADDOGGE]

I wouldn't say it's an improvement just different. If you have never played the original retail then I'd just play the new version of Butcher Bay as you won't notice any difference.;)

[Sweetz]

How is it not an improvement? The graphics and better, the combat is better, and nothing is worse - at least from my perspective.

The only thing that some people seem to get upset over is the removal of needing to find the valve in the pit. That's such a minimal part of the game and was it really all that fun to begin with? I think some people will complain about the removal of anything, regardless of whether it's something that was worth keeping or not.

[zoinks99]

Well, how about performance, voice actors, etc.? I think I read somewhere that they changed the dialog script or something.

[Sweetz]

Well, how about performance
Which is to be expected with the increase in graphics - you're not going to get that for free. I had a GTS 260 back when I originally played Dark Athena and it was ok on that, so it should run acceptably on any decent new graphics card.

voice actors, etc.? I think I read somewhere that they changed the dialog script or something.
The only dialog that I noticed changed is what the nano-med upgrade machines say. Maybe some of the incidental dialog between prisoners or guards was changed or something, but they were never all that memorable enough that I noticed a difference - so it's tough to say they're "worse". Definitely none of the main character dialog changed.

---edit---

Found this list of differeces (http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/939612-the-chronicles-of-riddick-assault-on-dark-athena/49738144), which is the most comprehensive I've seen.

There are a lot of little tweaks and additions that I never noticed, but nothing that I would say makes the game worse - except for perhaps one tiny thing. I didn't even notice this being changed, but I kind of liked the 3rd person camera for drop attacks. It's always looked hokey because of the way the models moved, which is probably why they got rid of it, but I still liked to watch it if only for the modest humor value.

So overall I would still say the remake is an improvement over the original.

[zoinks99]

Thanks. Sounds like it is better overall.