The game is described as an action/puzzle game, with the option to play in stealth mode or as a straightforward action star. We can tell you right now, the latter doesn't work. Riddick dies after one hit, making the game nearly impossible to beat if you prefer the run-and-gun approach. That leaves stealth.
Riddick sneaks in the shadows, taking down unsuspecting guards and hiding their bodies out of sight. As you play, you'll avoid making noise. Otherwise, the guards will make things difficult.
When it comes to the gameplay, most of the mechanics work. You can pinch the screen to see objectives at any time, and once you learn how to execute proper takedowns, they're quite satisfying. That said, there are inaccuracies that sometimes lead to cheap deaths.
In one stage, we tapped a location to attack a guard, only to see another coming in. We tapped to head back to the location we were before, but the game misread the command and forced us to fight.
The game has several different stages to complete, with the promise of more coming through daily updates. In the meantime, you can upload videos through the Everplay feature. It's not as good as interactive leaderboards, but it allows you to show off your gameplay skills.
When it comes to presentation, Riddick is a mixed bag. On one hand, the levels look great and offer a lot of variety - and hiding spots - where you can take out guards. They also vary between daytime and nighttime, an interesting touch considering the killer works best in the dark.
Unfortunately, Vin Diesel didn't contribute to the game. He lent his voice to great effect in the Chronicles of Riddick adventures on consoles, but not here. As a result, you never feel in control of the character.
In the end, Riddick fares better than most movie tie-ins, mainly because of Gaming Corps' dedication to good stealth play and stage design. It could've been better, though, especially with superior action elements and more involvement from Diesel.
