Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek is on the rise again. The science fiction franchise got a major push over the summer, between the release of Star Trek D.A.C for Xbox Live Arcade and J.J. Abrams' blockbuster Hollywood remake. Now the series goes warp one into the deep reaches of massively multiplayer online gaming, withStar Trek Online set for a 2010 release.
Players entering the Star Trek universe take control of their own ship, along with its respective crew. You'll be able to choose from a number of ranking officers, including Starfleet and Klingon. Personally, we'd go with the Klingons, since they talk like they're about to spit phlegm with each syllable.
Over the course of each episode, you'll engage in a number of missions, both in space and on the surface of new planets. You'll explore for new signs of life while occasionally fighting hostiles, showing them whose boss with photon cannons and phasers.
While aboard the vessel, you'll interact with a number of crewmembers, briefing them on the mission at hand while keeping your ship in one piece. No word yet if any specific characters from the series will make an appearance, but they will be referred to throughout the game. Besides, it wouldn't be Star Trek if we didn't hear about Spock.
Star Trek Online's combat system breaks down into two parts. The first involves your team visiting planets, using run and gun combat to defeat enemies. The other portion is much deeper, as you strategically move and place your starships through real-time tactical planning. Capital ships play a huge part in these scenarios, and you'll need to constantly shift power back and forth between offense and defense. First, you'll put everything you've got into bulking up your weapons, then turn it around and put your shields at maximum.
As you establish your fleet, you'll expand it by utilizing a proposed Galactic Economy system. You'll be able to pool your resources and recruit new members for your team, while also creating new installations, such as space stations, mining platforms, shipyards and much more. The more you have, the stronger you become. Just make sure you don't put too much of your resources into one thing.
Being an MMO, Star Trek Online will feature heavy multiplayer interaction. You'll work alongside others in co-op, taking orders from Central Command and scheduling meet-ups to talk battle tactics and other things. You can also fight against renegade forces, during both planet exploration and in tremendous space battles. It's time to prove who's the best race: Starfleet or Klingon. (What, no room for the Romulans?)
Thankfully, the game has a vast universe. Exploration is part of the fun, being able to track down and discover new planets to log with your federation. You'll find new life forms, follow side stories and perhaps even leave your historic mark for other Star Trek users to see. Well, either that, or you could just goof off with Vulcans for a few hours. It's your call.
rom what we've seen thus far, Star Trek Online is a spectacular-looking game. You feel like you're being thrust headfirst into Roddenberry's universe as each battle unfolds, with starships zipping by and floating asteroids and space clouds appearing in the distance. The interior stuff is excellent too, with plenty of explorable rooms, interactive characters (mostly NPCs, but you may run into a colleague or two) and the classic "whooshing" doors.
Overall, Star Trek Online has a lot going for it, and should be an outstanding addition to your PC library once it releases next year. Cryptic Studios currently hosts a closed beta for the game at the Star Trek Online web page, so head over there and see if you can join the party. Set phasers to "stunning".
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