It may be that brands like Star Wars, Call of Duty, or even Star Trek are completely worn out. However, the guys at Digital Extremes took the latest film, which is being heavily promoted, as an opportunity to create a new game set in the Star Trek universe. But are we in for another licensed trash, or will this gigantic franchise finally be done justice?
We went into this review with some preconceived notions, but we still wanted to give Star Trek a chance. After all, some critics and fans of the last film were anticipating a sequel, which is addressed not only in the upcoming movie but also in the current video game installment. The generation with Spock and Captain Kirk completes their missions in a Hollywood-esque style. That means lots of explosions, monstrous aliens, and witty one-liners. On the gameplay front, the developers promise a perfect co-op experience – something we were particularly eager to see. Not only because co-op games have been suffering a sharp decline in general reviews lately, but also because the scarcity of other titles in the genre makes us very skeptical. Find out now whether our skepticism proves justified, or whether Star Trek actually delivers on its promised co-op aspects.
Once upon a time on the planet Neo-Vulkan
The events of the upcoming film "Into the Darkness" take place after the events of the game. The story is set between the first and second films. What immediately stands out is the dramatic tension of the video game adaptation. Spock and Captain Kirk approach each other with clenched fists, their collision ending in a black screen. A tension that builds right from the start. But back to the beginning – we find ourselves aboard the famous Enterprise. A mission awaits us: to rescue the inhabitants of Neo-Vulcan – Spock's species – and locate the Helios machine, built by the Vulcans. The reason for this is the "Gorn" – a reptilian group of aliens who have their eyes on the Helios machine. Its potential benefits are immense, as this machine can lead to a radical increase in the planet's population. This, in turn, means that the Gorn can multiply rapidly on a randomly selected world. This would of course be catastrophic for the peacefully living population of the entire universe.
Enough about the story – what about the presentation? Can the plot compete with the film or even some good games? We can't give a definitive answer. On the one hand, the characters are very well-developed and, above all, individually designed. Spock is a calm and logical crew member who prefers a more subtle approach to killing his opponents. This includes his stealth skills, allowing him to silently eliminate adversaries from behind. Kirk, on the other hand, is an aggressive and macho type who always has a silly and somewhat inappropriate remark ready after every action. But that's always the way it is with action heroes – Hollywood comes to mind! As for alternative paths, solutions, or branching narratives, Star Trek is rather lacking. You follow a clear path that runs like a red thread through the entire plot. No matter what you do or how you do it, it always leads to the same result, resulting in a constant linearity and a monotonous gameplay experience. The presentation, however, is spectacular. Things are constantly exploding and flying around your ears – initially illustrated in interesting cutscenes. However, over time the action turns into boredom, bringing us back to our earlier point – the monotonous gameplay.
Baller man, like Ballermann!
As in most games currently hitting the market. And note, I say "most"—there are, of course, a few exceptions. Anyway, back to the point—in Star Trek, we also have to fight our way through numerous shootouts. But first, let's talk about the weapons. Thanks to its futuristic setting, Star Trek features some nice-looking firearms that not only make a lot of noise but also have useful secondary modes. For example, the series' signature phaser can be used for more than just firing. While Spock prefers this, Kirk can also use its secondary function to stun enemies and take them down himself. But even big guns aren't just for the enemies. The somewhat larger, machine-gun-like weapons can fire large energy grenades in addition to their bursts of fire.
To keep things from getting too monotonous with the weapons, Kirk and his partner, blessed with pointy ears, can modify their phasers with experience. Experience points are awarded when a weapon is used frequently in combat. Reaching a certain number of points unlocks additional modes. For example, the phaser can suddenly fire lasers infused with fire, setting enemies ablaze.
Otherwise, Kirk uses his familiar tricorder, which allows him to hack locked doors and scan enemies and other items lying around. Of course, its energy isn't unlimited, so the player has to recharge it at certain points. The gameplay is generally the same – Kirk and Spock shoot their way through enemies, open doors, crawl through narrow shafts, and crack codes using minigames. While this does provide some variety as the story progresses, including a moment where you even get to pilot the Enterprise, such opportunities are unfortunately very rare.
Intergalactic graphics and original voices from the film
Let's be honest with each other – it was to be expected that Star Trek wouldn't offer any innovations or surprises in terms of graphics. Aside from that, the graphics engine isn't just outdated, it's also not being used to its full potential. Everywhere you look, you find pixelated characters and blurry environments that present a murky overall picture, not only in the light but also in the dark. Perhaps some fans might find this appealing, but it definitely needs to be said. The animations are very stiff and even some minor characters suffer from the unintended effect of their facial expressions not being very well-defined, or rather, not very recognizable. Lip movements and general standards, such as the consistency between dialogue and animation, are also not properly adhered to. Instead, as a player, you're stuck with these subpar animations. Very disappointing, and rather underwhelming, if you ask me.
Aside from the graphics, the audio aspects are just as important. However, we want to mention upfront that there is no German dub. Instead, you'll have to rely on German subtitles, which, by the way, must be enabled via the menu. A wise decision, especially since this allows German players to enjoy the original voices from the film. While a really well-recorded dub doesn't compensate for the monotony of the gameplay, it's a lot of fun to listen to. This is especially true when Captain Kirk's aforementioned silly one-liners come into play, which, while not ruining a serious situation, lighten it up in a unique way. We're familiar with this from recent installments like "Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon" or from numerous 90s films.
