Review: 'Star Trek' video game is lost in space
No type of video game makes players more wary than one based on an upcoming blockbuster film.
The reputation is well deserved. These licensed adaptions often feel shallow, a seemingly cheap ploy to cash in on the popularity of the movie with a pitiful interactive display.
So, could Namco Bandai's science fiction adventure based on Star Trek boldly go where no licensed video game has gone before? As Spock might say, that would be highly illogical.
The cooperative Star Trek video game is an incredibly boring campaign, mixing lackluster action sequences with enemies (and computer-controlled colleagues) that exhibit stupid behaviors.
Set during the 23rd century, the crew of the Starship Enterprise are tasked with saving the universe from the Gorn, a race of lizard creatures fans of the original Star Trek series should instantly recognize. The Gorn have ravaged planets across the universe, and Kirk and Spock battle to stop them.
Before starting, players choose between Kirk and Spock, then move into the campaign. There's no major combat advantage to playing as either, as both seem to boast similar characteristics. While Spock performs a Vulcan Nerve Pinch when striking quietly, Kirk will choke an opponent. Spock may also perform Mind Melds for access to passcodes or other information, but it's nothing extraordinary. Both players also have Tricorders that scan enemies or objects as well as hack computers.
Since this is a cooperative adventure, Kirk and Spock will work together to eliminate the Gorn threat. That means reviving the other when down, or hacking a door while another fends offs Gorn or infected Vulcans and humans.
But as with many cooperative games, the computer-controlled ally can't measure up one manned by a human player online or offline. During one heated battle playing as Kirk, I fought off 3-4 Gorn as Spock watched. Spock also went into spectator mode as I lay on the ground awaiting a revival. Fortunately, I was able to recover on my own.
Players can use the Tricorder to command their computer-controlled ally, but it's cumbersome. There's nothing wrong with scanning a room, then commanding Spock or Kirk to, for example, hack a keypad. However, simple commands such as ordering movements or attacks require the Tricorder as well.
Even when two players are working harmoniously as Kirk and Spock, Star Trek still delivers a bland adventure. The Gorn barely put up a fight, making it easy to coast through levels and vanquish enemies with little effort. Most Gorn duck behind cover and refuse to come out until you approach.
During one fight involving a turret and lone Gorn enemy, Spock took cover while I hacked the turret. With the heavy gunfire halted, we approach the Gorn facing a wall, with zero interest in attacking. I try to provoke him with a couple phaser shots in the back. No luck. The Gorn was content standing in the corner, facing the wall like a toddler placed in "time out."
Also, the cooperative elements lack creativity. There's the generic sequence where one player boosts the other over a ledge to activate a bridge while the other provides covering fire for oncoming enemies. There's the typical heal your struggling squadmate, who fires back with his phaser to keep foes at bay. Beyond that, it's not exciting.
Even the brief moments when players get to navigate the Enterprise in space combat are sleep-inducing. Zap a few spaceships, set up a tactical strike on larger vessels, and done.
Plus, once players wrap up the campaign, there's little reason to continue. Players may find some missing items to scan or other gear, but Kirk and Spock's journey ends quickly.
Star Trek offers a valuable lesson: when encountered by a video game with close ties to a movie releasing on or around the same time frame, look away. That's the only logical reaction.
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Digital Extremes
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Price: $59.99
Rating: T for Teen
Release Date: April 23
Score: 1.5 stars (out of 4)
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923