Star Trek - The Video Game Xbox 360

Released on 26-Apr-2013

• Star Trek The Video Game - Review

  
  

  

  Where No Game Has Gone Before?

  Games based on movies don't have the best reputation, and often with good cause. Hurried out of the door to meet the release date of the blockbuster whose elements they've borrowed, they often struggle to turn a handful of action scenes into a full length game, while even the best polygon creations can't live up to seeing actual movie stars strutting their stuff.

  Star Trek The Video Game comes up with a simple but smart solution to the problem: although it's based on the rebooted Star Trek movies, the second of which comes out this month, it doesn't try to recreate the big screen experience through your joypad. Rather, it takes for granted that Kirk, Spock and the gang have a rich array of adventures that haven't been seen on screen, and opts to tell one of those instead.

  Vulcan Violence

  Set between the 2009 movie and its sequel, Into Darkness, this game picks up one plot thread from the first film. The planet Vulcan has been destroyed, and Spock's people are searching for a new home. To this end, they've created a device that can release enough energy to remake a planet however they want, but it turns out that it also rips holes in space. Through this tear come the Gorn, a warlike reptilian race which decides that this device would be very handy for their plan to conquer the universe.

  Enter the USS Enterprise, responding to New Vulcan's distress call, and then thrust into a race against time to stop the Gorn from following through on their wicked plan. What follows is an eclectic action game that finds Kirk and Spock working together to save the day, and in their own inimitable style.

  

  Boldly Going

  Appropriately, given the team-based nature of the series, Star Trek is very much a co-op game. You can play as Kirk or Spock depending on your preference for yellow or blue jerseys, with the other role taken either by the game's AI or another player, online or locally.

  For the most part you'll be engaged in encounters with the Gorn, which can either take the form of measured shootouts or tense stealth sections depending on how you choose to proceed. Take the action route and the game becomes a third-person shooter in the style of Gears of War. Opt for sneakiness, and you'll be creeping up on your enemies and knocking them out with a Vulcan neck pinch.

  There's more to Star Trek than shooting and fighting, of course, and so the game breaks up the combat with a variety of set piece scenarios. You may work together to tag team your way past blazing emissions from a warp core. You may man the torpedoes and phasers of the Enterprise itself, tackling Gorn motherships in a pitched space battle. There are platforming sections where you'll leap and shimmy like Nathan Drake, and mini game puzzles that are used to unlock doors and hack vital systems.

  Enterprise Initiative

  Hacking is carried out using your tricorder, that classic bit of Star Trek kit that's been thoroughly woven into the fabric of the game. It acts as a handy compass, directing you to objectives, but can also be used to scan the environment. The more data you accumulate on the places you visit, the more upgrade points you'll earn to boost your abilities.

  

  These abilities make the tricorder even more useful. You can use it to boost your partner's shields, or to play havoc with enemies. If you don't fancy a fair fight, you can make their guns jam or you can remotely detonate whatever grenades they're carrying. You can also hack security cameras so as to slip past undetected, or take control of enemy turrets so they open fire on the Gorn rather than you.

  Live Long And Prosper?

  It's just a shame that the game's ambition isn't matched by its polish. This is a game that struggles with a variety of quirks and glitches, from occasionally woolly control to daft AI. There's nothing game breaking, but for a game based on a big movie franchise, it has a few too many rough edges.

  What pulls the game back to its feet after each stumble is the story and the acting. The script perfectly captures the characters of Kirk and Spock, with plenty of banter between the pair, while the plot has the sweep and scope of a true Trek tale. Also helping enormously is the presence of all the movie cast, with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto giving their all as Kirk and Spock, while the likes of Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana all take the time to return to the Enterprise in voice form. None of them feel like they're doing the game out of contractual obligation, and their spirited performances are a welcome change from the usual dreary voice work in movie games.

  Star Trek is far from a perfect game, and we wouldn't say no to a more polished sequel, but for Trek fans there's more to enjoy here than there is to dislike.

  GAME's Verdict:

  
  

  The Good:

  • All the movie cast provide great voice work
  • It's more than just a shooter
  • Co-op is really good fun

  The Bad:

  • Some elements feel unpolished
  • Not much replay value
  • Hacking puzzles become repetitive

  Published: 02/05/2013

• Star Trek The Video Game - Science Museum Presentation

  
  

  

  A few weeks ago, we were lucky to get an exclusive first-look at Star Trek The Video Game, the newest entry into the new Star Trek Universe that was launched with J.J. Abrams' reboot 2009 reboot. This week, we lost our bragging rights as the game was unveiled to the public and the press at a special event at the Science Museum in London, and we were lucky enough to be invited along.

  Before we get into the game or the presentation itself, it must be said that the location could not have been better. Entering the museum and passing the real-life rockets, modules and craft that have actually been into space filled the whole event with a sense of wonder and scale that you simply wouldn't get in any other venue.

  Once there was a suitable sense of hubbub and anticipation, the presentation began, led by Brian Miller, Senior Vice President of Paramount Pictures who had flown in from Hollywood to introduce the game to us, and which symbolised just how seriously Paramount are taking this game as a legitimate chapter of the Star Trek saga. He went into some depth about the attention to detail undertaken in the production of this game, and that the developers worked very closely with everyone involved in the Star Trek movies, from the set and costume design, to creature work and the returning cast members, to ensure that this was not just the typical movie tie-in. They didn't want to do the game without doing it right.

  

  Bro-ldly Going Forward

  Introductions over, we were guided through various gameplay levels, some of which even we hadn't seen before and highlighted features which were key to the game itself. The first of these really highlighted the importance of the co-op gameplay in the game. As we mentioned before, Kirk and Spock play these missions through together, with skills and styles that fit their contrasting personalities. Sometimes this means they're not always on the same page as the level progresses, but in one sequence where Kirk is injured, they really can only succeed when playing together.

  Unable to walk but needing to get to sickbay, Kirk and Spock must move together. Spock does the typical buddy carry with Kirk responsible for shooting the enemies in their path. Once they reach sickbay, Spock can't possibly heal Kirk and fend off the foes, so again Kirk takes up the shooting role while Spock does the science bit. It's been a while since we've seen co-operation like this be so vital to the core gameplay of a game, and it's a great example of what makes Star Trek TVG more than just another third-person actioner.

  We also got a much better introduction to the villains of the piece - the dastardly reptillian Gorn. Fans will undoubtedly remember this species from the original Star Trek episode Arena, where they were represented by a man in an unconvincing rubber suit squaring off against a shirtless Shatner in the desert. Fortunately, they now boast a much more credible design, and Miller's presentation made it quite clear why they were chosen as the best bad guys for the game. The alien nature, and the fact they don't have much history to mess with, meant the developers could have a bit more fun with them, coming up with multiple species and classes of Gorn to battle, from wiry and speedy scouts, to the more powerful enforcers and the more intelligent Gorn Commander.

  

  Where No Man Has Gorn Before

  Miller also let loose a juicy tidbit, saying it was pointless having the Gorn without getting the chance to recreate in some way their original appearance, so it seems we'll be seeing Kirk sans shirt in the desert once more. And this is just one of many Easter Eggs in the game to appease the Trekkers and Trekkies among you, with a further hint to the original series coming from the classic battle between Kirk and Spock from the episode Amok Time. Miller explained that, after playing co-op with a friend for several hours, the need to blow off steam with each other seemed a logical (pardon the pun) reason to include a fight against each other. When asked, he did concede it won't feature the classic music that accompanied the original battle - the only real disappointment of the evening!

  Further tidbits we took away were a sequence where Spock mind-melded with a Gorn, leading to a level being played out in first-person from the Gorn's point of view - and revealing their history and origins. We were told there would be about two dozen Federation, Vulcan and Gorn weapons throughout the game, freeing up any fears that you'd have to make do with just a standard issue phaser. And Miller also conceded the obvious influences in making the game - the Batman: Arkham series for showing how a popular franchise can be handled well, and Mass Effect and Halo for showing that sci-fi can be done well too, as well as pointing out the Star Trek influences in the space-based epics we've been enjoying in recent years.

  With the chance to get our own hands on these levels played out into the evening, this was a big and bold way to present what is clearly a very important project for Paramount - and for Namco. This is a game that wears its influences and its Star Trek uniform with pride, and from what we've seen so far, this could be the movie tie-in that goes where few have gone before.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Published: 01/03/2013

• Star Trek The Video Game - Preview

  
  

  

  Boldly Going

  The usual movie tie-in game is not one that usually gets gamers excited. The shorter production time and the need to somehow adhere to or replicate the events of the film mean that most tie-in titles fall short of being the game they could be. Fortunately, Star Trek The Video Game is not your usual movie tie-in game.

  Set in the same universe as J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot movie, Star Trek TVG tells an all-new story set between the events of that film and this summer's sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness. This original story has been written by BAFTA award-winner Marianne Krawczyk, and the game as a whole has taken more than three years to conceive and develop, with Paramount Pictures working closely with the creative team from the film - including composer Michael Giacchino, who wrote an original score for the game that was recorded by a 100-piece orchestra - to ensure the game remained faithful to the Star Trek franchise. Again, this is not your usual movie tie-in, but a whole new chapter that creates an adventure that will be fresh for Star Trek fans and gamers alike.

  The game itself is a third person co-op action adventure, giving you the choice to play as Captain Kirk or Mr Spock, who bear the voices and likenesses of actors Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto respectively. This is still early on in their friendship, so there's still a bit of tetchy one gunmanship, but this really works for how the game is played. Kirk is a brash man of action, Spock an almost uppity man of logic, so who you choose will affect the way you play the game, with each having different objectives and methods within each mission. It's drop-in/drop-out gameplay, so if you're playing alone your partner will be controlled by AI, but anyone locally or online can join you.

  

  These Are The Voyages...

  From the time we spent with the game, we took a look at a few different missions from throughout the game, taking place aboard such diverse locations as the decks of the USS Enterprise, a Vulcan Science Station and a planet that has been conquered by the villains of the piece - the Gorn. That's right, the reptilian beasties last scene fighting a shirtless Kirk in the classic episode 'Arena' are back. And like Trek itself, they too have had a thorough redesign, making them more fierce, formidable foes with a master plan that drives the plot of the game.

  The first level we experienced saw us at the beginning of the game, with the Enterprise answering a distress call from a Vulcan Space Station, and, with the transporters out and no replies to hails, Kirk and Spock shuttle in for a bit of search and rescue. What followed was fairly typical third-person adventure gameplay, equal parts Mass Effect, Uncharted and the Batman: Arkham games. As you'd expect, the distressed station was very distressed, with collapsing gangways and access hatches informing the running/climbing/jumping movements.

  There are also mini-puzzles to solve to help you open doorways and access control panels for information, and so on, some of which can only be solved by working with your partner. The other key tool for solving these, as well as for scanning the area around you, hacking systems, checking vital signs and more is your Tricorder. This classic Trek tool is vital to your success in the game, as the more things you scan, the more points you can earn - this is very much a game where it pays to stop and learn about the people and things around you. Spock can also use the Vulcan mind-meld to get information, with whoever plays as him seeing the thoughts of his subject. Kirk will simply get told this information.

  

  Live Long And Prosper

  This emphasis on fact-hunting and exploration should delight Trekkers and Trekkies who may have feared this game would lack such an integral part of Starfleet's duty. They'll be just as pleased later in the game when the crew entered a lab on the new Vulcan planet searching for a missing scientist, and discover some zombie-like infected Vulcans. Rather than kill these poisoned innocents, Phasers are set to stun, with the game rewarding you with a Commendation (keeping up the Star Trek lingo) for use of non-lethal force.

  It was in this lab we also met the Gorn for the first boss battle, and got to witness their new look for the first time. Standing around eight feet tall, super strong and with vicious claws and a sweeping tail, these beasties start off tough to defeat even with Phasers set to kill, and we're told they only get tougher. It takes working together with your partner and using the environment around you to take him out.

  Outside of the normal gameplay, there are some fun other elements to mix it up. We saw our heroes glide through the rocky valleys of the Gorn Planet in winged flightsuits and take a space jump from their shuttle to the Enterprise, avoiding the debris around them as they rocket through space. What we unfortunately didn't see were the space battles, where you get to command the Enterprise in a dogfight against enemy vessels.

  With the cast of the movie all reprising their roles as the Enterprise's crew (Simon Pegg's Scotty is a stand-out, arming you with the enhanced weapons he's been working on), there are a lot of cutscenes to help move the plot forward, but fans of the series will likely enjoy this as much as the gameplay itself. That's not to say this is a game just for Trekkers, but, like Arkham Asylum/City and Ghostbusters before it, this is a game that makes full - and respectful - use of its licence to immerse you into that world. It's also playable in 3D across all formats, if you want to be immersed even further.

  From what we've seen, Star Trek The Video Game looks to be a solid third person adventure. Admittedly, there are elements that Star Trek fans will get more enjoyment out of than most, but the co-op elements, the two very different characters to play as, and features like space flight ensure that there's enough going on to keep things interesting throughout.

  Published: 01/02/2013

• Star Trek release date beams in

  Star Trek, the video game spin-off from the newly revived movie series, will be released on April 26th, publisher Namco Bandai has announced. It's being developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

  It's a third person action with a heavy emphasis on co-operative play. You'll take control of Kirk or Spock, each with their own unique style of combat. Kirk is, of course, the gung ho soldier type who gets his hands dirty. Spock favours a stealthier approach, using the distraction caused by his less subtle comrade to get the advantage over enemies, bringing them down with his Vulcan neck pinch.

  Although there will be only two main playable characters, the whole Enterprise crew will make an appearance. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto reprise their roles from the movies as Kirk and Spock, while co-stars Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin have all recorded new dialogue as well.

  Plot-wise, the game takes place between the 2009 blockbuster reboot and the upcoming sequel Star Trek: Into Darkness. The enemies will be the Gorn, the reptilian alien species that made a memorable debut in the original series back in the 1960s.

  Star Trek will be out at the end of April, a few weeks before Into Darkness opens in cinemas. Energise!
  

  Published: 21/12/2012

• Namco Bandai to release Star Trek game in 2013

  Namco Bandai has announced that it will be releasing Digital Extremes' eagerly-awaited new Star Trek game during the first quarter of 2013.

  The new game, which is set within the rebooted Star Trek universe introduced in JJ Abrams' 2009 blockbuster movie, is in development for home consoles and PC following an award-winning debut at last year's E3 trade show.

  A cooperative action adventure, the new Star Trek game allows players to take on the iconic roles of Captain James Kirk and Spock as they explore uncharted worlds and utilise 23rd century gear in battle.

  It will tell an original story penned by God of War scribe Marianne Krawczyk in collaboration with the movie's writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, tying into the new Star Trek film sequel also coming in 2013.

  PlayStation 3 owners are set to receive a raft of exclusive content, including PlayStation Move support and a special phaser controller attachment.

  Olivier Comte of Namco Bandai said: "Digital Extremes' attention to detail and the collaboration with Paramount Pictures and the team at Bad Robot Interactive will create an authenticity that is sure to thrill Star Trek fans and gamers alike."

  Published: 14/02/2012

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