Star Trek Resurgence review: the most Star Trek game yet

Unlike Lucasfilm’s esteemed work, Star Trek’s video game history isn’t exactly rosy.

There have been licensed Star Trek video games 50 years ago, but there has never been a truly great Star Trek game that pushed the boundaries of the existing fan base.And even the most famous Star Trek games like the 2000s Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Forces2002 Star Trek: Bridge Commanderand the long-running MMORPG star trek onlinehas an overwhelming emphasis on combat, which is the only last resort in Star Trek stories.Gene Roddenberry’s cosmic controversies often involve action, but never almost Action; Star Trek is a story about compassion, curiosity, and friendship. To truly capture the essence of the space travel adventure series, the video game emphasizes not only flying and shooting, but also dialogue, allowing players to explore new worlds, build relationships, and grapple with complex moral dilemmas. I need to be able to.

this seems to be the goal Star Trek Resurgence, the debut release from the Telltale offshoot Dramatic Labs, and the first Star Trek game in a long time to focus as much on characters and dialogue as the TV series. With a new ship and an almost entirely new cast, revival It’s a branching tale, with a balance between interstellar intrigue, interpersonal conflict, and explosive space action that approaches the original’s balance more than any Star Trek game in decades, perhaps ever. ing. Both as a game and as software, there are still many parts that are lacking. But as a Star Trek story, it’s definitely profitable.

revival Aboard the science ship Resolute, two player-controlled characters alternate between the perspectives of incoming co-pilot Commander Jarrah Rydek (Krizia Bajos) and NCO Engineer Petty Officer Carter Diaz (Josh Keaton). . The Resolute is recovering from a recent disaster that claimed the lives of several crew members and the reputation of its captain, Zachary Solano. Concerned that he has lost the trust of his staff, Solano hopes that Academy apprentice Rydek will help restore his honor as the Resolute embarks on an important diplomatic mission. Over the course of the story, Rydek focuses on unraveling mysteries involving the galaxy, gaining the crew’s trust while assessing whether Solano is worthy of himself. Meanwhile, engineer Diaz deals with important issues on board and overcomes a romance with his fellow officer.

like a good climax Star Trek In this episode, “Issue of the Week” is tackled from multiple angles, with some of the crew dealing with social or interpersonal conflicts, while others solving related scientific or technical puzzles. Investigate. Teamwork is an integral part of Star Trek, revival It emphasizes that solving complex problems requires different skill sets and perspectives. There is a two-way relationship between the bridge crew who are responsible for the big picture and the experts below who are responsible for troubleshooting the details. Alternating between these A and B plots divides the story and gameplay nicely, introducing players to a variety of engaging and memorable characters who interact differently depending on the protagonist.

Image: Dramatic Labs/Epic Games

The story progresses steadily, with the stakes organically escalating from typical. next generation Nearly modern narrative episodes that continue throughout the season discover. The point is that in the case of video games and Star Trek stories, players are faced with consequentially difficult and timely choices.

In contrast to the (still much better) Mass Effect games, players are presented with a clear paragon or renegade path to pursue. revivaldialogue tree does not always provide a clear ethical binary. Would you risk the lives of a dozen people to save one? Would you disobey direct orders to follow the advice of your eager subordinates? Which member of your crew do you trust more in a crisis, and do they trust you in a pinch? must believe.This instantly revival It feels more like a “real” Starfleet experience than a vast open world. star trek online, which determines most of your goals. Nearly all passes end with “fire all phasers”.

More than anything, it’s the relationship with the supporting cast that shapes the variations in the story. You can achieve a 100% “perfect” ending, rather than simply passing each person’s loyalty check. You can’t please everyone, you can’t save everyone. (At least, I haven’t gone through two playthroughs yet.) This puts the full weight of duty and order on the player, giving them an incentive to replay a 12-15 hour game over and over again. Not only that, but it also highlights one of Star Trek’s key tenets. That is, it is possible for two parties to disagree on the basis of good faith and good conscience. Sometimes compromise is possible, sometimes conflict cannot be avoided, but no one has to be an enemy forever.

Image: Dramatic Labs/Epic Games

On the other hand, Star Trek’s obsession with the spirit also has its drawbacks. Starfleet’s strict code of conduct means that players are railroaded to some extent. For example, when NCO Engineer Diaz’s lover is caught accessing files she shouldn’t have access to, she, as Diaz, can’t lie to protect her. A move typical of the series, whose reputation for political radicalism has been somewhat exaggerated, the central political conflict between the colonizing empire and the long-suffering protectorate includes an unfortunate bilateralism. smells of Some of the sci-fi twists that complicate the plot come at the cost of nuance, posing an overarching threat that forces all parties to work together without really addressing what sets them apart in the first place. It’s a flaw in much of Star Trek, past and present, and reflects the liberal-moderate belief that we can all get along without committing to meaningful changes to the status quo.

It’s in gameplay elements that aren’t dialogue-driven. revival Really stumble. The stealth and cover shooting parts are smooth and fun, but many of the other mechanics are slow, tedious, or both. This is especially true for PO Diaz engineering tasks. It feels more like a busy job than a puzzle or mini-game. (Pull R2 to open this conduit, now press his LS+R2 to remove this isolinear chip, then the next chip, etc.) Failure conditions for certain minigames or stages are story mode options , but there is no workaround. The more senseless chore of the game.

Star Trek Resurgence Also, at least on PlayStation 4, there were a number of technical glitches at launch. It’s not uncommon for dialogue to start late or end early, detracting from the important description and flavor of a scene. Except for the random cases where the subtitles completely disappear by his line or two, keeping subtitles enabled may solve this problem. Busy cutscenes, such as the game’s space battle finale, load slowly on the PS4, leaving several seconds of gaps between shots that undermine the momentum of what should be a thrilling climax. These issues may be resolved in future updates, but they are undeniable issues at launch.

Image: Dramatic Labs/Epic Games

Despite these obvious deficiencies, Star Trek Resurgence It offers Star Trek fans an experience worthy of space. Other titles offer a more complete picture of the Star Trek universe, allowing players to explore the vastness of the galaxy, walk the decks of their favorite starships, or even build their own. However, there are only a few titles that look ahead. Tradition towards Story. Fans love Star Trek not just for its cool ships and deep mythology. We love it for Kirk and Spock’s friendship and Picard’s growth from stubborn loner to proud matriarch. For Cisco’s impossible moral dilemma and Burnham’s quest for salvation.

not even revivalClosest Spiritual Ancestor, Classic 90’s Point and Click Adventure star trek 25th anniversary again Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Last Unitycaptures the key human element that makes a great Star Trek story. revival It connects captivating characters to interstellar adventures.do revival Can you say “great Star Trek”? Probably not, but it’s hard to argue that any video game comes close to this.

Star Trek Resurgence was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on May 23rd. The game was reviewed on his PS4 using a pre-release download code provided by Double Fine Productions. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. They do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn a commission on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.