Star Trek Online -- Video Game Review -- PC

[cubanpete24]

Star Trek Online Game Review, Many updates later By cubanpete24 The New Order Moderator Star Trek Online, released in January 2010, was panned by critics everywhere, for just about everything. Gameplay, graphics, and very curious mechanics, that were both included, and omitted from the game. Back at launch, I wasn't really a Trekkie, (Ask me what a tribble was then, and I'd probably say some sort of vegetable) but I was interested. An rpg based on a universe as expansive as Star Trek has never been done before. Allow me to rephrase that, An rpg based on a universe as expansive as Star Trek has never been done WELL. Although I wasn't familiar with Star Trek at the time, I saw the potential this game had. But then it released...and it got panned...and that was that. I totally ignored the game from then on. Until now that is, see Star Trek Online is resorting to what I call, the EA maneuver. That is...Going free to play. EA first utilized this business model with Battlefield Heroes, living on micro transactions...the game is still thriving to this day. Before, Developers and analysts mocked this business model, but now...those same developers are resorting to it, and those analysts are biting their tongues. games you never heard of, like Global Agenda, Alliance: Valiance of arms, Spiral Knights. All the way to Team Fortress 2, and even World of Warcraft are resorting to this business model. And now finally...Star Trek Online, which will be going free to play later this year. This peaked my interest for the game yet again, I was already interested in getting the game, since by then, I was 4 seasons into TNG, and you just can't argue with the price of free. So you must be thinking... "This game is going free to play later this year...but Cuban is reviewing the game now! So that must mean he got in on some deal with the developers...allowing him to play for free before everyone else!" But that just isn't the case, I hit up Steam, and bought the Digital Deluxe edition for 15 dollars. it's been almost 2 years since launch, surely updates...and patches have been made to fix the game right?......Right?! I bought it for the outfits... So after a confusing registration process, that basically forced me to sign up for a recurring membership,(which you can cancel right after, basically rendering this step totally redundant) I was ready traverse the final frontier... Gameplay Starting the game, You make a character, using the game's superb customizer. You choose from 3 classes, (Tactical, Engineering, Science), then choose from over 10 races in the star Trek universe, or if your feeling extra cheeky, you can create your own species from the ground up. wanna make some green skinned...klingon-whatever hybrid? Sure. You can do that. But wait, there's more! You can change your character's height...build...and of course, the uniform. Now you'd think, that this would be the weakest portion of the customization, but nope, it's as good as the rest. on the offset, you can choose from the game universe's created uniforms, or oddly enough, the Deep Space Nine uniforms, (other uniforms from other series, you will have to pay for) you can tweak the colors of these too. you're in charge, you make the dress code. And the customization doesn't end here... So once it's all said and done, you finally start the game, and after some exposition by Leonard Nemoy, You're finally able to fight your first enemy, Not knowing what you're supposed to do, or how to play. Like all most MMOs, this game has one hell of a learning curve. The tutorial doesn't help much, because it only explains the stuff you already know, like shooting...and moving with WASD... Yep...I never knew the WASD moved my avatar... But once you adjust, it's all manageable, It's just a matter of knowing what does what, Game control itself is very easy to pick up and play. At launch, ground controls were mediocre, it was stop, target, I shoot you, you shoot me back, repeat. it was awkward when engaging multiple enemies, because you were basically at their mercy, you couldn't focus on one enemy, AND take cover at the same time. But now...after many updates, the game plays like a Third person shooter, you can still change back to the "RPG controls" whenever you want, but why would you want to? The Third Person control works very well in the game So after the tutorial, you dock at a Starbase...and are given your own ship, and with this ship, brings MORE CUSTOMIZATION! HELL YES! I'm a sucker for customization, and while the ship customization isn't nowhere near as expansive as the character customization, it's still not too shabby. I was able to create this in my first level, you unlock more parts to customize your ships as you progress. Ship control itself isn't that hard to pick up either. Space combat is fun, and engaging, while traveling between systems and sectors can be a bit monotonous, however, you don't always have to be behind the wheel, you can just plot a course, and your ship will automatically make it's way to where you want to go, but you don't just warp to where you wanna go...you have to sit, and wait while your ship traverses it's premade route. Among other things you can do, are recruit and customize your first officers which give your ship special abilities, and accompany you on your away missions. Partake in "diplomacy missions", which are a fun way to break up the action. and join "fleets" which amount to just your guild or clan however, my biggest gripe with this game, is the interface. You always feel lost. Where do I get quests...What does this thing do. Granted, this goes with the "Hell of a learning curve" comment I made earlier. But still, in the tutorial, I started over from scratch, because I thought I ran into some game breaking bug, when in actuality, it wasn't bugged. I had to go into my mission log...go into the active missions tab...pick the mission that I was on, and press "Hail starfleet" which calls your quest giver, who gives you your next objective. I figured that out, by complete and total accident. The game is no Mass Effect when it comes to story, but it's not bad, the way it's set up. Quests are called 'Missions', and they are usually layered with Space Combat, Diplomacy, Ground combat, then more space combat, not particularly in that order. All in all, gameplay is good, but it's not without some annoyances. Graphics For a game released in 2010, that has to run hundreds of ships on screen at a time, the game looks good! Not bad by any stretch of the word, or amazing, but it's very commendable. It gets the essence of Star Trek down. Be it the design of the ships...how the name you give your ship is displayed on the saucer, with it's own ID. Or how the Golden Gate Bridge is clearly visible upon entering Starfleet Academy. however, the game suffers from some minor texture pop in, which is excusable, considering the amount of stuff that's on the screen at a given time. T the planets you see when in Space look terrible, Oh sure...There are a lot of planets in the game, but considering how close you have to get to beam down to them, this total lack of detail is just appalling, now this isn't just a problem with made up Gas Planets...no. EARTH, the location of the Starfleet academy, looks like garbage. Look out for the smudge tool Canada! Otherwise...Ships and player models look great. Sound One of the reasons why I love Star Trek, is the score. and the way it is employed in this game, adds so much to the experience. When your flying in Deep Space, heading to your destination, the music is calm, and uplifting. When your in battle, it's loud, and gets you pumped, and for it's final touch, whenever you finish an epic space battle, the music transitions beautifully back to a calming band, Ã* la end of any Star Trek episode. It's a really nice touch. However...There is next to no voice acting in this game, other than Leonard Nemoy's narration, and a few conversations, it's all text you will have to sift and read through. Phasers sound like Phasers, Photon Torpedos sound like Photon Torpedos... The sound matches the spirit of Star Trek exquisitely Final Thoughts I paid 15 dollars for one month, while it isn't particularly a steal, I never felt like the game was robbing me blind. If your not willing to put down the cash for a monthly subscription, the game is going free to play soon, I highly recommend this game to anyone even remotely interested in Star Trek. Gameplay--8/10 Graphics--7.5/10 Sound--10/10

[Naked Crook]

Lol... In that last picture of the Earth, you can see the city lights in the USA, but as you move up to Canada...it's just all dark. Anyway, with what I have read about STO, I think it warrants a try. I think I may buy it sooner or later.