Game Review: Star Trek Online

Space. The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise....

Like many folks of a certain age, many a night was spent watching the original Star Trek t.v. show. I was just a young boy then, but the show has left a lifetime impression on me. This impression was solidified when the Star Trek franchise made the jump from television to film, riding the wave of science fiction movies of the late 1970's and early 80's. Seeing the Enterprise on the big screen was cooler than cool, and still is to this day. I remember fondly playing with my Start Trek action figures on the bridge of the Enterprise (anyone else remember these Megoo toys?) and getting a bed spread that was full of space ships and laser blasts and space stations. Of course, Star Wars was an influence as well (that is a whole other topic!) but there is no denying that Star Trek had become part of my science fiction DNA.

The Star Trek Universe has since become an iconic part of Americana. Star Trek has spawned an industry of licensing, encompassing movies, books, cartoons, toys and (among other things)...video games. As video games keep pace with technology, the scope of what these games offer has also increased. Building on the success of other MMO's, Cryptic Studios has boldly gone where no game company has gone before and developed Star Trek Online. This is the first and only officially licensed Star Trek MMO and, to borrow a line from a certain Science Officer, I find it "Fascinating".

Canonically, Star Trek Online is in a unique position. Working closely with Paramount, who has rebooted the film franchise by setting the movies in an alternate timeline, Cryptc lets STO players continue the storyline from where the reboot movie takes off (I think this is a very cool thing to do, as it puts the "original" Star Trek timeline in the hands of the fans. Very cool indeed). Romulus and Remus have been destroyed. Both of these empires are struggling to gain a foothold and rebuild. The Klingons are moving to take back whole sectors of space they claim are rightfully theirs. The Dominion are rebuilding. A new threat from Fluidic Space has emerged. And on top of it all, The Borg are back, once more. The Federation is at war on multiple fronts, fighting hard to reestablish peace across the galaxy.

Star Trek Online is a unique MMO in that it allows players to play in two modes. There is a Space mode, which allows players to captain starships, explore uncharted space, and engage in space combat. There is also the Ground mode, which allows players to go on Away Missions, dock at space stations (such as Deep Space Nine) and beam down to planets or onto other vessels. This makes for some dynamic and engaging game play. It also presents players with a unique challenge. By this, I mean your character is not just one person, say as in World of Warcraft. Rather, it is a combination of your Captain character, your class, your starship and your Bridge Officers. All of these combined make up what and how you play STO.

Players can choose from one of three Officer roles: tactical, science, or engineering. These correspond to DPS, Healing, and Tanking, respectively. There are also corresponding starships one can captain: Cruisers, Escorts, and Science vessels. Your Bridge Officers man the various stations on the Bridge, each bringing a unique set of skills that they may use at each station, depending upon their rank. You begin the game as an Ensign and can advance all the way up to Vice Admiral (1-51). Every ten levels grants you access to different Tier starships as well as the ability to promote members of your crew. These Tier ships provide more console slots for various gear upgrades. Of course, the higher the Tier ship, the more powerful it is.

There are many different mission types in STO. From patrolling sector space or engaging enemy contacts to exploring uncharted systems or engaging in diplomatic missions that require the player to "think" their way through to a solution. My favorite are the Episodes. Episodes are missions that follow a storyline and develop very much like a Star Trek t.v. episode. These Episodes further the continuity of Star Trek along and are usually a mix of diplomacy, space combat, and Away Missions.

In addition, there are PVP zones, material gathering, item crafting, accolades, titles, Fleet Actions, Task Forces, and other such odds and ends that add to the immersive experience that is Star Trek Online. And for me, that is one of the more entertaining aspects of STO. The immersion and total sense that you are a part of the Star Trek story, not simply watching it unfold on t.v. or on a movie screen. This is further punctuated by certain parts of the game being voiced by Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and Chase Masterson.

Now, it is by no means a perfect game. I still think it has a few things that could be made better (at times Ground combat does feel a little clunky). Fortunately, Cryptic is aware of them and is diligent in gathering player feedback and makes changes where appropriate. Indeed, after a year of being out, it feels much more polished and vastly improved than when the game first went live. I was lucky enough to have been in closed beta testing, and the improvements over the year are quite noticeable. I can only hope that Cryptic continues to further innovate and update STO in the future.

So if you have ever wanted to sit in the Captain's chair of a starship and warp into space, Star Trek Online is your chance to "make it so".

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked