Star Trek: The 25th Anniversary Game by Ultra Games Reviewed by John Craig john@dmgice.com Save: Password Released: 1991 Works with: all Gameboys, no enhancements **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Games with movie or show licenses are notorious for being......bad. How will this one be? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Description: The Doomsday Machine is back, and itıs heading for earth! There is only one chance to stop the huge planet killer, a weapon created by the Federation to destroy the menace. Unfortunately, the Kingons have other plans, and they have disassembled the weapon and hidden the parts on various planets. Now itıs up to Kirk and the Enterprise to find the weapon parts and head after the hulk. This game is much more action-oriented than the other Star Trek games which are more strategic. The game features two main engines. One for space, and one for beaming down to the various planets. In space you have a side view of the Enterprise, and the game scrolls to the right as you maneuver through asteroid fields, Klingon attacks, giant space amebas, and other threats that Trek fans will readily recognize. Once the Enterprise has made itıs way to a planet, Kirk, Spock, and ŒBonesı beam down to the surface and split up to look for the hidden weapon parts. The game has an overhead view, and you play as Kirk. All the planets, and hostile aliens on them, are ones that have all been on the show. In the end, if you assemble the weapon, you go for a showdown against the Doomsday Machine. Your game is saved by password. Liked: It seems that Ultra actually knew the show as they wrote this, everything is familiar from the show. The space battles and the searching for the weapon parts are fun and keep you playing. Hated: nothing **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Note that the Gameboy Color has serious problems drawing part of the screen in the sequences before and after each level, and the map screen. It doesnıt present a big problem though, because you can still read all the text. The actual game play isnıt effected at all by the GBC. The graphics are good, the Enterprise isnıt very detailed, but thatıs because itıs not that big on the screen, which is good because you can see more of whatıs going on. Explosions and other effects are good. On the planet surfaces the characters and enemies are nice. Slowdown on the planets are very often a problem when there is a lot going on on-screen. Beaming up and down from the ship is a nice effect, and the cut scenes before each planet level are photos from the show (they look like GB camera photos). Liked: Good graphics during gameplay overall, photo cut scenes after beaming to a planet Hated: Gameboy Color problems on map screen, slowdown on planets **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Some of the music is from the series, and it all translates very well. The title music is the original theme, and is exceptionally good. The sound effects are also good. Liked: Good music from the Star Trek series. Hated: nothing, but the phasers make a deep hum when fired. Shouldnıt they be a very high pitched hum? **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Unlike most Star Trek games, the controls are very simple. Pressing A fires your phasers, and B releases a volley of photon torpedoes. Very much like the game R-Type. If you find a rift in sub-space in a level (shown by a group of twinkling stars) the Enterprise can enter warp for a second, allowing you to speed ahead through part of the level. The planet levels are good enough to be a game in themselves. Pressing Start accesses your tricorder, and you can scan virtually any object, and the tricorder will give you information on the object. You can also set your phasers to stun or full, allowing you to knock out a enemy, or vaporize him. Like I said in the Graphic section, there is unfortunately a large slowdown sometimes on the planets when there is a lot going on on-screen. Liked: Well designed planets and space levels. The first areas are easy while the last are difficult. The tricorder concept is very cool. Hated: occasional slowdown **************************************************************************** Improve: Expand on the use of the tricorder, have a few role playing elements on planets, i.e. towns where you have to solve a problem and talk to people, ect., fix that damn introduction and map screen on Gameboy Color RIYL: The planet levels remind me of James Bond 007, without the role- playing elements. R-type for the space levels. **************************************************************************** Final Words: I know of at least 4 or 5 Star Trek games for Gameboy, and Iıd say this is one of the best. If your a big fan of the original Trek you can probably find this one for cheap. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: *** Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: **** Personal Opinion: **** Total: 18 Final Score: 72% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: You usually have to find those clusters of stars before you can enter warp, but you can initiate warp at any time during a level by holding down the Select key and pressing back (left) on the D-pad. However, you can only use this ONCE per level, so use it wisely.