Star Trek: Tactical Assault (DS) Review
Posted by David Redkey on 01.04.2007
Can the Star Trek Universe really exist in the palm of your hand?
“Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war…”
--From Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
The Universe is waiting with bated breath. Peace is a distant memory. The Klingon Empire is thirsting for war and the only group that can stop it is the Federation. Join the Federation or Klingon empire and see if you have the know how to guide the fate of the universe.
Star Trek: Tactical Assault for the DS is the latest attempt by game developers to put you in the seat of the captain’s chair. This game was brought to you by Bethesda Softworks (better know for the Elder Scrolls games) and Quicksilver Software (the creators of Star Trek: Star Fleet Command). Can they do the Star Trek name justice?
Graphics
Basic is a good way to describe the graphics of this game. The DS isn’t known for pumping out the best polygons and this is further proof. The ship designs are fairly basic and lack any serious detail. The textures are especially bad. I understand the limitations of the hardware but can they at least make the ships look vaguely interesting? The ships aren’t the only thing that are lacking. The backgrounds are very basic as well. I know its space and all, but its not that empty. Star clusters, nebulas and other such things should have been used to spicing things up a bit. The weapon attacks are simple as well. Phasers and torpedoes are nothing special and aren’t exciting in the least bit. On the plus side, the ships suffer damage and it’s nice to see the shields blocking incoming attacks.
Gameplay
It’s not all about the graphics right? Good gameplay can overcome most graphical shortcomings. This is the case with ST: TA. One thing that this game really excels at, it’s the feeling of having control of an instrument panel. Everything in the game can be used by the touch screen: which weapons can be fired, shield overcharge, speed, even scanning other ships. It adds a level of immersion that can’t be match by any other console or portable.
The main meat of the game is the campaign mode. In the campaign mode, you have control of a generic star fleet officer and his crew. The story is fairly well told and has a few twist and turns along the way. Between missions, the main character even updates the situation through his Captain's Log. The game provides two lengthy campaigns for you to participate in (15 missions for the Federation and 16 for the Klingon). The Federation campaign takes place during the period that predates Star Trek: The Motion Picture but after the end of the original TV series. Over the course of the campaign, players are award command of a new more powerful vessel. Each vessel has its own offensive and defensive ratings. After each mission, you earn performance points. These points than can be used to increase the effectiveness of a certain crew member or the main character. Spending points on a crew member may allow you to have a more powerful photon torpedoes or may allow your emergency power to recharge faster.
Missions usually break down into your ship investigating some sort of “happenings.” You will enter the area, scan the area and confront an enemy. Sometimes, a mission can be solved with diplomacy; however, it’s much more likely for a person to get into combat. This is a major failing for the game. The series and movies were based more upon exploration of alien worlds than killing of enemies. The fact that the game focuses so much on battle takes away from the very spirit of the source material. That’s more of a personal preference than anything else. It does take place during a time of increased tension between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, but it seems that warfare is the main driving force of many of the Star Trek games.
A major strike against combat, it’s very hard to avoid objects in the environment. You must lock onto a ship to fire the weapons of your ship. Unfortunately, some of the battles take place in asteroid belts or near planets. The higher difficulty can steam from the environmental hazards. These hazards will pose more of a threat to your ship then your own enemies. If the ship accidentally hits a hazard, it will take considerable damage. That wouldn’t be much of a problem, but coupled with the lock-on feature, the game becomes an exercise in frustration.
That’s really the only problem glaring weakness. The game would be much better for it if you could have some kind of warning if you’re near an object (I mean seriously people…the goddamn thing has all these sensors and they can’t avoid a fucking asteroid). If the developer implemented some type of warning system, that would have gone a long way into improving the gameplay.
Sound
The sound in this game is pretty mixed bag. The music goes for nothing more than the average “space opera.” The sound effects, however, don’t suffer the same fate. From the sound of red alert to the phaser blasts, the sound effects are very accurate. It’s nice how accurate the designers made the effects.
Last Appeal
Besides the fairly lengthy campaign mode, Quicksilver also threw in 1-on-1 multiplayer battle over ad-hoc (sorry guys, no wifi or download play). You can, eventually, choose between 20 ships to battle head to head. However, the ships have to be unlocked by completing the campaign mode. This multiplayer is pretty good but it does seem a bit tacked on since the lack of game sharing or wifi support. Beyond multiplayer and the campaign mode, there isn’t anything else. The average individual may pick it up, beat it, and then never play it again.
Fun Factor
If a player can overlook the major misstep in the gameplay (the inability to know how close you are to environmental hazards), the gameplay is very strategic. Maneuvering a ship to get that perfect shot is satisfying. For a dumbed-down version of Star Fleet Command, it holds up pretty well.
The 411
Star Trek: Tactical Assault is a pretty good game in its own right. A few little miscues may make a person think twice. However, for any Star Trek fan, the power of a Star Fleet captain in the palm of your hand is something that any Trekkie shouldn’t pass up.
Graphics
5.0
Basic textures and basic effects.
Gameplay
8.0
The developers have gone to great to keep things on the up and up. Unfortunately, the inability to to accidently run into unseen hazards can be a problem.
Sound
7.0
The music is nothing to write home about. On the other hand, the sound effects are pretty good.
Lasting Appeal
7.0
2 different campaigns and multiplayer may keep you coming back for more. The high difficulty may keep you away.
Fun Factor
8.0
Really gives the player the sense of controlling a star ship. No trekkie worth his weight in Latinum
