Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (video game)
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| Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | |
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| Developer(s) | StarFleet Academy Software, Interplay, High Voltage Software[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Interplay |
| Platform(s) | Super NES, Sega Mega Drive, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS |
| Release date | 1994 (SNES/Genesis), September 1997 (PC) |
| Genre(s) | Space flight simulator |
| Mode(s) | single-player, multi-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB "K-A" |
| Media | 8-megabit Cartridge, CD-ROM |
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a PC Star Trek simulation game that simulates the life of a typical Starfleet cadet. The object in the game is for the player to learn the metaphorical ABCs of flying a starship so that he can eventually become a captain of his very own ship. It includes a simulation battle mode in which the player can pilot and fight ships of his choosing.
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[edit] Gameplay
The player takes the role of human Cadet David Forester, leader of a cadet group at Starfleet's San Francisco–based Command College. The player has to pass all the simulated missions, optionally including the infamous Kobayashi Maru scenario. The scenarios, in addition to simple combat situations, include a recreation of Kirk's near-disastrous starship confrontation with Khan Noonien Singh which Kirk ruefully admits is used to teach cadets to avoid his serious mistake that nearly doomed his ship. In addition, Forester must keep his crew in check and prevent personality clashes from lowering team performance.
The cadet crew consists of a Vulcan science officer called Sturek, a female Andorian communications officer named Vanda M'Giia, and a detached and shy human engineer Robin Brady, with humans Jana Akton and Geoff Corin at the helm and navigation.
During the course of the game it is possible to foil the machinations of the Vanguard — a fanatical terrorist group dedicated to overthrowing the Federation government and installing Kirk as a despot — and to investigate the cause of increasing tensions around the Klingon Neutral Zone. On the other hand, it is possible to be dismissed from the Academy in disgrace if the wrong choice is made during certain full motion video sequences.
The game has a multiplayer starship combat mode that allows up to 32 players to play together. It can be played online with Kali or Xfire.
[edit] Versions
The PC version spans five CD-ROMs, and is technically superior to the Super Nintendo/Sega Genesis version. It is a more involved and lengthier campaign-based game with a more complex simulation and story interaction.
The version released on the video game consoles took a different approach, presenting the player with a number of unconnected missions that combined starship combat with limited puzzle elements, usually in the form of multiple-choice dialogs. Certain missions had multiple possible outcomes, with the more desirable results receiving a better grade. The console version uses a combat mode similar to the PC game Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, while the PC version features a fully 3D texture-mapped simulation with optional support for the burgeoning 3D accelerator cards of the time.
On the PC, the game is enhanced with numerous interactive live action scenes (FMV) that can affect crew performance, and a storyline involving a terrorist group known as the Vanguard. These scenes feature William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov, and George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu, as celebrity guest instructors at the school. Interplay contracted Ron Jones, composer for several Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, for the game's soundtrack, a CD of which was included in some versions of the game. Other versions came with an exclusive 3" metal miniature figure of the female Andorian cadet, Vanda M'Giia. Pocket Books released a novelization by Diane Carey.
The PC version received an expansion pack called Chekov's Lost Missions that features seven new missions, two new multiplayer games, and various improvements to the game interface. Walter Koenig and George Takei make return appearances in the introductions to several of the new missions.
In 2000 a second PC game, Star Trek: Klingon Academy, was released by Interplay.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ High Voltage Software Lays Off Staff at gamasutra.com.
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy at MobyGames
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Chekov's Lost Missions at MobyGames
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