Trek Throwback Thursday: SNES (and Genesis) Treks

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Trek Throwback Thursday: SNES (and Genesis) Treks
Boldly going into 16-bits


The 16-bit era.  Better graphics, deeper gameplay, more colors.  The fourth generation of consoles gave us a bit of a mixed bag of titles for the SNES/Genesis/32X.  


Star Trek Starfleet Academy Bridge Combat Simulator
Developed by: Interplay
Published by: Interplay
Released: 1995

Adapted from Interplay's Star Trek Starfleet Academy, Bridge Combat Simulator puts players it the shoes of a Starfleet Academy cadet, working with your simulator crew of fellow cadets completing simulated assignments to level up in class rank (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) and gain the ability to command different simulated starship classes.  Each "year" consists of 5 simulator missions, for a total of 20, plus one final mission to graduate (the infamous Kobayashi Maru scenario).  The game also includes a simulator room mode which allows for one on one (or two or three) combat simulations, as well as a two player mode and a few simulation based on certain Trek movies or episodes.   The gameplay is relatively simple, especially in combat mode, and the simulated missions are varied enough to not become monotonous and boring.  The grapahics are a bit low res, but overall I really liked this one.  A graphics enhanced version of this game was released for the Sega 32x.

Rating: 4/5 


Star Trek: The Next Generation "Future's Past"
Developed by: Spectrum Holobyte
Published by: Spectrum Holobyte
Released: 1994

An adaptation of Star Trek: The Next Generation A Final Unity for the PC, "Futures Past" (known as "Echoes of the Past" of the Sega Genesis and Game Gear) is an adventure game with fetch quest and puzzle-solving elements that puts the player onboard the USS Enterprise-D near the Romulan Neutral Zone.  After a series of smaller missions the Enterprise becomes involved in a race to find an ancient artifact known as the Integrated Field Derandomizer (IFD).  the quest for the IFD leads to three trials to decide who gains control of the artifact.  Lost of different missions, mostly planet or ship based puzzle-solving, with some space combat.  Overall quite fun, if a bit long and slow at times.  thankfully a password system allows you to skip earlier stages.  This game was also released on the Sega Genesis. 

Rating: 4/5


Star Trek Deep Space Nine - Crossroads of Time
Developed by: Novotrade International
Published by: Playmates Interactive
Released: 1995

Set during Deep Space Nine's first season, Crossroads of Time is a platforming came (with the occasional side scrolling shooter level) dealing with Cardassian (and a Bajoran separatist group) trying to destroy the station.  Pulling many elements from the shows first season (Gul Dukat, Kai Opaka, the USS Saratoga at Wolf 359), the game does a good job immersing the player in it's setting about the titular space station.  for most levels the player controls Commander Sisko, however there are levels in which players get to play as Dr. Bashir, Kira and even Odo.  The lack of real variety of gameplay becomes somewhat repetitive after a while.  A fun play for hardcore DS9 fan trekkies, but much less appealing for other players.  A direct port of this game was released for the Sega Genesis as well.

Rating: 3/5



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