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By Contributing Writer Mike Bean Rating: Awesome I didn't expect much from Starfleet Command, but what I got was the best Star Trek title I have ever seen (although, admittedly, that's not saying a whole lot). Starfleet Command (SFC) is based on the strategic board game Star Fleet Battles. It's a real-time strategy game, but it's nothing like any form of WarCraft or Command & Conquer you've ever seen. SFC's graphics aren't top of the line, but they certainly aren't hard to look at. Space is vast and expansive, and contains many different kinds of beautifully rendered objects. The ships themselves look very much like the Star Fleet Battles action figures that they were more than likely modeled after. The game sounds just about as good as it looks. I knew I was in for a treat when the game opened and treated me to the Enterprise running away from three Klingon cruisers in surround sound. Most of the Star Trek sound effects from the movies are reproduced in exceptional detail in the game. SFC's biggest asset is its addictive, immersive gameplay. Every mission you will ever do, success or failure, can be accomplished in many, many different ways. SFC has an amazing tendency to leave you thinking, "Well, perhaps if I did that last mission just a little differently..." A confrontation between the same two ships can conceivably play out hundreds of different ways. Additionally, most of the game's species have an Elite Corps that will begin to notice you over time. Accept their offer to join them, and you may well find yourself getting sucked into a completely separate chain of events. As with most PC games, there are some stability issues with SFC, as crashes and lock-ups do happen from time to time. They happen too often to be completely forgiven, but not often enough to seriously detract from the game. Fortunately, there is a patch available on Interplay's web site. SFC isn't for those who don't have a lot of patience. SFC has an enormous learning curve because it's heavily rooted in Star Fleet Battles, and Star Fleet Battles is an enormous, complex game. I had the benefit of getting advice from a friend of mine who is a hardcore Star Fleet Battles player, and it still took me quite a while to get used to the flow of the game. SFC does have some interactive tutorials that cover the basics, and that's a good start, but I think more is called for when you consider the game's depth. Once you get into it, SFC is an addictive mix of fast-paced action and strategy. In an industry that is full of sequels, re-releases and expansion packs, it is refreshing to find a title as deep and unconventional as Starfleet Command. It is not only the best Star Trek game I've ever played, it's also one of the best games I've played all year. Send your thoughts on this review to mike@mastergamer.com
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