Star Trek: Elite Force II

The Good
When I first read about ‘Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force’ in PC Gamer four years ago, I was ecstatic that finally…FINALLY…there was going to be a Star Trek-themed FPS. Personally, I’d had enough of the Star Wars universe and Kyle Kataarn; I was ready to run around inside a Federation starship and shoot Borg. The game was finally released that summer to, in my opinion, mixed results. While the interface and environments were fairly immersive (the LCARS styled menu was excellent), and the cast of ‘Voyager’ was kind enough to lend their voices, the game seemed to be missing something. The plot of the game was laughable, it went by much too quickly, and oftentimes I couldn’t complete a mission because one of my squad mates got hung up on a wall. When I finished the game, I was left with a feeling of, “Is there nothing more?” (Pun intended)

Well, I’m happy to say that the sequel is, as I put it, a colossal improvement over the original. Not only have the graphics and AI improved, but the player is given a much larger arsenal of weaponry to choose from, the NPCs are less frustrating and more fun to interact with, and the game is longer with a more satisfying feeling of accomplishment. Also, the game was much more immersive this time around. Not to be cliché, but I genuinely felt like I was in a Star Trek film. In addition to some familiar enemies being brought back into the fold, two new races are introduced to the Star Trek universe. Hopefully they’ll be expounded upon in later installments.

As far as the plot goes, this alone makes the game worth it. In comparison with the first game, the sequel’s plot is very well thought out, and more…believable, if that makes any sense. It’s difficult to describe the plot without spoiling it, so I’ll leave you to stumble across the “Wow, that’s so cool!” moments.

The Bad
(Dork Mode is now active…non-Trekkers, skip this part if you wish)

One word: Vulcans. Why in god’s name were they so…emotional?! They sounded like humans when they spoke, which grated my nerves for the entire game. This is just WRONG. What a gargantuan insult to such a dignified race! The nerve of some voice actors!

(Dork Mode is now inactive)

The Bottom Line
If you want an immersive and rewarding Star Trek experience, look no further than ‘Elite Force II’. The original is definitely worth owning and playing for continuity purposes, but after this game you’ll hardly ever play the original. One does not even need to be a fan of the series to enjoy this game, although I know a couple of people who actually became fans of the shows after playing this game. It might happen to you, so be mindful.