Star Trek
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
So-so sci-fi shooter based on rebooted movie series.
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Star Trek
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What’s It About?
Paramount and Namco Bandai’s STAR TREK is a third-person shooter that lets you take control over Kirk or Spock, or if you prefer, Kirk and Spock in a two-player co-op (cooperative) mode played with a friend. The game is set in the same 23rd century world as the theatrical reboot, but it features an original story penned by BAFTA Award-winning writer Marianne Krawczyk (God of War), and takes place in the time between 2009's blockbuster film Star Trek and the upcoming Star Trek: Into Darkness. Starting onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, gamers will learn about a vicious reptilian enemy, the Gorn, and then battle against them and other foes in multiple locations. The game features the voice talent of Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, just like the recent films rebooted by J.J. Abrams.
Is It Any Good?
While the premise of Star Trek is very appealing -- stepping into the shoes as Kirk and Spock, even at the same time with a friend in co-op mode (online or beside you) -- the game has a number of problems ranging from lackluster and repetitive missions to sloppy Gears of War-inspired combat to shoddy graphics to enemy artificial intelligence (A.I.) that is far from intelligent.
Sure, there are a few highlights like some interesting weapons, real voice talent from the cast, and support for 3DTVs, but it's not enough to salvage this lackluster shooter based on such as a beloved franchise. Sorry, Trekkies, set phasers to disappointment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence here. Is shooting others in a science fiction game the same as a shooting game that takes place in contemporary times, such as the Grand Theft Auto series?
In thinking about the impact of media violence, does it matter if you're playing this shooter as the good guys instead of the bad guys?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
- Skills: Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork, Self-Direction: achieving goals, set objectives, Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, strategy
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Namco Bandai
- Release date: April 23, 2013
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
- ESRB rating: T for Animated Blood, Language, Violence
- Last updated: August 26, 2016
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