adventure

Being both a Star Trek fan and a Star Fleet Battles veteran(the old boardgame and the computer based SF Command), having SFC updated for the Next Generation ships was unresistable. First the good points... The graphics are good, new weapons, excellent game stablility in single player campaign, excellent voice overs, and an engaging storyline (more so than the earlier SFC games). The number of ship's shields have been reduced from 6 to 4, making it easier to crash an opponents shield as well as making shield reinforcement easier to manage as well. Here's the bad... only 4 races, a game speed option that only works if you set it before you enter the campaigns (hopefully a patch will remedy that shortly), no record of what you've done or your next objective is if you load a saved game (luckily you're moved to your next mission if you don't get there on your own), no weapon overloads, no ECM/ECCM, no drones, no transporter mines (you can still drop them out the back), no data on the new weapons (e.g. damage potential or effective range)... you begin to get the picture. The game has been simplified immensely. It's a good game if you're new to the SFB/SFC arena, no cut-scenes or anything like the top RTS games, but was engaging enough to keep me in the game for hours. If you've ever wanted to introduce friends to SFB/SFC and the SFC games were too complex, this would be a great way to do it. Once they get the hang of it, they can 'graduate' and go back into time to the SFC2 setting. Veteran SFB/SFC players would give this game 3 stars, but ST fans looking for a more tactical game may give it a 3.5 to 4.

'Star Trek' is one of the largest syndicated franchises in history. With 5 series, nine movies, millions of fans and billions of dollars worth of merchandise, this show is practically immortal: it's not going to cease production for a very long time. Though 'Star Trek' hit television by storm, this wasn't the case with computers. Despite more than 10 'Trek' games, none of them truly captured the essence of the show. Also, the combat was mainly comprised of fighter-type vessels: not 'Star Trek' at all.

Suddenly, though, in late 1999, the acclaimed PC-game developer Larry Holland and his company 'Totally Games' began a project that would ultimately result in not only the best Star Trek game ever, but also the best game period.

Since I have been following this game for nearly 3 years, you can bet I had extremely high expectations, but when I loaded up the game I was so impressed and awed that my next 8 hours were devoted solely to experiencing the magic that 'Bridge Commander' is brimming with. With a 700-page storyline written by the famous writer Dorothy Fontana, awesome graphics, wonderful sounds and music, over 15 ships, 6 races, amazingly authentic bridges, a new race and hundreds of other fantastic features, 'Bridge Commander' is the most immersing and dazzling game I have ever played. This piece of heaven went way beyond my expectations!

Words can't do justice what both Trekkies, and non-Trekkies feel like as they watch their ship, the USS Dauntless, glide smoothly out of drydock in the first mission! You have your own crew who you can talk to and get to even meet Picard and Data! Almost everything in 'Bridge Commander' was taken out from the Paramount archives so you can bet that this game is as authentic as it will ever get! Voice control is optional, as is the ability to construct your very own ships from the SDK which will be released soon!

One sentiment that truly describes this masterpiece is: WOW! If you haven't bought 'Bridge Commander' yet, download the demo to see if you like it and if you do, run down to your local pc-gaming store and purchase...ecstasy! I'm an avid gamer and have over 50 pc games: 'Unreal', 'Wolfenstein', 'The Sims', 'Medal of Honour: Allied Assault' and tons of others but 'Bridge Commander' beats them all by a mile! I simply can't say enough about this game!

As in most of my reviews, I use the word "solid." While this game doesn't match up to Aliens Vs Predator 2, I enjoyed it much more than the original Elite Force. For me, the graphics were much improved. I found this game a bit more challenging than the first. It was hard enough at times, to get me frustrated. Yet not too hard to throw in the towel. You'll battle aliens on different ships in the galaxy. Sound and effects rate a 3, controls a 4, and the graphics 4+ but not a 5. AvP 2 is still my favorite shooter, but this is a pleasing experience for both Trek fans and gamers alike.