TapCritic – Honest iPhone and iPod Touch App Reviews

There are two types of “Star Trek” fans (or trekkies, or trekkers, depending on who you ask).  There are those who like the Klingons and think Worf’s position on the Enterprise in “The Next Generation” is a long time coming.  Then there are those who, like Kirk, think the Klingons can’t be trusted.

This game is definitely for the latter.  While I’ll admit I’ve only played through a few levels of the new Star Trek: The Mobile Game by EA Games, I have blown up enough Klingon birds of prey to last a lifetime.  Kirk would be proud (he’ll never forgive them for what they did to his boy).

Okay, for all your non-geeks out there (what are you doing on this site), “Star Trek” just got a massive reboot courtesy of director J.J. Abrams.  In celebration of this, EA has released a mobile game that allows you to pilot the Starship Enterprise…and blow lots of stuff up.  As I said, I’ve only played through a few levels, but I wanted to get my thoughts posted quickly for all you Trek fans eager to figure out if this one was worth your time.  

Now, if you’re looking for an all-out extravaganza–a new story with sophisticated graphics that adds to the “Star Trek” universe–this isn’t the game for you.  Instead, this is a fun “Galaxian” style game where you maneuver the Enterprise around the screen, collecting objects, blowing up enemy spacecraft, and avoiding obstacles (like meteors).

It’s really simple and straightforward, and at first I was disappointed.  Playing a little more, though, it’s a hell of a fun, simple game with effective gameplay and awesome music ripped straight from the new film.  I would love to have a story-oriented Trek game with advanced animations and different types of gameplay, but that will have to wait.  This one is a simple shoot-em-up, available for only $2.99 on the iTunes store.

EA does their best to integrate “Star Trek” specific elements, though.  You don’t just shoot your photon torpedos (little blips of light that mimic traditional space shooter games)–the Enterprise also has a phaser that locks into enemy ships and a tractor beam that is used to pick up objects within a certain radius.  You can collect more powerful weapons drifting in space, and even increase your shields.  All the geeky “Trek” elements are there.

You also get updates from crew members–Kirk, Spock, Chekhov, Uhura, and Sulu are all here.  Unfortunately, we only get written directions and a picture, but they say all their lines in classic “Star Trek” fashion, warning of a loss of shields or approaching enemy fighters.

It would be nice to get full voice updates, but what can you do.

Gameplay is simple but fun with a number of control options.  You can use the tilt controls to navigate the Enterprise, slide your finger across the screen to maneuver (the most effective method, for sure), or even command with an on-screen joy stick.

In addition, you can choose whether to auto-target enemies (my preferred method), or to tap enemy ships to lock on to them.  EA is really taking advantage of the multiple elements of the iPhone interface.

After completing each level (or clearing a sector, as the game calls it), players can use their winnings to upgrade different elements of the Enterprise–from the photon torpedos to the phasers, tractor beam, and shield.  

Then you take your ship out for a spin and blow up some aliens.  Why?  We don’t really know…because they are there.  Which is a very un-Star-Trek train of logic.

Overall, this game is worth its price tag of $2.99, but it will disappoint die-hard “Trek” fans who were hoping for something more in-depth.  I’d love to see EA put together a full-fledged game–maybe a whole new story about Kirk commanding the Enterprise.  Make it a $9.99 game and develop it as fully as Terminator Salvation.  I guarantee people will pay for it.  

For now, though, this is a fun little shooter game that is well worth your time.  Enterprise out.

Buy Star Trek HERE.

No related posts.