Star Trek: The Next Generation, "A Final Unity"

Going, But Not So Boldly. . .

A Review of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "A Final Unity"

by Susan Davis

To boldly go where no-one has gone before… Although "A Final

Unity" underwent several delays before finally being released on

June 30th, it really isn’t going anywhere new. Despite its

tremendous publicity, Unity doesn’t push the limits of multimedia

adventures very much.

However, the game IS good standard adventure game fare, and the

plot does keep you interested. The voices of eight original

cast members are wonderfully done. The actors sound like they

enjoyed their taping, and they sound almost exactly like they do

on TV. The graphics are well-drawn.

The actors actually look

more like themselves than they do on some STTNG novels! The

video clips are quite enjoyable to watch, even on a double-speed

CD-ROM.

Between the Away Team missions and the on-ship adventures, you

experience an epic adventure that has the look and feel of a

Star Trek TNG movie. However, the epic quality of this game

does come at a cost. The system requirements will tax the

computers of many gamers. Unity requires a minimum 486DX33 with

8MB of RAM, and to truly appreciate it takes a 486DX2-66 with

16MB of RAM. Less than that may tax certain parts of the

program. The Tactical module draws heavily on the math

coprocessor and both hard drive and RAM memory. You will need to

make sure that you have the required 16MB of free hard drive

space (after installation) to keep things running smoothly.

This is one game where Minimum Requirements and Recommended

Requirements are actually almost right on.

Just like many of the real episodes, you begin the game with the

Captain’s Log. Then the action starts. A group of Garidian

rebels from a planet within the Romulan Empire comes barreling

out of the Neutral Zone in a scoutship, hotly chased by a

Garidian Warbird. And your first confrontation begins. You

have to decide what to do with a very irritated Garidian warship

in front of you with weapons powered up.

As the adventure progresses, you take on seemingly isolated

incidents that begin to add up to a great mystery involving the

long-dead Chodak Empire. The Chodak Empire flourished until

900,000 years ago, when it fell apart rather suddenly. And now,

clues are beginning to surface all over the place that draw you

into the search for the reason why. The plot is like solving a

huge mystery that is intertwined with smaller mysteries, and each

mission takes you one small step closer to your final solution.

You’ll save a research station, rescue a kidnapped scientist,

and find an exiled race, and that’s before you actually get drawn

deeply in the biggest puzzle of all – why are the Romulans willing

to invade Federation Space?

You can play Unity on three levels: Ensign, Lieutenant, and

Captain. When you play at the higher ranks, you can directly

control more, and are given less free advice from the crew. I

recommend playing on Ensign level only to familiarize yourself

with how things work. Don’t play the whole game on that level.

The crew is just so helpful that they end up giving you all the

advice you need to solve all of the puzzles.

In the higher ranks, you can get advice only when you need it.

You are allowed greater control over Tactical and Engineering, as

well as in the choice of your crew members on Away Missions.

Overall, the interactivity is much lower than I anticipated, mainly

because I was expecting more of a Starfleet Simulator feel, with

more control over the ship. However, the interface is as easy to

master as games like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.

On the Enterprise, you can control the Bridge, Tactical, and

Engineering. The Main Computer is great, and you feel like you

are really looking at the Enterprise computer. Of course, Majel

Barrett Roddenberry’s voice really adds to the effect. You can

also visit the Holodeck to view video clips again (The Title

Sequence is absolutely fantastic!). You use the turbolift to go

to the Transporter Room, where you beam down on Away Missions.

Still, I would have liked to have more areas of the Enterprise

available, like the Ready Room and a real conference room. Even

a chance to interact in Ten Forward would have been enjoyable.

Away Missions are fun, too. Some of the puzzles are fairly

difficult, but some can be pretty easy if you are an experienced

adventure gamer. The thing to remember is that all of the items

will be available to solve the puzzle. Just keep looking, and

keep trying combinations of things. If you get stuck, Data is

often a gold mine of helpful advice. You have plenty of aliens

to interact with, and the aliens you meet can be quite

entertaining. Each species is very different, and some are

actually quite devious. The Chodak technology you encounter is

wonderful, and it really gets you thinking about just how large

and old the galaxy really is. The crew members’ dialogue on

Away Missions fits their personality well, and listening to Data

say, “Fascinating” is a real treat. Worf’s warrior personality

shines through clearly, and the other crew members do an equally

good job.

The Away Team interface is easy to master, with the mouse

pointing to “hot spots” on the screen where useful things are

found. You can pick things up, carry them around, and combine

them. If you are told an item is needed, you’ll eventually find

it if you keep exploring. However, it is a good idea to use

your tricorder a lot, because some places are not safe to go,

and you won’t know if you don’t check. Also, Data and the other

crew members will be the first to tell you if some action is

"unnecessary!"

You have excellent equipment for your missions. I had a good

time on one Away Mission blasting away with the phaser. And the

tricorder is lots of fun. You never know what you’ll discover

with it! It is also a great storage device. It keeps track of

your last ten conversations, which you can review by switching

to B mode in the lower left hand corner. It also keeps track of

all sorts of useful information during the Away Mission. It

even downloads things to the Enterprise when you return, so your

Main Computer can analyze data you have collected. You have a

Medkit to use when team members sustain minor injuries, and when

Dr. Crusher comes along, you even get a medical tricorder.

Between your standard equipment, and the odds and ends you

discover on each mission, you’ll always end up with some great

technology to play with.

Battle scenes can be pretty interesting as well. Mastering

Tactical will keep you entertained for hours trying to fend off

Romulan Warbirds.

As Captain Picard mentions often, the

Enterprise is definitely a match for one Romulan Warbird, but

trying to fight off three at a time can be quite a challenge.

Luckily, you can completely or partially delegate things to Mr.

Worf, who is quite adept at saving your hide in tight spots.

In Engineering, you have the same option of delegating control to

Geordi if you want to. Looking at all of the things you can

control in Engineering and Tactical, you begin to have a great

deal of respect for both Geordi and Worf. The most important

thing to remember is that you can always run. If you are

outgunned, outnumbered, and wounded, don’t be a hero. Run.

Otherwise, Starfleet will solemnly announce that it hasn’t heard

from you in days and that they fear the worst. And worse yet,

you’ll have to watch your beloved Enterprise blow up in the

combat window. Believe me, it hurts.

All in all, "A Final Unity" is an enjoyable way to spend your

free time. If you are even a little bit of a Trekker, you have

to play this game just to see all of your favorite crew members

in action. And even if you are not a diehard Star Trek fan,

this game has a lot to offer as multimedia entertainment, as

long as you can handle the minimum requirements.

Gamer’s Zone Scorecard

Product:	Star Trek: The Next Generation, "A Final Unity"
Company:	Spectrum Holobyte
Cost:	n/a

System Requirements:

486DX33 or better,
8MB RAM, CD-ROM Drive,
Sound Card, Mouse, SVGA,
and Hard Disk Drive

Breakdown:

Fun Factor 3
Graphics 5
Sound 4
Interface 5
Replayability 3

Overall Score: