Interplay shatters Trek license
Publisher announces its last Star Trek game, Shattered Universe
Interplay have announced that work is now underway on what is likely to be their final game based on the Star Trek license - a PlayStation 2 space shooter called Star Trek : Shattered Universe. The game is inspired by the classic Trek episode " Mirror, Mirror", in which Captain Kirk and companions find themselves trapped in a bizarre parallel universe after a transporter malfunction. In this alternative reality, the Federation doesn't exist, and in its place is a decadent empire in which the quickest way to the top is by assassinating your boss. Mmm .. now there's an idea.
Anyway... Shattered Universe is set shortly after Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country, and sees the USS Excelsior under the command of Captain Sulu stranded in the same hostile mirror universe which Captain Kirk had earlier visited. Now you must find your way home to the familiar tree-hugging Federation we all know and love, along the way fighting the likes of the Klingons, Romulans, Tholians and even Vulcans, who aren't as friendly in the mirror universe apparently.
So far so good. But for some reason the game appears to be a space shoot 'em up along the lines of Warthog's Star Trek : Invasion, with you piloting single seater fighters against swarms of enemy fighters and the odd capital ship for good measure. We're not entirely convinced that the Federation even used single seater fighters at this point in the Trek timeline, but then if Shattered Universe turns out as well as Invasion (which was actually rather enjoyable) we doubt that anyone but the hardcore Trekkies will be too upset about this continuity conundrum.