Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Crossroads of Time
Commander Sisko has wheelsGenre: adventure - platform
Publisher: Playmates Interactive
Year: 1995
System: Genesis
Gameplay Score: 3
Gameplay Notes:
Not too shabby. Movement is incredibly fast. You run by default and can only walk by holding the A button. It's pretty hilarious to see a Star Trek Captain running around his ship at breakneck speed. You can jump, punch/use a laser, and grab ledges to climb or drop down. Movement is a little awkward as it's somewhat unforgiving- you have to be in just the right spot to talk to someone, interact, or grab a ledge. It's not terrible though. The game primarily involves running around, talking to people in a specific sequence, and then some light action where you laser bad guys and pick up items. Also some heavy platforming with jumps and such.
Level Design Score: 2
Level Design Notes:
WHY IS THERE NO MAP?! Argh, this game would honestly be pretty good if it just had a map. The second area is a huge maze with INVISIBLE items to find and dispose of with a short time limit to boot. Sheesh, you could've eased us into the difficulty here. Luckily there's infinite continues but wow guys. Again, most levels are just talking with people, picking up an item, and then doing a light action sequence. I really want to praise the game but it's nowhere near something like Super Metroid. One MAJOR complaint is that it's hard to tell what is a platform. I can't tell you how many times I walked off a cliff because the platform suddenly ended despite there being something in the foreground or background that looked like a continuance of the platform. Argg
Theme Score: 4
Theme Notes:
It's that other Star Trek series. The one where they sit around in an immobile space port. That said, I think they did a great job of getting all the characters, making them recognizable, and making you feel like you're in the Star Trek world. And it's not just via a ton of cutscenes either. When you converse with someone they stop what they're doing, turn toward you and have a conversation. It feels natural and engaging. Well done.
Art Style Score: 4
Art Style Notes:
Huge sprites, detailed backgrounds, creative use of parallax to give the world some depth. The only problem is that there's not a good visual language to identify platforms and interactive stuff.
Audio Score: 3
Audio Notes:
The song that plays is way too upbeat for the game and doesn't sound "Star Trek" in the slightest. It's fun though, and between it and Capt. Sisko running around like a madman it makes me laugh.
Overall Score: 58
Review ID: 1264
No comments:
Post a Comment