Topic: Star Trek Shattered Universe and SFC?

[IronGiant]

I've checked in here on and off, looking for comments on Shattered Universe.  Is it a taboo subject?  I haven't seen anything.

SFC was the only Star Trek game that got it right imho, so these are the people who's review I'd want (you guys).

At any rate, it doesn't look good:

http://www.gamesdomain.com/playstation2/reviews/PS2_Star_Trek_Shattered.html

They did mention that the fighters (which are the only thing you get to pilot) seem to be taken from SFB (I'd go so far as to say they look more specifically like SFC2 fighters).

But putting you in a universe known for "big ship combat" (Star Trek) and then limiting you to fighters would probably qualify to me as the biggest dumb idea anyone ever had for a game.  But "Zaphod's jus' zis' guy, ya know?" so thats just my opinion.  

[IronGiant]

Well I broke down and got it.  Its not SFC2 but its not bad.

The missions are mildly interesting, graphics are good and if you take 2 direct hits from an enemy capital ship, your toast, as well you should be.

I did notice though, that a lot of the models in the game seem to have come directly from SFC and SFC2??  The Orion ship is the same, the fighters are the same?  Didn't Taldren create these ship designs?

[3dot14]

Well I think that's the Interplay "heritage" showing...

Taldren did not create everything from scratch. (they did the X ships and ISC/Mirak I think.) They reused (when there was not Taldren only 14East) many models from Interplay's other game, Klingon Academy as well.

[David Ferrell]

The fighter designs were done by Taldren's own Nate Simpson.
So yes, it was a case of Interplay *trying* to save money and
time by reusing designs from other Trek games.

Thanks,

Dave

[IronGiant]

Well the fighter designs are sweet.  I hope Nate and/or Taldren got something out of it.

On the plus side, the game is not as bad as the reviewers have made it out to be.  Its better than Battlestar Galactica for the Xbox, which was, in turn, better than the SciFi Battlestar Galactica 2 night series, which was in turn better than, um nothing.....  maybe better than a kick in the pants, maybe not....

So far, the missions are interesting and it "feels" like Trek, even with the fighters.

[Death_Merchant]

BSG for xBox vs. Shattered Universe...hmmmmm

I've not seen good reviews for the BSG game (excellent fighter controls, missions too linear, missions dumbed down for "joe6pack", no freeform fighting of Cylons, etc.). Is this accurate? Is Shattered better?

I can't see buying 2 fighter sims "for my son"  

[IronGiant]

Quote:
BSG for xBox vs. Shattered Universe...hmmmmm

I've not seen good reviews for the BSG game (excellent fighter controls, missions too linear, missions dumbed down for "joe6pack", no freeform fighting of Cylons, etc.). Is this accurate? Is Shattered better?

I can't see buying 2 fighter sims "for my son"  

Both have similar controls.
Both have linear missions.
Both are dumbed down (especially to us SFC2/3 SFB fans!)
Both have somewhat long missions that are regularly thrown off by some last minute objective that MUST be completed and you only find out about it after you've worked 5 times to get to that point and then you need to replay since you don't complete that objective.
Both have decent storylines, nothing earth shattering, but a decent episode of their respective shows.

I like them both, as simple dogfighting diversion.

BSG uses the real music from the show, which gives me goosebumps
BSG throws in a couple of "man the turret" missions which are a nice diversion.

There is a lot of Cylon dogfighting in BSG, and the Cylon ships look right, and even better designed than the original show (thank GOD nothing from the SciFi "remake" butchery snuck in there).

As a fan of both shows, I'd say Shattered Universe is slightly better, because I like the capital ships which you don't get much of in BSG (except the Galactica).  If you're looking for a longer playtime, BSG seems to be a longer story, but partially because the missions are harder (and more frustrating).  But since both have gotten lack luster reviews, you could wait a couple months and they'll both be $30 imho.

[IronGiant]

I've checked in here on and off, looking for comments on Shattered Universe.  Is it a taboo subject?  I haven't seen anything.

SFC was the only Star Trek game that got it right imho, so these are the people who's review I'd want (you guys).

At any rate, it doesn't look good:

http://www.gamesdomain.com/playstation2/reviews/PS2_Star_Trek_Shattered.html

They did mention that the fighters (which are the only thing you get to pilot) seem to be taken from SFB (I'd go so far as to say they look more specifically like SFC2 fighters).

But putting you in a universe known for "big ship combat" (Star Trek) and then limiting you to fighters would probably qualify to me as the biggest dumb idea anyone ever had for a game.  But "Zaphod's jus' zis' guy, ya know?" so thats just my opinion.  

[IronGiant]

Well I broke down and got it.  Its not SFC2 but its not bad.

The missions are mildly interesting, graphics are good and if you take 2 direct hits from an enemy capital ship, your toast, as well you should be.

I did notice though, that a lot of the models in the game seem to have come directly from SFC and SFC2??  The Orion ship is the same, the fighters are the same?  Didn't Taldren create these ship designs?

[3dot14]

Well I think that's the Interplay "heritage" showing...

Taldren did not create everything from scratch. (they did the X ships and ISC/Mirak I think.) They reused (when there was not Taldren only 14East) many models from Interplay's other game, Klingon Academy as well.

[David Ferrell]

The fighter designs were done by Taldren's own Nate Simpson.
So yes, it was a case of Interplay *trying* to save money and
time by reusing designs from other Trek games.

Thanks,

Dave

[IronGiant]

Well the fighter designs are sweet.  I hope Nate and/or Taldren got something out of it.

On the plus side, the game is not as bad as the reviewers have made it out to be.  Its better than Battlestar Galactica for the Xbox, which was, in turn, better than the SciFi Battlestar Galactica 2 night series, which was in turn better than, um nothing.....  maybe better than a kick in the pants, maybe not....

So far, the missions are interesting and it "feels" like Trek, even with the fighters.

[Death_Merchant]

BSG for xBox vs. Shattered Universe...hmmmmm

I've not seen good reviews for the BSG game (excellent fighter controls, missions too linear, missions dumbed down for "joe6pack", no freeform fighting of Cylons, etc.). Is this accurate? Is Shattered better?

I can't see buying 2 fighter sims "for my son"  

[IronGiant]

Quote:
BSG for xBox vs. Shattered Universe...hmmmmm

I've not seen good reviews for the BSG game (excellent fighter controls, missions too linear, missions dumbed down for "joe6pack", no freeform fighting of Cylons, etc.). Is this accurate? Is Shattered better?

I can't see buying 2 fighter sims "for my son"  

Both have similar controls.
Both have linear missions.
Both are dumbed down (especially to us SFC2/3 SFB fans!)
Both have somewhat long missions that are regularly thrown off by some last minute objective that MUST be completed and you only find out about it after you've worked 5 times to get to that point and then you need to replay since you don't complete that objective.
Both have decent storylines, nothing earth shattering, but a decent episode of their respective shows.

I like them both, as simple dogfighting diversion.

BSG uses the real music from the show, which gives me goosebumps
BSG throws in a couple of "man the turret" missions which are a nice diversion.

There is a lot of Cylon dogfighting in BSG, and the Cylon ships look right, and even better designed than the original show (thank GOD nothing from the SciFi "remake" butchery snuck in there).

As a fan of both shows, I'd say Shattered Universe is slightly better, because I like the capital ships which you don't get much of in BSG (except the Galactica).  If you're looking for a longer playtime, BSG seems to be a longer story, but partially because the missions are harder (and more frustrating).  But since both have gotten lack luster reviews, you could wait a couple months and they'll both be $30 imho.