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: