Star Trek video games have not had the greatest of track records. From the boring jank that was Star Trek Hidden Evil, the cheap copycat that was Star Trek Away Team, to the most recent panned console game in 2013’s Star Trek based on the reboot film series, Star Trek has had it rough. For every great game like Elite Force and Judgement Rites there are plenty of quickly put together trash heaps that only hardcore fans can suck any enjoyment from. So, when I opened up Steam and saw that there was a new Star Trek game, I was intrigued. I’ve put in hundreds of hours into Star Trek Online and really needed something fresh. Well, I got my wish with the release of Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova.
Based on the Nickelodeon show that aims to bring the heady world of Star Trek to younger audiences, Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova is an adventure game based on the series and features the full voice cast from the 3D-animated show. It’s a joy to hear Janeway in a video game once again after her last turn in Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force in the early 2000’s. That said, it needs to be known that this game is developed by Outright Games, a studio making licensed games for Nickelodeon and other kids properties, some of which we’ve reviewed here in the past.
Most of those other games lacked a lot of heart, lacked any sort of difficulty, and felt like quick cash grabs. Thankfully, Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova avoids a lot of the issues of other titles from the studio and does feel like the team cared more about this one. Maybe they are fans of Star Trek or maybe they had a larger budget (of which none was spent on marketing), but it shows. In Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova you take on the role of one of the two mains from the show, Dal and Gwyn. I haven’t seen the show but the game has got me interested in checking it out now.
The story sees the crew of the USS Protostar crash on a planet in a system with a Dyson Sphere that’s about to blow in a few days. In the process you beam out the crew to save them and it’s your job to track them down, repair the ship, and solve the mystery of why one of the big baddies from the show is here in this far away system. It’s pretty standard adventure game fare but it gets the job done. Each character that you rescue can them help you in later missions by opening up new areas, adding to some replayability, thanks to certain skills as well as being able to help in combat if selected to be support on a mission.
Gameplay is simple but effective. You take on the role of both leads and can swap between them on the fly. Dal is focused more on phaser combat with more power and range, while Gwyn is better at melee combat with punches and slashes. Along the way you’ll collect crystals and points that you can use to purchase upgrades on the Protostar in-between missions to upgrade your weapons as well as purchase new ones. It’s pretty limited to only three weapons for each character, but you’ll be able to swap them on the fly as well to better handle threats.
The game takes an adventure approach with you and your partner solving basic puzzles, opening new areas, and finding collectibles that will unlock rewards and get put into the display room on the Protostar. Combat is relegated to arena sections that lock down and will open up once you defeat the required amount of enemies. It’s mostly alien robot Watchers that are most likely from the show. Attacking is done with a button and targeting is handled automatically. You’ll shot or hit whatever enemy is nearest you. It works fine, if very simplistic, but can cause issues when firing as you’ll often snap to enemies that you aren’t focused on.
Phasers will also overheat so you can’t simply fire non-stop. This forces you to implement a bit of strategy into the mix and move between distance firing and up-close combat. Death can happen but it’s rare. The game only ends when both players die and then you’ll only be sent back to the last checkpoint. The game is set up for two players and features drop-in/out gameplay. This is great for parents as they can play alongside their kids and share the Star Trek experience with them. Smaller kids will have fun with the adventure since its just challenging enough to have fun alongside a story that could fit into the show. Parents wont find much here on their own unless they are serious fans of the show, but playing with your little one is a joy not many games afford outside the Lego series.
Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova is a very basic experience that offers little to gamers over the age of twelve, but if you watch the series with you kids then playing alongside them as their favorite character from the show is one of those experiences that you really can’t beat, and one they might never forget, especially if they become Star Trek fans along the way. That said, I strongly urge you to hold off on this one until it goes on sale as it’s not worth the $50 price tag on Steam for how basic and short the experience is. Even as a Star Trek fan I feel a little scammed for the content vs cost you get. I have a feeling this one will go on sale soon and you might have more fun snagging it on Switch, Xbox One or PS4 when it hits discount bins this Black Friday.
Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova is a fun if basic co-op adventure that families will enjoy but one that feels overpriced for the content provided
Pros:
+ Fully Voiced
+ Fun Co-op
Cons:
– That Comic Panel Intro Feels Cheap
– Not Much Challenge
– Arena Combat Gets Stale Fast
Final Score:
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