From iconic characters to innovative technology , there is a wealth of content that could be translated into a stellar Star Trek video game. While there have been several of them over the years, there has yet to be a fully-realized RPG experience (MMOs excluded) that captures the essence of the franchise.
With advancements in gaming technology, the potential for an immersive and expansive S tar Trek RPG is greater than ever before. Whether it's the retro nostalgia of The Original Series or the darker tones of Deep Space 9, t here are many avenues a game of this kind could explore.
10 Fully-Realized Starship Interior
In an ideal Star Trek game, players would be able to fully explore the interior of their ship. From the bridge to the engine room, every aspect of the ship would be fully-realized and explorable.
The player would be able to interact with crew members, manage resources, and experience daily life aboard a starship. This could include unlocking parts of the ships in the same style as Mass Effect's Normandy, ensuring the vastness and interest of immense starships are not lost throughout the game. Or, it could be the journey of a lowly lower deck worker, exploring bigger and brighter areas of the ship as they progress in rank to chief engineer or even captain.
9 Faction Reputation System
To make sure that choices have meaningful consequences, a faction reputation system could be implemented. The player's actions would affect their standing with different factions, which would impact the story and available options.
For example, if the player assists a Klingon faction, their reputation with the Federation may decrease (depending on what era the game is set, of course). Or, they may become aligned with the Bajoran rebels, leading to tension with Starfleet itself. This could work similarly to games like Fallout, with good deeds being rewarded with karma points from every faction in the game.
This would create a sense of cause and consequence, and allow everyone to shape their own story. Additionally, it would encourage the exploration of different sides of the Star Trek universe and not just limit their experience to Starfleet.
8 Dynamic Away Missions
To make missions engaging, they could be designed to be dynamic and reactive to the player's actions. If the choice is made to negotiate with a hostile alien race instead of attacking them, it could lead to a peaceful resolution and karma gain, as mentioned above. Or, someone could gain favor with the Federation for sticking to the Prime Directive as much as possible.
The Prime Directive system could be the barometer for the dynamic ways the player engages with missions, gaining favor with Starfleet for sticking to it or gaining favor with its enemies for breaking it in moments of desperation.
7 Holodeck Mini-Games
The holodeck has been a staple of the Star Trek universe since The Next Generation aired in 1987, allowing characters to explore any environment or scenario they can imagine. The holodeck could be used to engage in mini-games and challenges.
Combat simulations and puzzle-solving challenges could be the way to go, all taking place in a virtual environment. This would make for a fun and immersive way for people to engage with the universe and provide references that would otherwise be tricky to include, such as the TNG Crew's interaction with Moriarty or the ability to time travel to different eras of Star Trek, while also taking for a break from the main story. Additionally, completing holodeck challenges could reward players with unique items or bonuses such as in-game currency (if the game dares have any currency at all).
6 Diplomacy And Trade System
As shown by the Ferengi, diplomacy and trade are crucial components of the Star Trek universe. The player should be able to negotiate treaties, trade agreements, and alliances with various factions. The diplomacy and trade system would be deep and robust, with a significant impact on the political landscape of the game world. This could look similar to the War Assets system in Mass Effect 3.
The player would have to balance their own interests with those of their allies and enemies, creating a sense of tension and intrigue. This would add a layer of complexity to the game and provide opportunities for different play styles.
5 Ship Customization And Upgrades
Star Trek is renowned for its diverse array of starships, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Ships could be customizable to fit a number of different playstyles. This could involve upgrading weapons and shields, installing new technology, or even changing the ship's appearance. Does the player want a science ship or a Large Constitution-Class vessel? A warp drive or the ability to saucer-sep in the event of an emergency?
As the game progresses, new ship components and upgrades could become unlockable. That way, players would feel a sense of ownership and attachment to their ship, giving them the feeling that it is truly theirs to command.
4 Consequences Of Actions
A key aspect of Star Trek is the idea that every action has consequences. The player's choices and actions would have a significant impact on the game world. For example, if one chooses to save a planet from destruction, it could lead to that planet becoming a valuable ally later in the game. Or maybe this planet was meant to be destroyed, but the main character chose to save it instead. Take a look at the destruction of Vulcan and the wide-ranging consequences that had for the Star Trek universe.
Or it could be smaller consequences: should the player give that smaller civilization the medicine it desperately needed but didn't understand, catapulting their scientific ability thousands of years into the future? Or should they be left to become vindictive and seek revenge on the Federation? This would make every decision feel weighty and impactful and would add another layer of depth to the game's narrative.
3 Alien Races And Cultures
The Star Trek universe is filled with a wide variety of alien races, each with its own unique culture, history, and way of life. In an RPG setting, it should be possible to explore these different cultures and interact with their inhabitants by learning new languages, experiencing their customs, and uncovering the histories of different races.
The player could even choose to play as some of these races, such as Klingon, android, or Romulan, expanding the scope of their character customization beyond just the standard human.
2 Multiplayer Cooperative Mode
The addition of a multiplayer cooperative mode would make it possible to explore the world in a group with friends. The player could join a crew with their friends and embark on missions together, in an attempt to match the camaraderie often displayed by the starship crews the audience is so fond of seeing in the shows.
This would add a new level of social interaction to the game paired with good old teamwork. The game's narrative and mechanics could be experienced in new and exciting ways, through giving commands to friends and giving them roles they need to complete such as comms or tactical officer, similar to the VR game Star Trek: Bridge Crew, which managed to make all these ideas come together nicely.
1 An Exceptional Score
Star Trek is known for its history of iconic and exhilarating music, whether it is the quiet melancholy and loneliness of Voyager' s theme or the optimistic, galaxy-exploring romp that defines TNG, these games would need music that rivals even the iconic nature of Skyrim's Norse beats.
Orchestral triumph and grandeur is what Star Trek does best with its music and a video game should not be any different. Nods and references to the shows could also be made when entering a certain area, seeing a certain character, or being on a certain ship that could really get the nostalgia juices flowing and show what really sets Star Trek apart from the rest.