Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Elite force is an absolute fantastic license game. Locations, designs, voice actors, and plot match the tone and scenery of the tv series perfectly.

On the other hand the underlying shooter is mediocre by today's standards. The AI is dumb, the maps are diverse but very linear, the gunplay doesn't feel or sound mighty and within just a few hours the whole experience is over.

All in all, when you're looking for a voyager experience it doesn't get any better than this. But don't expect any award winning shooter.

Yep, that's right, that is what this game is. At least it felt like that for me. Through the whole play-through I felt like I was taking active part in a real episode of the show. And one of the better ones at that.

However I wouldn't recommend the game to someone who is not a devoted Voyager fan, because that's the real value in it. The references to the show, and the characters that we became so fond of in seven years. And almost all the major characters appear in the game, voiced by the actor who actually played them in the series, so that's a big plus. Usually they don't pay attention to this in VG adaptations. Especially 12 years ago, when the budget of video games were a fraction of what it is today.

If you haven't played the game back when it came out, and you're a big fan of the show, I'd recommend that you give it a try, even though the graphics are dated. But hey, its a fair price to pay to be able to roam freely in voyager's corridors (this feature only becomes available after you install the latest patch for the game) Also if you can look past the graphics there is a very decent storyline, which would've made an excellent two-hour episode for the real show too.

Unfortunately as others mentioned before the game-play can be a bit boring at times towards the end, but its worth fighting your way through, for those very special Voyager moments.

Well, I kinda liked it, though it took me less than 2 days to complete it the first time, and about 8 hours the second time. There are some strange plotholes in there, like why do the team have to beam in miles away from the destination, when it's perfectly possible to beam out from anywhere in the ships. I have to agree with Mr.Chan that towards the end, the game becomes a bit boring, with all sorts of nasty aliens charging directly at you, with no apparent advanced A.I operating them. Nevertheless, I give this game 8/10, because it actually entertained me, and I wanted to complete it, instead of just playing a couple of levels and then throwing in it in my "uncompleted games" CD-heap.

"Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force" is a nostalgic gem for both fans of the "Star Trek" universe and gamers who appreciate a well-crafted first-person shooter from the early 2000s. Developed by Raven Software and powered by the Quake 3 Arena engine, this game captures the essence of "Star Trek: Voyager" with surprising accuracy, despite the inherent violence of the FPS genre.

The narrative follows the Hazard Team, an elite security force on the USS Voyager, as they tackle various threats in a storyline that feels like an extended episode from the series. While the plot isn't groundbreaking, it's engaging enough and uses familiar characters voiced by the original cast, which is a significant plus. The presence of the beloved crew members adds a layer of authenticity and immersion that's hard to replicate.

Gameplay; here's where the game shines. The Quake 3 engine provides smooth, fast-paced action with a variety of weapons that fit the Star Trek lore, from phasers to photon launchers. The level design, while somewhat linear, is thoughtfully done, with environments that look and feel like they've been ripped straight from the show. The multiplayer aspect, dubbed "Holomatch," is particularly memorable, offering a blend of fun and creativity with custom maps and mods that kept the community active for years.

For its time, the graphics were impressive, with detailed ship interiors and enemy designs. The audio, especially the voiceovers, is spot-on, although the music doesn't include the iconic "Voyager" theme, which was a slight disappointment.

The campaign is on the shorter side, which might leave players wanting more. The AI can sometimes feel dated, with teammates occasionally getting in the way or enemies lacking challenge. There's also the issue of the Borg becoming less intimidating due to gameplay mechanics that make them too easy to defeat.

What really elevates this game is its community. The modding scene was vibrant, offering new missions, characters, and even a pseudo-RPG experience where players could role-play as part of the Voyager crew. Even now, it's possible to find this game on platforms like GOG, where it runs surprisingly well on modern systems with a bit of tweaking.

"Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force" is a testament to what can be achieved when you blend beloved sci-fi with a solid FPS framework. It's not without its flaws, but the love for "Star Trek," the engaging gameplay, and the community's dedication make it a standout title. If you're a fan of the series or just enjoy classic shooters, this game is worth revisiting or experiencing for the first time. It's a piece of gaming history that still holds up remarkably well, especially with the joy it brings back from the golden age of LAN parties and demo discs.

This game isn't that bad for a FPS. The graphics, courtsey of the Quake III engine, are really crisp and flow really well. The game designers also noted some good features from other games, such as the alternate weapon function of Unreal Tournament, the BEST FPS IMHO. The plot revolves around you being a member of the newly created Hazzard Team. Your objective is to protect the ship from dangerous aliens. Sort of like the Starfleet Marines. I do agree with the other posters here that the beginning is truly unique and has a fresh feeling, but towards the end, especially once you invade the station, it feels more like Doom than something with some sort of intelligence or challenge. It felt nice to have all the cast members voice their characters, even Chell, a small part that appeared in 2 episodes shows up as one of the major characters in the game.

I found one mistake the designers made was making the game WAY too linear. I wish you had to pay the consiquences for your actions. Say if you disentegraged Tuvok, which I did many times to see what would happen, how the plot would then change. Maybe you could join the pirates and take over Voyager, and then try and free yourself from the forge from there. I think allowing you a little more leway of what you can do and where you can go would have spiced this game up a bit more. I also found the reactions of the bots to be really rude. If I had a weapon I wanted to disintegrate them. So if the designers are thinking of making a sequel, they should try some of the above approaches. I think that could make a very interesting game. That and ditch the Quake III engine, which is nice but not as pretty as the Unreal Tournament engine.

As for the multi-player aspects of the game, they were pretty standard fare for a FPS. You had your capture the flag, free for all, etc. Commanding the bots on your team was a bit of a hassle. It was rare that they listened to you and managed to just stand around. These are some minor flaws however. Over all this is a nice game, and definately something to add to your collection if you're a fan of first person shooters (FPS).