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Think of it as a series of mini games

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 33 / 36
Date: November 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Pros:
- It's cheap.
- Play with different ships from different eras.
- Visuals and sound effects are decent for PS2. Explosions are quite satisfying.
- Provides skirmish (instant action), story, and multiplayer modes.
- A stripped down version of Starfleet Command where you can more easily:
a. fire photon torpoedoes and phasers.
b. drop mines.
c. beam away teams to capture enemy ships.
d. manage energy use between weapons, engines, sensors, etc.
- I was dubious about this game being advertised as an "arcade" version of Starfleet Command. But I think they managed to simplify things sufficiently well so the balance came out right- ie it wasn't like playing a Xevious-like top-down shooter.

Cons:
- Story mode has some very very very very frustrating levels involving flying through rings with a time limit. It must have taken me 2 dozen tries to get through this and it is a miracle my game controller isn't now permanently lodged in my screen.
- Just remember how much you paid for it vs how much work went into developing the game.

Good Star Trek diversion till 'Legacy' comes out

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: October 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was a little disappointed when I heard that the PS2 exclusive game 'Encounters' was going to be just a shoot-em-up. I was hoping for more of a Trek experiance, but I have to say that it's been enjoyable so far.

The gameplay is a top-down perspective on the battles, with each mission being a chapter in a much larger campaign. Missions include objectives such as destroy all enemy, recon missions, escort and rescue missions. Each campaign takes place in a different Trek era, from 'Enterprise' all the way to 'Voyager' (and the mysterious 'Soverign' campaign). You get a choice of two different weapons, 2 alternate functions (such as tractor beam, mines) and the ability to switch power around, diverting energy from one system to another, such as weapons, shields and engines. All the enemies from each series are present, from the Xindi to the ever-fave Klingons.

As far as graphics go, the effects are pretty but the scenery is bland. Since its a space-battle game only, the locales are pretty much all the same - some changes like nebula fields and debris strewn space mix it up a bit, but the battles and areas get repetitive and for some very tedious. However, once you get past the idea that the whole point of the game is simply space shooting (the story elements are tacked on) it can be pretty fun. The best part still remains the narration by William Shatner, even though he sounds like he's bored out of his mind.

At the budget price it's definitely one to pick up if your a Trekkie waiting for a good, fun Trek game.

Excellent star trek game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: October 12, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I wasn't sure about this game, but after playing and beating it, i'm glad i bought it. You start from the enterprise era, and work your way through the show, and at the very end you play the sovereign era. For 2 player, you can do head to head, battlefest, which you select 3 ships from a pre-arranged group and select the enemies ships, then battle it out through all three ships. You can also do an onslaught where you face off against all the ships in the game in increasing waves. For arenas, it was very colorful, and had a wide variety of planets and nebulas. The ship combat was very well designed, you can play a huge variety of federation, klingon, romulan, xindi, dominion, cardassian, and even borg ships in two player. The narration by william shatner (captain kirk) was a nice bonus to the gameplay. All together, it was a very well put together game, and even though it was a arcade style shoot em' up, it gave a nice storyline with a great finsish at the last mission.

ARCADE STYLE, FAST ACTION!, Trek Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: January 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Play this game at the start with ONSLAUGHT mode
single player, and score above 500,000 points.
Even though you'll only have the NX-01 Enterprise, it can be done. When it's time to put your name, put in "4jstudios" in lowercase,
all ships and all mission levels will be unlocked, score one more time above 500,000 points, (pick voyager ship, fastest, small, long firing phasers) and when you enter your name a second time put "bethesda" this will give you all the character cards for ship powerups. Then you can play any level and any ship, without having to do the missions, (which some are tough). The secret to this game is to remember to use your L1 and L2 buttons which raise and lower your ship while fighting this makes it harder for enemies to lock on to you while you can lock on to them. Use your phasers to detonate the torpedoes that come at you, collect the "energy"powerups to last longer in battle. You can PLAY CO-OP
with a buddy. Use "4jstudios" and "bethesda" in LOWERCASE, I tried capital letters like the "net" sites show but it doesn't work.
For arcade style action shoot 'em up game with
a star trek theme this is a great game esp using the 2 codes to easily unlock everything
for only $14.99. Sometimes the music gets
irritating so put on a cd of something you like. ("star trek cd with a battle song works well!") This game doesn't have horrible glitches, it runs smoothly, only on a mission or two, was the camera angle a problem and you can manuever your ship a little and then it's ok again. If you can play Super Smash Melee type games etc, then you can play this game. I am a casual ordinary player, and always wanted a fun trek game, and esp with the 2 codes, I am amazed how much fun I'm having with this 2d top down view game, that has a limited 3d by
using the all important L1 & L2 buttons for up
and down. The secret to the chase mission "rings" is to fly using L1 or L2 flying high or low and hitting the rings at 10 o'clock or 2 0'clock positions.

Would be good if I could play this

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 13
Date: October 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I actually purchased this twice and had to return it twice. I could not get it to play on my unit. I checked on Bethesda website I found several posts in there discussions section about the same thing. It apparently has something to do with it being on a blue disk instead of a dvd so the company could save money.

If anyone else out there has had the same problem let us know.

Clunky Shooter At Best With Star Trek Trappings

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 9 / 13
Date: December 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've always enjoyed the STAR TREK shows, and I own all the original series on DVD (only now they're releasing enhanced versions and I have to think about upgrading -- but it probably won't be long before they're on HD DVD or Blu-ray), so I really looked forward to STAR TREK ENCOUNTERS on PS2. The cover looked cool. The game description sounded cool. But that wasn't exactly what was delivered.

Instead of getting a game that would put me squarely in the middle of a Star Trek setting, I ended up with a shooter that really didn't do service to shooter games in general. The controls were clunky, the camera shifts too hard, and I had no real feeling of command at any given point. The timed ring event at the very start of the game took hours to pass, and it had to do more with memorization than with skill -- which isn't how I think a game should be designed. I got so frustrated my wife and I had to take turns running the rings (yes, she beat me!) so I didn't put the game in the circular file.

In addition to the impossible gameplay and the clunky controls, there really wasn't a FEELING of being in Star Trek. The episodes are all about character interaction, of two or more characters involved in doing something that means everything, but following different (not always incorrect) paths to achieve a goal. You get none of that here. STAR TREK ENCOUNTERS is simply a shooter dressed up in Star Trek clothes like the Klingons at Star Trek conventions. It's all wannabe and no real thrill.

On the plus side, some of the graphics look really good, especially the explosions (but there's no sound in space!), you do get to fly all the ships (once you succeed in unlocking them), and the price is about right. I really think you can wait awhile and pick it up at the bargain bin in six months for a lot less.

My advice is, unless you're a diehard fan, to rent or borrow the game to see if you like it.

Super

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: October 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I like Star Trek and I was looking for some out-of-the-box entertainment. So I picked this one. I am very pleased with it. It will be great to play and watch at a big screen with high resolution. It is a lot of fun and even my girlfriend liked it. There are so many star ships, worlds, characters, etc. that every fan will have great time with it. Enjoy.

Fun Game For Trek Fans!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

For the price, it is definitely worth getting. I'm a fan of Enterprise, so I wish they had more than three levels of it. It is really cool to see all of the ships we have grown to love in Trek appear on screen, especially to see the NX-01 make its video game debut! The game can also be challenging, which is good that it is not too easy. The controls are excellent. The flying controls are so smooth; it really does feel like the ship is flying. Shatner lends his voice at the beginnings of each level, which is pretty cool. Sadly, you can't skip the story if you lose which becomes just a little annoying if you lose a lot. Overall, this is definitely worth having if you have a PS2. For the price, it is really amazing and I'm really looking forward to Star Trek: Legacy on X-Box 360!

Finally, a chance at the Helm

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is the first Star Trek game to capture the experience of actually sitting at the Helm of a Starship. many preceeding Trek Games gave you the feel of command, but not actually piloting a ship. The way the ships move, the pace of combat, the feeling of exploration and intuitive power management is fantastic. For the price, there is no equal in a Star Trek Action game. Enjoy!

Great game for the price!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit, I didn't play the 'Rings' level (which is a training level to help you get used to the controls), but my 10 year-old got through it in 3 tries. Sheesh, kids today...

But what I can tell you is that this game seems to be a lot of fun for the low cost. I think the graphics are nice, but the Shatner narration wasn't necessary if he wasn't going to put any of his normal over-acting into it.

The game-play is...different. Its not that it is difficult, it just takes some time getting used to because the controls are different than any other game I've played. Then again, you are flying through three dimensional space, so it SHOULD be different.

For the price this is a fun game to have in my collection!

Regarding Disc Errors:
Some people here have mentioned about this game giving them disc errors, and then when they get Amazon to send them a replacement, they still get those errors. So let me address that here.

If your older PS2 has problems with playing blue-plastic discs (as our does), all you have to do is put 2 or more strips of scotch tape (one inch strips in length each should be fine) around the inner circle of the disc's logo. Place them parralel to each other (using 2 pieces placed evenly parralel keeps the disc ballanced).

We have tried this on all of our blue-plastic game discs and it has worked every time! Apparently the plastic inner-ring of the blue discs is thinner than the clear discs, which makes it difficult for older PS2s to catch and spin the disc up to proper speed, so you get the Disc Read errors instead. Try it, if it doesn't work you can peel off the tape and return the disc. Good Luck!

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