Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force II Review: The Latest in the Voyager PC Game Series

Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force II Review: The Latest in the Voyager PC Game Series
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Overview

Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force II is another really good Star Trek game. Released in 2003, it is the sequel to the excellent original Elite Force game from 2001. I thought this game was good, but not quite as much fun as the original, mainly because it’s more of the same stuff. The graphics are somewhat improved and the story is good, but overall it’s not a big change from the original. Fans of the series will surely enjoy it though.

Story (4 out of 5)

The story in this game picks up right where the last episode of Star Trek: Voyager ended. You are, once again, dealing with the Borg and the first main level of the game involves you having to infiltrate a Borg ship. After that, you wind up aboard the Starship Enterprise with Captain Picard, and your first mission is to reply to a distress call from the USS Dallas. You will eventually find yourself at odds with a never before seen race of aliens, and there’s even some Romulans involved before it’s all over. The story in this game is original and ties into the series, which I thought was very cool.

Gameplay (4 out of 5)

Elite Force 2

Gameplay in this one is kind of limited because it’s so linear. The combat is rather straightforward and involves a lot of weaving back and forth while shooting. Some strategy is required to take down the bosses, but it’s just a matter of timing your shots and knowing when to get out of the way. Much of the game involves a lot of searching for areas to open doors, like when you encounter a closed door and then have to go knock out a power module elsewhere to make it open. There’s really no challenge to it other than taking the time to locate whatever you need to open it. Some mini-puzzles built into the game also help add some variety to the gameplay, but they are rather easy.

Despite limited exploration other than what is required of you, this game still winds up being a solid first-person shooter. You have over a dozen different weapons available, like with most decent shooters, and there are times when it can be tough to get past certain areas. Seasoned gamers will find a pretty even challenge here, and Star Trek fans will surely like it even more. Just don’t expect it to be much different from the first game.

Graphics and Sound (4 out of 5)

Elite Force 2 - 1

The graphics in this game look about the same as the original, though the levels seem to be larger. Both games use the Quake III: Arena game engine, but I read that it was slightly modified for this game. I thought the overall look of the game was really good by 2003 standards, and the characters all looked like their on-screen counterparts. I also like the color scheme used to make it seem like a darker science fiction type game, with lots of clean lines and interesting looking equipment. In short, the Star Trek universe is portrayed quite well in this game.

If you are a fan of the TV series, you’ll be pleased to hear the actors voicing their characters in the game. In addition to some of the regular cast members, Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is also in the game, and serves as a sort of narrator. He’s got one of the best voices in all of show business, so it’s a delight to hear him speak in character for this game.

Overall (4 out of 5)

Don’t get me wrong here, Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force II is a great game. It’s just not that much different from the first game. These two games still remain some of the best Star Trek PC games ever made.

This post is part of the series: Star Trek Review: Elite Force

Reviews of Star Trek Elite Force I and II.

  1. Windows FPS Game Review - Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force
  2. Not Just a Red Shirt - Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force II Review
  3. Windows FPS Game Review: Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force II