DESCRIPTION

There goes the neighborhood! Seems the Romulans have been experimenting on a top-secret weapon in the Neutral Zone and something has gone wrong during testing of Project Shiva. New resource-rich planets are blinking into existence throughout the buffer zone because of a spatial anomaly, and the temptation is proving too much for the peacekeeping United Federation of Planets and expansion-minded Klingon Empire.

The Romulan Star Empire is claiming rights to the new worlds since they're responsible for creating them. Indeed, colonies from all three factions are appearing on these worlds, a process bound to end in potentially dangerous confrontation as disputes over borders and territories emerge.

The year is 2292 and action takes place shortly after the setting of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. These anomaly systems, known as the Tabula Rasa, are about to become a hotbed of intergalactic exploration and conflict. But, further investigation reveals that not all is as it seems, or is it? What is the true source of these worlds and is there an ancient species at their core, waiting to make an appearance? These are questions you'll probe as you delve into the mystery at the heart of Star Trek: New Worlds.

In this real-time strategy game that requires 3D acceleration, you play as a Federation officer, Klingon warrior or centurion of the Romulan Star Empire. There are 42 missions, 14 per race, each with a specific number of objectives and primary goals. Missions must be played in linear fashion and completed successfully in order to advance to the next; optional tasks and quests become available as the storyline unfolds. Depending on which race you choose, the story is revealed in varying ways through different perspectives and, in fact, some new worlds can be visited or seen by specific races only.

Each race has a large complement of structures, weapons, vehicles and upgrades available through a specific technology tree-based system. Once colonies are established, you must oversee the operations, security, engineering, medical, and science aspects of your bases. Six resources (raw dilithium, talgonite, silicon, kelbonite, magnesite ore and dolamide) must be found and mined by each colony then processed or converted for power generation, structural building materials or maintenance of facilities.

Combat in the game is employed to capture or destroy enemy outposts, vehicles, structures, weapons, and bases. Specific vehicles are governed by "playbooks" which are used to direct actions such as attack or protect while moving, rally, engage from static locations, bombard, capture or construct. Scanning, active and passive, is utilized in relation to medical, science or engineering aspects and vehicles.

Game features include three viewing perspectives (full 3D, isometric or close-up isometric), a point-and-click interface fully supported by keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys, and a multiplayer mode that accommodates up to three individuals. Multiplayer games have three possible victory conditions: destroy enemy headquarters, eliminate the possibility of an opponent meeting a mission objective, or complete your own mission objectives before the previous two conditions are imposed on you. The game supports LAN or Internet play for three opponents and modem play for two.

It's Star Trek space borne adventure with a twist — a land rush! Prepare to disembark on Star Trek: New Worlds. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide