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In the wake of the unexpected theatrical success of the
second Star Trek movie, Sega revamped the popular Star Trek computer game that
has been - and still is - available on almost every computer platform since the
beginning of time, giving it vector graphics renditions of the movie Enterprise,
Klingon ships, and starbases, not to mention cool-looking phasers and photon
torpedoes (actually the best part of the game). Your mission is to travel from
sector to sector, eliminating Klingon incursions into Federation space without
getting your ship and crew destroyed. Friendly starbases offer aid and allow
you to make resupply stops so you can keep up the good fight - and you do have
to keep a careful eye on your phaser, shield and warp power...
(Sega, 1982)
Generally speaking, the graphics were faithful to the tactical displays seen
in the first two Trek movies, even if game play and ship movement could be a
little bit sluggish. But it was just too cool to see the Star Trek logo on an
arcade cabinet.
All things considered, it's a little surprising that an arcade game has never
popped up for any of the subsequent Star Trek properties. (Ever wonder how Sega
got the gig in '82? It's because in 1982, Sega, like pre-Viacom Paramount
Pictures at that time, was a Gulf+Western Company.)
The Star Trek arcade game was adapted by Sega for a few home systems such as
the Atari 2600, 5200 and ColecoVision. But aside from that, the original computer
game had also been ported to every home video console and home computer system
at the time, including a prior 2600 cartridge marketed exclusively by Sears,
Stellar Track.
Rating: 
Three quarters - worth repeat play, but with some annoying features that
might alienate less patient arcade veterans.
Reviewed by Earl Green
theLogBook.com editor/webmaster
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