To Boldly go anywhere but here
You guys know how much I love Star Trek. I mean I am an uber nerd, I have a Lego version of the USS Enterprise, I have all the TV show Captain’s autographs, books, comics, Funko pops… look you get it I am a Trekkie. So anytime a new Star Trek game gets announced I am there front a center like a red shirt on Kirk’s crew. Star Trek Legends isn’t a new game, but instead a release for a new platform. Having released on Apple Arcade back in 2021 and it was a typical mobile turn-based RPG; without the microtransactions. The Steam version continues that trend and for $19.99 players can unlock the game with some improvements over the mobile version. But is it better…?
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: PC (reviewed), Mobile
Price I’d Pay: $9.99
Star Trek Legends involves a large cast of characters, both good and bad, from across the Star Trek Universe. Mixing characters like Burnham from ST Disco, the Gorn that Kirk fought, my man Benjamin Sisko, Spock and even KAHHHHHHHNNNNN. There are a lot of deep cuts here which is cool for Star Trek fans and there are generic no names to round out the rosters. The narrative for Legends uses the energy ribbon known as ‘The Nexus’ from the film ST: Generations. This is a really good plot device that allows these characters from across time and space to interact with each other.
The gameplay is fairly standard for this type of game. Players will create small team of characters, each with their own abilities and skills. You take that team into missions, which are made up of combat segments, short cutscenes and even some moments where you have to decide what to do next. Much like other games like Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes or Marvel Strike Force combat is done by picking from 2 or 3 available abilities in order to take down an opposing team. Abilities aren’t all attack though as players can buff and de-buff as well; for instance, Doctor McCoy has an ability that can buff damage and speed which is deadly when paired with Commander Riker’s sweeping phaser strike. There is nothing new here combat wise that is going to set this genre on fire but it was fun to put some of these teams together who would’ve never met in the show.
Sadly, that is really all the good I have to say about Star Trek Legends on Steam. I have had nothing but problems and issues since release. One extremely annoying bug has the daily login rewards bugged so no matter how many days I log in it won’t let me complete a task. I cannot receive the items that the log in rewards players with, which helps with upgrading characters and even unlocking new ones. I have had issues with missing progress through the story missions, the shuttle system that allows players to send teams out on missions to grind for resources never unlocked for me either. Its like the game just doesn’t want me to progress in it and it kills me because I LOVE STAR TREK SO MUCH.
This pains me to say this but I cannot recommend Star Trek Legends on Steam in its current state. Issues with missing progress is the real killer for me, with so many games and not enough time I can’t keep replaying sections. The version on Apple Arcade is much better and if you are able and love Star Trek players should try that version. Maybe after a few patches the developer, Emerald City Games can get the Steam version on the right track so that more fans can go boldly where no one has gone before.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
