Star Trek’s successful streaming renaissance over the last few years, seen via a handful of brand-new shows likeDiscoveryandPicard, now appears to be having a positive impact on the long-running sci-fi series’ status in the world of video games too. In the wake of popular recent VR and MMO experiments with the license, it was announcedat this year’s Game Awardsthat a narrative-based take on the franchise, fittingly titledStar Trek: Resurgence, is getting ready to boldly launch next spring.
Developed by Dramatic Labs, an indie studio comprized of talent that includes former Telltale Games veterans,Star Trek: Resurgencewas pitched during The Game Awards as a third-person choice-driven adventure. That melting pot of creative talent and proven narrative-focused expertise, mixed with the franchise’s themes of morality and exploration, will no doubt excite fans of the genre andTrekalike. On paper, that mix sounds like it could be a match made among the stars.
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Star Trek Lore Meets Telltale Gameplay
After accumulating 55 years' worth of stories, spanning TV shows, movies, and countless media tie-ins, it’s an understatement to say thatStar Trekhas developed a reputation for excellent science-fiction storytelling. It seems fitting that there’s an almost endless expanse of lore for the new game to dive into as a result. The genre more broadly speaking, and the powerful questions it asks of humanity, also lends itself remarkably well tothe Telltale gameplay formulathat it appears Dramatic Labs is infusing intoResurgence.
From the brief details teased during and after The Game Awards, it’s clear that Dramatic Labs intends to tell an engaging story that puts player decisions and complex moral at the core of the experience. It’s no coincidence that those concepts have always been at the core ofTrek’s foundations. Making them truly interactive for the first time thanks to the immersion that video games foster could make stepping ontothe bridge of the U.S.S. Resoluteone of the more memorable experiences within the genre.
Resurgence’s Star Trek Era
Dramatic Labs’ decision to setStar Trek: Resurgencein the post-The Next Generationera of the show’s storied history could also play a big part in the successful blending of mechanics and material. While it’s true thatthe ongoingStar Trek: Picardhas explored a similar time period, the show’s decision to leap forward will arguably create enough breathing room for the video game to freely explore the space. Theoretically the studio should be able to build a narrative that’s full of player-driven choices without having to worry about tripping over other parts of the timeline.
From a player experience perspective, that will theoretically helpStar Trek: Resurgencestand out. Players should be able to look forward to making snap decisions in the heat of the moment that make them feel like they’ve made an actual impact on the galaxy. In a game that’s so heavily geared toward narrative over anything else, like the titles that Telltale became renowned for, being able to play an active and meaningful role in the story can make or break the experience. By a similar token, the setting should also create enough of a reassuring sense of familiarity, populated by beloved characters that fans know were active during that timesuch as the already revealed Ambassador Spock.
Resurgence’s Potential Format
Considering how plenty of Dramatic Labs’ developers have previously helped to create Telltale hits, it’s possible for fans to speculate on the rough shape thatStar Trek: Resurgencecould take. Even though it’s confirmed that the game will launch as a complete experience next year, instead of in gradually released episodic chunks, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the talent won’t employ a similar split storytelling structure within the full package as well.
IfStar Trek: Resurgenceis broken up into defined episodic chapters, that could enable the development team to tap into its source material even more. After all, from its inception to the modern era,Star Trekhas been a TV show first and foremost. Even in recent years as the franchise has embraced the digital age, one that’s seen shows increasingly released to facilitate binge-watching on streaming services, newStar Trekhas stuck devoutlyto its weekly release schedule. An episodic format, like the one used by previous Telltale Games releases, would be in the spirit of the series and studio’s legacy.
Star Trek: Resurgencereleases in Spring 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
