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<b>Star Trek: DAC</b>
<b>Release Date:</b> May 13, 2009 (XBOX), November 17, 2009 (PC)
<b>Reviewd On:</b> Xbox 360 Live Arcade
<b>Also Available On:</b> PC (Steam)
<b>Developer:</b> Naked Sky Entertainment
<b>Publisher:</b> Paramount Digital Entertainment
<b>ESRB Rating:</b> Everyone - Fantasy Violence
<i>Star Trek: DAC</i>, the most recent installment in the Star Trek gaming heritage, was released in concurrence with the most recent movie, but can this Xbox Live Arcade game possibly live up to the hype of the film?<br /><br />
<i>DAC</i> pits the United Federation of Planets against the Romulan Empire in three distinct game modes: deathmatch, assault, and conquest. Deathmatch is all about raking in kills, while the other two modes have checkpoints that the team must capture and then defend. All modes can be played either online with friends or offline with computer players. Several maps are included, each bringing different visual backdrops and physical obstacles to the table, but all following the same basic principal.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_as_07.1245384680.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_as_07.1245384680.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Capturing a control point brings intense action.</i></center>
Players are given the choice of spawning a quick and light fighter, a similarly structured bomber, or a slow and powerful flagship. The fighter allows players to dart around the playing field and dodge enemy fire, but succumbs to even the slightest enemy fire. The bomber is slightly slower and more powerful than the fighter, but shares its frailty. The flagship is very slow in comparison to the other ships, but carries the most potent weaponry and armor. Both Romulan and Federation ships carry the exact same weaponry, with the only difference being visual design.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_01.1245384682.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_01.1245384682.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Though they appear weak, the smaller ships in the game do put up a fight.</i></center>
Initially, ships spawn with minimal power and shields and must collect energy balls dropped from exploding asteroids and enemy ships to increase their power levels. Other power-ups that range from cloaking to temporary invulnerability are scattered throughout the map for players to collect. There is no greater satisfaction that running a bomber over a control point with an invincibility shield and wreaking havoc among enemies – a testament to the fast action of <i>DAC</i>.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_04.1245384683.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_04.1245384683.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Energy bubbles drop when a ship explodes.</i></center>
Despite the simplicity of the rest of the game, deaths are handled in a very interesting way. Upon dying, a player ejects from his ship and must pilot the fragile escape pod away from danger. If successful, the player retains most of the energy he had collected before and can jump right back into the action with a minimal respawn time. Enemy players, however, can score an extra kill point for destroying the vulnerable pod and serve the dying player an extra long respawn time and zero energy upon spawn.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_07.1245384686.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_07.1245384686.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Ship to ship combat is where </i>DAC<i> shines.</i></center>
Overall, <i>DAC</i> is a small, but fun top down shooter, but could have easily been skinned to promote any number of movie launches. The unique characteristics typical of other games in the Star Trek franchise just weren’t there. So, if you are looking for a true Star Trek game, look elsewhere, but if you seek a cheap and fun space shooter, <i>DAC</i> works out nicely.
<center><font size="3"><b>Total Gaming Network Rating: 7/10</b></font></center>
<b>Star Trek: DAC</b>
<b>Release Date:</b> May 13, 2009 (XBOX), November 17, 2009 (PC)
<b>Reviewd On:</b> Xbox 360 Live Arcade
<b>Also Available On:</b> PC (Steam)
<b>Developer:</b> Naked Sky Entertainment
<b>Publisher:</b> Paramount Digital Entertainment
<b>ESRB Rating:</b> Everyone - Fantasy Violence
<i>Star Trek: DAC</i>, the most recent installment in the Star Trek gaming heritage, was released in concurrence with the most recent movie, but can this Xbox Live Arcade game possibly live up to the hype of the film?<br /><br />
<i>DAC</i> pits the United Federation of Planets against the Romulan Empire in three distinct game modes: deathmatch, assault, and conquest. Deathmatch is all about raking in kills, while the other two modes have checkpoints that the team must capture and then defend. All modes can be played either online with friends or offline with computer players. Several maps are included, each bringing different visual backdrops and physical obstacles to the table, but all following the same basic principal.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_as_07.1245384680.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_as_07.1245384680.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Capturing a control point brings intense action.</i></center>
Players are given the choice of spawning a quick and light fighter, a similarly structured bomber, or a slow and powerful flagship. The fighter allows players to dart around the playing field and dodge enemy fire, but succumbs to even the slightest enemy fire. The bomber is slightly slower and more powerful than the fighter, but shares its frailty. The flagship is very slow in comparison to the other ships, but carries the most potent weaponry and armor. Both Romulan and Federation ships carry the exact same weaponry, with the only difference being visual design.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_01.1245384682.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_01.1245384682.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Though they appear weak, the smaller ships in the game do put up a fight.</i></center>
Initially, ships spawn with minimal power and shields and must collect energy balls dropped from exploding asteroids and enemy ships to increase their power levels. Other power-ups that range from cloaking to temporary invulnerability are scattered throughout the map for players to collect. There is no greater satisfaction that running a bomber over a control point with an invincibility shield and wreaking havoc among enemies – a testament to the fast action of <i>DAC</i>.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_04.1245384683.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_04.1245384683.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Energy bubbles drop when a ship explodes.</i></center>
Despite the simplicity of the rest of the game, deaths are handled in a very interesting way. Upon dying, a player ejects from his ship and must pilot the fragile escape pod away from danger. If successful, the player retains most of the energy he had collected before and can jump right back into the action with a minimal respawn time. Enemy players, however, can score an extra kill point for destroying the vulnerable pod and serve the dying player an extra long respawn time and zero energy upon spawn.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/dac_star_07.1245384686.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_dac_star_07.1245384686.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<i>Ship to ship combat is where </i>DAC<i> shines.</i></center>
Overall, <i>DAC</i> is a small, but fun top down shooter, but could have easily been skinned to promote any number of movie launches. The unique characteristics typical of other games in the Star Trek franchise just weren’t there. So, if you are looking for a true Star Trek game, look elsewhere, but if you seek a cheap and fun space shooter, <i>DAC</i> works out nicely.
<center><font size="3"><b>Total Gaming Network Rating: 7/10</b></font></center>