Being a huge Star Trek fan for many years, I can't resist for long when the universe expands. Let it be a series. A movie. A comic. A novel. A board game. Or, as here, a video game. Even if it is aimed at the youngest. Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova, published by Outright Games, indeed takes you into the universe of the cartoon of the same name, released in 2021 on Paramount+. The target affects children aged 7 to 12 years. A lady never gives her age... without going into too much detail, you would basically have to multiply by 4 for me to be in the target :p
Regardless, it is with great pleasure that I embarked on the adventure released on October 14th. First by trying to interest my son (aged 12) in it. Then alone because, unfortunately, it would seem that the trekkie gene is not transmissible. You can in any case take whoever you want with you, the game adapts on the fly for one or two players.
We find ourselves in a story independent of the series even if some references have slipped into the dialogues. These are details, especially jokes between the characters, or other innuendos concerning their previous adventures, the video game taking place between seasons 1 and 2. Nothing that is essential for understanding the overall story, reassure you. Anyway, the plot is rather simple, even if the stakes are high. The ship has fallen into the hands of bad guys after a crash, and the crew of the USS Protostar find themselves separated across multiple planets in a star system doomed for destruction. A countdown is launched, before the star explodes. On the program: recover the Protostar, repair it, gather the crew and flee far away! Other mysteries spice up the rescue mission, which takes you to visit three extraterrestrial worlds (Orisi, Mirios and Taresse), which all have a past... and their inhabitants! I won't say more. It would be a shame to spoil the surprise for you. But it is in any case the opportunity to talk about themes that unfortunately echo our current events, such as global warming.
Dal R'El and Gwyndala are the two playable characters who, having left last, are the only ones to end up in the same place. They each have very specific skills. Dal R'El, the boy, is particularly effective from a distance, with his two phasers. While Gwyndala is a melee fighter. Other weapons unlock later, with various unlockable upgrades, but the specific orientation for each character remains the same.
The progression is based on puzzles to be completed in cooperation. To resume one of the most basic of the beginning, one of the players activates a controller which cuts the lasers blocking a passage. The other can then engage in the freed path and, for example, clear a platform, so that the first climbs without going through the door whose lasers are reactivated as soon as the lever is released. Things gradually become more complex, with sequences to follow in a specific order and sometimes hidden mechanisms. The objective often remains to power electrical circuits to activate or deactivate lasers and other bridges, by playing the special powers of each. Dal R'El is able to lift heavy items, for Gwyndala to slip underneath. The miss can, for her part, use a shield which protects from the many lasers which block the passage. She can also create a bridge by clinging to specific posts.
The found crew members also add novelty, being able to act, in combat or not, to help our hero duo. The game also knows how to renew itself, with new ways to progress. The latest is teleportation based on color tiles. Enough to carry electrical connectors or blocks through the level.
Levels offer some replayability beyond the storyline, with different items to track down. Animals. Collectible items from the Star Trek universe. Treasure chests. Even being careful, it is difficult not to miss anything. Not to mention that some doors just can't open until the right crew member is found. When in doubt, or for people like me who get lost all the time, the tricorder, Star Trek's famous scanning tool, indicates the way to take and highlights the interactive objects. It does not indicate everything. Fortunately by the way! That way, collectors can have fun exploring everything. But already just the story, it takes at least fifteen hours of play.
The fights are perhaps the title's weakness, coming in the form of arenas, with waves of robots. Eventually, it becomes a bit repetitive. With somewhat random difficulty. When playing alone, the AI often has trouble securing the shot. As much as it goes well on the puzzle part, with a quick and efficient switch from one to the other, as much in combat, the one that is not played tends to be a little too passive. Finally, this does not have a great consequence. Characters don't die, they just get knocked out for a period of time. If the two fall, they come to their senses right next to it. And, as part of a boss, the villain doesn't get his full life back.
Offering a universe with pleasing graphics and a beautiful soundscape, Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova is charming, taking you into a colorful Star Trek that nevertheless stays true to the universe. In addition, English-speaking players will be able to enjoy the original actors of the series. It's not a great game, but I admit without shame that I had fun. A calm and relaxing adventure in a universe that I love. If you are looking for a cooperative game to share with your family or if, like me, you like the Star Trek universe, don't hesitate.
