Bethesda quietly unveils Encounters

By Patrick Caldwell, GameSpotPosted Aug 7, 2006 6:19 pm PT

Star Trek fans may get a third helping of the series later this year; screenshots and minor details disclosed on official Web site.

It's Star Trek, all right.

Since acquiring the rights to games based on the Star Trek television franchise, Bethesda Softworks hasn't wasted time. The company is readying a double shot of Star Trek later this year with the release of Star Trek: Legacy on the Xbox 360 and PC and Star Trek: Tactical Assault on the PSP and Nintendo DS.

But Bethesda has recently released news of another game in the science-fiction franchise, called Star Trek: Encounters, for the PlayStation 2, via a new page on the company's Web site. Encounters, "an arcade-style space combat game," is set to coincide with Star Trek franchise's 40th anniversary, taking place in September, said the company, which also posted six screenshots of the game.

Like Legacy, Encounters will cull from the popular sci-fi series' storied history--specifically, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Original Series, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager--for its game scenarios. But a developer who goes by the forum handle "ChessMess" confirmed on the game's official message board that Encounters is not a PlayStation 2 port of Star Trek: Legacy.

Other details are few and far between. The game's official FAQ says Encounters features more than 60 ships and 11 races--the Borg, Cardassian, Federation, Ferengi, Kazon, Klingon, Romulan, Orion, Species 8472, Vulcan, and Xindi. Encounters will include split-screen and cooperative, two-player multiplayer support. Two other, presumably single-player, modes--skirmish and episode--supplement the multiplayer.

Bethesda had not responded to a request for comment as of press time.

55 Comments

  • yaba

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 11:12 am PT

    wow how did this one sneak up on us?

  • gt0783

    Posted Aug 17, 2006 9:34 am PT

    Tight, if they can create a really fun arcadey space combat game it should rock. Looks pretty good to for a PS2 game, and Legacy just looks straight up amazing

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 9:06 am PT

    Star Wars = about 20 hours of decent somewhat childish sci-fi, a trillion merchandising deals and Jar-Jar. and the friggin Ewoks.. it does have those gay droids though, yay! on the other hand, Star Trek = hundreds of hours of more thoughtful, socially-aware less kiddy sci-fi, dealing not just in black and whites ( Empire v Rebels ) but in the grey areas in between. not so simplistic, not so obvious, but infinitely more re-watchable. Trek ftw.
    ... Live Long and Prosper =/\=

  • gamer_10001

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 6:34 pm PT

    If they put as much effort into it as they did Oblivion (if not more) this game will be amazing.

  • veracity024

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 6:33 pm PT

    could be cool

  • VSmack

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 2:08 pm PT

    This totally has potential and I think Bethesda can pull if off.

  • Stephen361984

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 12:31 pm PT

    Wow Bethesda arn't holding back are they, I just hope they can put out some thing as popular as Bridge Commander is.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 12:22 pm PT

    Star Trek + Bethesda i'm totally geeked out XD

  • vanhalendlrband

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 10:34 am PT

    The makers of Oblivion with Star Trek in there hands...(whether you like Star Trek or not, somebody who can think up Oblivion or even Morrowind with an entire universe for boundries of there imagination) I smell something pretty sweet...

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 10:30 am PT

    im not really a fan of startrek but it looks pretty good

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 9:34 am PT

    Star Trek on the go is definitely cool if you're a fan, hopefully it will be fun and innovative instead of just another boring one.

  • exaggeration17a

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 9:14 am PT

    I like Star Trek and Star Wars with almost equal measure.
    Now that that's out of the way, let's be fair and objective about this. Most people agree that Star Wars Episodes 1-3 weren't that good, especially compared to the original trilogy. But hasn't Star Trek been faltering recently, too? The last two movies in the series weren't anything remarkable, most people didn't like Voyager and the only way that Enterprise reminds me of the original series is the fact that they both got cancelled.
    Just something to keep in mind before you criticize Star Wars too harshly....

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 9:14 am PT

    um....the screen shots look kinda lame.. if its only like space ship stuff... then there is no way im getting it

  • Expane

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 8:37 am PT

    The TNG game on the NES was fun for its time, almost had some RPG elements.

    I totally agree, the way to go is action RPG w/ some flight. Something akin to KOTOR only w/ a different combat engine would be fine w/ me. And please set it during the DS9 timeline, nothing better than the dominon wars

  • giventofly462

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 8:27 am PT

    I wasn't implying Trek was better than Wars, or vice-versa. Both are just great, but truth be told, Star Wars has a much stronger focus on action and fighting than Star Trek. As far as games go, developers aren't exploring Trek's best qualities. Another space shooter isn't living up to its potential. That said, the MMO that's coming out is a step in the correct direction. As long as it doesn't suck. :-P

  • bildo2020

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 8:18 am PT

    Ill be honest with you, I have played plenty of star trek games, but for some reaosn they have never really been all that good. I think Star Trek was meant to be an RPG with some flight sim elements in it. Oh an the only Star Trek worth making into a game is the original and next generation...the other ones are just bad....ug

  • HarlockJC Site moderator

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 7:48 am PT

    Can't wait I love Star Trek games.....I wish they make one with Q.

  • doomed51

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 7:04 am PT

    hopefully this will actually do good, abt the only ST games that were good were Elite force and Elite for ce 2, along with Armada somewhat. hopefully this wont be a flop

  • Joint2

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 6:56 am PT

    Riverwolf007 is right. I am a Star Wars who has finally woke up. The PT is bad except ROTS. Even that some of ROTS is cringe-worthy.

    Star Trek explores social issues while Lucas tries to recyle every damn page of the Original Trilogy.

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 5:24 am PT

    heh people actually got on here to flame star trek when george lucas couldent write his way out of a wet paper sack, lucas recycled every story ever told and in comparison you have roddenbery putting on television the first ever interacial kiss and exploring social issues that no one else was brave enough to touch in the 60's. dont get me wrong i like star wars as much as every other socially backwards pimply faced geek out there but come on wake the hell up.

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