- Original Release: 2002
- Developer: Taldren
- Publisher: Interplay
- Platform: PC
While Starfleet Command 2 was very similar to the first game with more features, this one has gone in a different direction, trying to appeal to a wider audience by streamlining the game. It’s now set in the TNG era, with a proper story that takes place across Klingon, Romulan and Federation campaigns.
The “streamlined” features just seem like they’ve removed a lot of features. This does remove a lot of the complication, but it’s also what made the previous games unique. At the same time, they don’t seem to have done much else to make the game appeal to more people, as the game now feels even slower, with less to do due to the removal of these features.
While you had multiple weapon types and a ton of crazy tactics to use against opponents, combat in this game is almost entirely spinning in circles, waiting for your weapon energy to recharge and hitting fire when the fire button lights up. The enemy ships love getting extremely close (although there are no collisions to worry about, ships are on slightly different heights – or just fly through each other) , making it impossible to do anything regarding planning the use of your weapon arcs or aiming at specific enemy shields.
The main campaigns have the map grid from SFC2, but it doesn’t quite make sense. You’re forced to specific locations throughout the campaign. It would have been better if they kept this map specific to the conquest mode (where you can explore and play randomly generated missions). Other nice touches, such as a unique UI for each race, have been removed and there are fewer factions to play as.
People who found the previous games too complex were the target audience for this – people like me. While they weren’t for me, I could understand why people would love those games. This one just comes across as dull.
Where to get Star Trek: Starfleet Command 3
How to play Star Trek: Starfleet Command 3 on Windows 11
The GoG works, although can be buggy. I did manage to find an alternative version online that worked better (and in 1080p widescreen), however I don’t want to link to it as the game is not abandonware.
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I didn’t play this one after I played the first two. No particular reason I don’t think it just happened like that.
In other words: they dumbed it down
You’re right about the simplification. I LOVED this series! But imo 3 is the weakest.
I could easily add ships and stats to the old ones. Which stopped with 3. I think the best was updating the model by renaming it to the stock one.
Still played it a lot though.
It has one major feature addition, ship customization. It made online fights very interesting because it wasn’t possible to really gauge what another person had. It was also horribly imbalanced, and ridiculously easy to hack. I love it.
I liked this game.. I’m literally going to start my process of creating a business today, taking my first online workshop refresher for it tomorrow and once I turn a few nights and make a couple $’s for my own investment I’m putting together my game studio’s mission plan.
I want to start with a basic concept that will hopefully balloon to bigger titles and Star Trek is definitely one I’d love to create for. I’ve done a lot of planning for it already.. I’m going to task the Canadian Media Fund for their help once I’m ready. Wish me luck everyone.
I remember getting a copy of this from guy I worked at pizza hut with on summer break from college. My roommate then broke it using long range torpedoes to just stay back and kill everything
I never played this game, always intended to after playing SCII
Although I never managed to spend so much time with SFC3 as with the earlier iterations (mainly Orion Pirates), this had something positive to it that I still can’t put my finger on today.
But the text-based stories weren’t exactly thrilling and I never liked the hex system 🫤
Always loved that game, my late husband had a copy in the box still
Another great Star Trek game saved by some awesome mods. I have alot of trouble running it now.
Two was the best.
Some of the UI reminds me of STO. I wonder if the STO designers worked in this first, or were inspired by it…
I was part of a large SFC Orion Pirates fleet who played online in massive map-wide engagements and this game was virtually ignored for just that reason. I had it and played it single player but comparatively it was an arcade game.
Enjoyed this one but it always seemed like it was playing at half speed. Took forever to destroy ships. Also couldnt beat the last klingon mission.