- Original Release: 2006
- Developer: Quicksilver
- Publisher: Bethesda
- Platform: DS
For the most part, this is the same game as the PSP version of Tactical Assault, however I thought the DS features were worth talking about.
Visually, the game is definitively a toned down version of the PSP version, with lower detail models and textures, lower quality music and simplified menus. That said, I think the HUD style is much nicer and cleaner, especially the dialogue boxes. The gameplay itself is exactly the same, so while it looks simpler (but still good for the DS), you’re not getting a toned down gameplay experience.
The big thing for the DS version is the LCARS-like control panel. It seems perfect for a Star Trek game and it’s difficulty to imagine how they could get it wrong…which makes it very disappointing that they’ve somehow managed to do exactly that.
For starters, the touch interface is missing one important function: targeting enemies. This is done with the L button, which is awkward for left handed people like myself. The weapons and shields are also on separate tabs for no reason – all the information could easily fit on one turn. The shield tab is just a single “recharge shields” button and the weapons are small icons dotted around the ship. This means if you want to use the touch screen alone, you can’t turn and see which of your weapons are ready at the same time.
Right handed people might end up playing with a combination of touch screen and buttons (although I imagine plenty will give up on the touch screen fairly quickly), for left handed people, it’s not a viable method of control.
The one good thing about the interface is that you can set the Klingon version to Klingon language – although as someone in the comments has since pointed out, it’s full of errors.
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Would you recommend the PSP version or the DS?
I’d recommend the PSP version over the DS version. If the touch screen interface was done well, it would be a harder choice, but the PSP version is just nicer.
I’ve gotta disagree. The tabs aren’t too bad! Sometimes I just use the control pad for movement and the touch screen for weapons. Right hand privilege 😂
I still play this from time to time whenever I feel like dragging out the DS lite.
I always thought this was an interesting one. Made by the same devs that did the original Starfleet Command, its basicaly SFC Lite. The Klingon and Fed campaign being entirely separate is interesting too, they’re even separated by era (24th century Khitomer attack for KDF)
I still have this game and break it out occasionally….using the cheats, of course. 😁
They used actual Klingon words here, but there are some weird parts.
The three buttons in the center of the screen say «yoD SeHlaw», «chIj SeHlaw», and «nuH SeHlaw». The words «yoD», «chIj», and «nuH» mean “shield”, “navigate”, and “weapon”.
«SeH» is a verb meaning “control”, but «-law» isn’t a correct suffix.
«-law’» (notice the apostrophe) means “seemingly” or “apparently,” so «yoD SeHlaw’» means “It apparently controls the shield.”
I think it’s more likely that they meant to use «-laH». «yoD SeHlaH» means “It can control the shield.”
If I were making this though, I would have stuck with just «yoD», «chIj», and «nuH».
Continuing down the right, we have «Hol» (language), «Qum» (communication), «ghuH» (alert), «pu’DaH» (phaser banks), and «baH».
Instead of «baH», «peng» (torpedo) or «cha» (torpedoes) might be more correct, but «baH» (“Fire!”) was evocatively used in TMP.
The bottom buttons are «pIvghor» (warp drive) and «So’wI’» (cloaking device). No issues there!
There’s a bunch of tiny text, but I can’t make it out.