- Original Release: 1998
- Developer: MicroProse
- Publisher: MicroProse
- Platform: PC
This game is an interesting bit of gaming history: the first game ever released using the Unreal engine, coming out before Unreal itself. It uses a beta version of the engine, so is quite buggy, and the gameplay often feels exactly like Unreal, as it’s a first person shooter that uses a lot of the same code – the movement, some level elements (such at mine carts attached to rails above them) and enemy AI are straight from Unreal.
You play as a new recruit for the Klingon Honor Guard when your training gets interrupted because the Klingon High Council has been bombed, with Gowron injured. Kurn (Worf’s brother, played by Tony Todd) and a Dahar Master send you on a quest to work out who is behind it. Naturally, this involves killing lots of enemies, which mainly consist of Klingons and Andorian pirates.
The graphics are good for the time, although most of the game is dark and full of browns, a lot of the levels merge together. A lot of levels are confusing mazes where you spend most of your time hunting for hard to see keys or buttons to progress. A few standout ones are set on space stations and ships. Because the structure is confined by the outside shape, the layouts make a lot more sense. The game has a lot of levels, and most of them end up merging together.
When not aimlessly walking around, the game is a lot of fun. Stabbing foes with a bat’leth is enjoyable, with lots of colourful blood spraying around (there are no humans in the game so it avoids having red blood). Most of the other weapons are fairly boring, with the exception of a disc weapon which launces a bouncing disc that destroys entire rooms of enemies. You can also find some gadgets to use, such as a deployable camera (never found a use for it) and mag boots, which are vital for going on spacewalks in some levels.
Klingon Honour Guard is fun in parts, but often frustrating. I feel like it goes on a bit too long, with the most enjoyable levels being close to each other in the middle of the game. It also doesn’t really capture the feel of the Star Trek universe. You see Klingons and Andorians, but they don’t really act like them. The main character also repeatedly shouts “I will cut you up like gach” at your foes, which I found odd because Klingons eat them alive, so there’s no cutting up.
Where to get
How to play Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor Guard on Windows 11
The version is configured with dgVoodoo to run on Windows 11. I did have issues with some videos playing, but if you replay the briefing from the menu once the level loads, the video works fine.
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I loved this game when it came out but I tried playing it again during lockdown, I was digging out all my old games, and got bored easily!
I remember trying to play it in early 00’s, but it didn’t make a good first impression, so I stopped quickly. I gave it a second chance ladt year, and actually liked the game very much. What a surprise.
Great game liked the levels where you were on the D7 and the space station. If i recall a couple of weapons from KHG can be used on the original Unreal
I really liked this game, despite the jank and spongey enemies. It was so neat to do battle/earn glory in levels that actually fit inside Klingon (and Andorian) ships.
I think there are only four Star Trek games that really get it right:
* 25th Anniversary
* Judgement Rites
* A Final Unity
* Secret of Vulcan Fury (so I assume)
Generations and then Klingon Honor Guard made it clear that I wasn’t the person they were making these for anymore.