Star Trek: Judgment Rites

Star Trek: Judgment Rites is a graphic adventure based on the popular sci-fi series Star Trek. It was developed and released by Interplay and officially licensed by Paramount. It was published initially in 1993 for MS-DOS and later for Mac and PC CD-ROM. It is the sequel to the other Interplay adventure Star Trek 25th Anniversary, released one year before. Unlike the predecessor, which was ported to Amiga too in 1994, Judgment Rites never saw an Amiga version.

As a sequel to its predecessor, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, this game maintains a similar gameplay style. Players take control of Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise and interact with familiar characters like Spock and McCoy, solving eight different "episodes" both on and off the ship. Unlike the previous game, combat sequences involving space battles with enemies are optional. This is not a bad thing because the game really shines as a point-and-click adventure, while the space combat sequences are merely a matter of "completing the Star Trek experience" rather than adding something to the gameplay. So, don't expect Wing Commander or Star Wars: TIE Fighter; here, the goal is different.

Another difference is that in Star Trek: Judgment Rites, at least half of the missions are part of an ongoing story arc, with one directly following the final mission of the previous game. This story arc follows the Enterprise crew as they try to embark on shore leave but are consistently interrupted by various missions, giving the game a continuous and connected narrative rarely seen in Star Trek. These missions are not random but contribute to a larger story.

The game offers eight episodes, each with its own unique storyline, blending point-and-click gameplay with mini-games. In the first episode, called "Federation," the Enterprise must deal with a rupture in space-time that brings a severely damaged Federation starship from the future. This ship, the USS Alexander, reports that the Federation has been destroyed, and shortly after transmitting this information, it explodes. The Enterprise crew must investigate the cause of the destruction and prevent it from occurring.

One of the best elements of the game is its atmosphere: it's really like watching a TV episode of Star Trek. It features abundant dialogue and puzzles to solve. As already mentioned, the quality of the puzzles and adventure elements is really state of the art, and even without the Star Trek theme, the game would already be a great entry in the genre. But, of course, for Star Trek fans, the game offers something more. The CD-ROM edition of the game includes the voices of the original cast members, adding to the authenticity of the experience. The sound quality, but also the graphics, have significantly improved compared to the 25th Anniversary.

The reviews of the game were highly positive, but as already commented, you can't compare the game with a flight simulator. Combat should be considered like cutscenes.

In short, Star Trek: Judgment Rites is an outstanding adventure game that pays homage to the beloved Star Trek series. Its engaging storyline, immersive gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound make it a truly enjoyable experience. Fans of the series will appreciate the opportunity to hear the original cast members' voices. This game comes highly recommended for both adventure game enthusiasts and Star Trek fans alike.

Note: the game you can download here is a limited version. Follow the link on the right to download the full version with voice-over on GOG.