Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of Time
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Products | Action-adventure video game |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of Time is an action-adventure video game released in 1995 for the Genesis and Super NES. It draws its inspiration from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. While reviewers commended the game's faithful visual and atmospheric representation of the series, they frequently pointed out issues with its repetitive and awkward gameplay mechanics.
Gameplay
The game allows players to assume the roles of various Deep Space Nine characters, chiefly Captain Benjamin Sisko, alongside Doctor Julian Bashir, Major Kira Nerys, and Odo. The majority of stages are designed as cinematic platformers, complemented by a single horizontal-scrolling shooter segment. Platforming levels are divided into two categories: 'adventure' segments where players explore Deep Space Nine and engage with non-player characters to progress the storyline, and 'action' segments featuring climbing challenges, phaser-based combat, item utilization, and mission goals that occasionally require completion within time limits.
Reception
The Genesis edition garnered a range of responses. GamePro highlighted the game's strong graphical presentation and authentic ambiance but criticized its straightforward and repetitive gameplay, suggesting it primarily appeals to puzzle enthusiasts and fans of the series. They also pointed out that some puzzles were overly time-consuming, combat was easily mastered, and character deaths triggered repetitive dialogue. The SNES version faced similar critiques regarding unresponsive controls and visually monotonous stages but received praise for effectively capturing the essence of the television show, making it appealing to dedicated followers.
Next Generation acknowledged the game's accurate storytelling but noted issues with sluggish pacing, ambiguous objectives, and unclear visuals, recommending it mostly for committed fans. Reviewers from Electronic Gaming Monthly generally offered favorable comments, appreciating the detailed backgrounds and character designs closely resembling those from the TV series; however, they observed slower gameplay pace and inferior graphics quality on the Genesis version. Both platforms were awarded equivalent scores.
An additional review by Next Generation focusing on the Genesis release described it as dull and likely to attract only the most devoted Deep Space Nine fans.