Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary delivers a unique blend of gameplay styles that will appeal to both adventure fans and simulation enthusiasts. On one hand, the starship simulator sequences put you in direct control of the USS Enterprise. In first-person mode, you manually steer the ship, rotate through a full 720-degree field, adjust speeds, and deploy phaser banks or proton torpedoes. The tension of space combat is genuine, as weapon energy and torpedo supplies must be carefully managed.

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On the other hand, the point-and-click adventure sections take you down to the surface of various planets with Captain Kirk leading the away team. The side-scrolling interface allows you to select actions—look, speak, use items, pick up objects—via intuitive icons. Crew members automatically follow Kirk and lend their individual skills when needed, making teamwork a core element of puzzle-solving. Non-violent resolutions are rewarded, yet the option to stun or kill with your phaser adds a moral dynamic to each decision.

Transitioning between bridge and landing party missions is seamless, keeping the player engaged in episode-style chapters. Each “episode” feels self-contained yet builds upon the last, enforcing a clear play order. While some puzzles can be obtuse without consulting the captain’s log for keywords, the game smartly encourages exploration and experimentation. Overall, the gameplay loop satisfies both strategy-oriented players and narrative-driven explorers.

Graphics

For a game originally released in the early ’90s, the pixel art of Star Trek: 25th Anniversary holds up surprisingly well. The bridge of the Enterprise is rendered with crisp detail, capturing the iconic look of the original series’ control panels and viewscreens. Starfields and planet surfaces are brightly colored, offering a vibrant backdrop for away missions.

Character sprites are instantly recognizable as Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and the rest of the crew. Animations—such as Kirk raising his phaser or the Enterprise slipping into warp—feel fluid within the limitations of the hardware. Each episode introduces new alien environments, from mining caverns to primitive settlements, all of which are distinct in texture and layout.

Special effects like phaser blasts and torpedo impacts are simple flashes of color, but they carry weight in the context of space combat. Victory sequences and mission-complete screens feature small animations that pay homage to classic Star Trek transitions. Though it lacks modern lighting or particle systems, the game’s consistent art direction and clear visual cues make every scene easily readable and faithful to the 1960s TV series.

Story

The structure of Star Trek: 25th Anniversary mimics the episodic format of the original series. You begin with “demons” emerging from planetary mines and threatening colonists, and each subsequent chapter delivers a fresh mystery or conflict. This approach keeps the narrative tight and focused, with self-contained plots that resolve neatly before advancing the overarching mission of exploration and diplomacy.

Dialogue is presented through text boxes, with occasional cutaway illustrations of crew members speaking. While there’s no full voice acting, key lines from Kirk, Spock, and others are occasionally hinted at with beeps and intercom tones that evoke the show’s audio style. Story beats—such as scanning for lifeforms, negotiating with aliens, or foiling sabotage—feel true to Roddenberry’s vision of peaceful problem-solving backed by a capable starship crew.

Moreover, the game rewards thoughtful engagement with the narrative. Successful missions increase your reputation with the Federation by solving problems non-violently and making scientific discoveries. Conversely, hasty resort to lethal force or overlooking clues can lead to harsher outcomes, encouraging multiple playthroughs to see alternative story threads and outcomes.

Overall Experience

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary stands as a compelling retro title for fans of point-and-click adventures and starship simulations alike. Its faithful recreation of the Enterprise’s bridge, combined with engrossing away-team puzzles, delivers an authentic Star Trek feel. Each episode offers a satisfying length of gameplay—enough to immerse without overstaying its welcome.

The balance between diplomacy, exploration, and combat ensures varied pacing, while the need to manage ship systems and crew assignments adds strategic depth. Despite occasional pixel-hunt frustrations, the game’s respect for moral decision-making and its rewarding system of non-violent solutions feel remarkably fresh, even by modern standards.

Whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie craving a nostalgic voyage or a newcomer seeking a classic adventure with strategic elements, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary offers a well-crafted journey across the final frontier. Its combination of story, simulation, and puzzle-solving provides an engaging overall experience that remains memorable decades after its original release.

Retro Replay Score

7.6/10