Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force delivers a classic first-person shooter experience that seamlessly integrates the high-tech gadgetry and tense combat scenarios of the Star Trek universe. Players take on the role of Lieutenant Cmdr. Jack Kim, a member of the Hazard Team, as they navigate the corridors of the USS Voyager and face off against rogue holograms, aliens, and other hostile forces. The core mechanics feel instantly familiar to anyone who has played mid-2000s shooters, but Elite Force spices things up with phaser banks, tricorders, and tractor beams that open up creative approaches to firefights.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The weapon roster is both varied and faithful to Star Trek lore. You’ll start with standard phasers and gradually unlock more specialized gear—ion grenades to disable enemy shields, a remotely controlled probe droid for scouting, and even a cutting-edge rifle for deadly range engagements. Each weapon has a distinctive feel and sound design, helping immerse you in the role of an elite starfleet operative.

Pacing is one of Elite Force’s greatest strengths. Levels alternate between tight, tense corridors inside Voyager’s hull and more open, atmospheric environments like alien research labs or remote mining facilities. This ebb and flow keeps the combat fresh, with moments of high-octane firefights balanced by sections that encourage exploration and puzzle-solving using your tricorder’s scanning functions.

The included Expansion Pack further enriches gameplay by adding a new suite of Hazard Team missions, fresh enemy types, and additional tools like advanced tricorder upgrades. These bonus missions ramp up the difficulty and introduce clever new level designs, ensuring that even veterans of the original release will find surprising challenges and handcrafted encounters to master.

Graphics

Built on a heavily modified id Tech 3 engine, Voyager – Elite Force may show its age compared to modern titles, but it still shines with detailed textures and atmospheric lighting effects. Metallic corridors glint under overhead fixtures, while darker maintenance shafts become claustrophobic arenas where every corner could conceal a holographic assassin. The Gold Bundle’s compatibility patches ensure smooth performance on contemporary systems, unlocking higher resolutions without breaking the game’s aesthetic.

Character models and facial animations, while not up to today’s photorealistic standards, do a credible job of conveying urgency and emotion. Major NPCs, including Captain Janeway and Tuvok, benefit from their official likenesses and voice actors, lending authenticity to cutscenes and in-mission comms. Even secondary officers and hologram foes boast recognizable Starfleet uniforms and equipment details that fans will appreciate.

The expansion pack introduces additional environments that expand the visual palette. You’ll tread across sandy alien outposts, navigate dimly lit hydroponics labs, and even venture onto planet surfaces with rocky outcroppings and swirling dust storms. These varied settings help prevent visual fatigue and showcase the engine’s flexibility when paired with custom shaders and dynamic particle effects.

On modern hardware, the Gold Bundle allows widescreen and ultrawide resolutions, and community mods can further enhance textures, lighting, and character models. While purists may enjoy the original look, those craving a graphical refresh will find plenty of tools and community support to bring Elite Force closer to today’s visual standards without sacrificing the game’s classic feel.

Story

The narrative of Elite Force is one of its most compelling features. Set shortly after the events of Voyager’s third season, the game follows Hazard Team as they deal with a holographic virus that has turned Voyager’s own Emergency Medical Hologram (The Doctor) into a potential threat. This premise cleverly ties into existing lore while giving players a sense of urgency and personal stakes in saving the ship and crew they’ve come to care about.

Interwoven between action sequences are well-written dialogue exchanges that deepen your connection to Commander Kim and his teammates. Familiar faces such as Captain Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok appear via comm calls and brief cutscenes, adding gravitas to each mission objective. The reunion of these beloved characters feels organic rather than gimmicky, helping non-shooting moments resonate almost as strongly as the firefights.

The expansion pack continues the story beyond the base game’s climax, introducing new villains and revealing further secrets about the rogue hologram network. These bonus missions explore ethical questions around artificial intelligence and federation protocols, themes long associated with Star Trek’s best episodes. The pacing remains tight, delivering narrative payoffs that justify the expansion’s place in the overall bundle.

While Elite Force doesn’t aspire to be a sprawling RPG, its concise, action-driven plot stands out among shooters of its era. It respects the source material, balances humor and drama, and makes every firefight feel narratively significant. For fans of Voyager or sci-fi shooters in general, the story is a major selling point that elevates Elite Force above a run-of-the-mill shooter.

Overall Experience

The Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force: Gold Bundle is a standout package for anyone seeking a tight, replayable shooter wrapped in a beloved sci-fi license. Between the main campaign and its expansion, you get roughly 12–15 hours of content that blend strategic gadget use, varied mission designs, and a narrative that pulls you into Voyager’s ongoing journey home. It’s a rare FPS that feels as comfortable dodging behind bulkheads as it does exploring strange new worlds.

Replayability is bolstered by difficulty modes ranging from “Cadet” to “Unrealistic,” along with hidden collectibles, alternate paths, and Easter eggs that reward thorough exploration. Fans have also created multiplayer mods and community maps that extend the game’s lifespan well beyond the official content, though these require some manual installation on modern systems.

Technical issues, such as occasional pathfinding quirks and dated cutscene transitions, are mostly ironed out in the Gold Bundle. The included patches ensure compatibility with Windows 10/11, support for widescreen monitors, and fixes for stability concerns. A few rough edges remain, but none significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the package.

Ultimately, this Gold Bundle is a must-own for Star Trek aficionados and a recommended curiosity for FPS fans interested in a narrative-driven shooter with unique Starfleet trappings. Combining engaging gameplay, faithful graphics, a compelling story, and robust modern support, it stands the test of time as one of the best Star Trek games ever released.

Retro Replay Score

null/10