Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Star Trek Action Pack delivers a diverse suite of gameplay experiences, seamlessly blending real-time strategy with first-person shooter action. Star Trek: Armada and its sequel dive into classic 4X mechanics—resource gathering, fleet management, and tactical combat—while challenging you to command the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, or Borg in epic galactic encounters. Armada II refines the formula with deeper diplomacy features and expanded ship rosters, making each skirmish feel more strategic and rewarding.

Switching gears, Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force and its Expansion Pack shift you into the boots of a Hazard Team officer aboard Voyager. This FPS segment offers fast-paced corridor battles, objective-based missions, and a mix of phaser combat, grenades, and environmental interactions. The Expansion Pack extends the campaign with new levels and scenarios, ensuring that fans of first-person firefights will find additional layers of challenge and variety.

Across all four titles, the control schemes remain intuitive yet layered. Armada’s hotkey-driven commands and fleet macros allow for epic engagements without overwhelming newcomers. Voyager – Elite Force’s movement and shooting mechanics hold up surprisingly well decades on, offering responsive aiming and smooth strafing—even if some clunky AI moments remind you it’s a product of the early 2000s.

Whether you’re coordinating a Borg cube assault or clearing a cargo bay of alien intruders, the compilation’s gameplay breadth is its greatest strength. The shift from high-level strategic planning in Armada to the boots-on-the-ground immediacy of Elite Force keeps every play session fresh, catering to different moods and playstyles.

Graphics

Visually, the Star Trek Action Pack is a mix of classic late-’90s/early-’00s assets and remastered touches. In Armada and Armada II, starships and space stations maintain their original polygon counts but benefit from updated textures that sharpen hull details and warp effects. The galactic backdrops—nebulas, asteroid fields, and frontiers—are rendered with a nostalgic charm, though they lack the high-fidelity shaders of modern RTS titles.

In Voyager – Elite Force, character models, lighting, and particle effects have been lovingly preserved and in some cases up-rezzed. Phasers beam with satisfying glows, transporter rooms hum with vibrant energy patterns, and environmental details—like the scuff marks on Jefferies tubes—add authenticity. The Expansion Pack pushes the engine further, introducing darker corridors and dynamic lighting sequences that enhance the tension of stealthy Hazard Team operations.

Performance is generally solid on contemporary hardware. Both the strategy and shooter components run smoothly at high frame rates, even on modest rigs, thanks to efficient engine optimizations. Minor quirks—such as occasional texture pop-in in Armada II—are easily overlooked when you’re orchestrating fleets or ducking incoming fire.

While dedicated Star Trek fans might note that some ship designs appear slightly less detailed than in standalone remasters, the compilation’s visual package faithfully captures the ambiance of its source material. The blend of improved textures, preserved lighting, and well-optimized performance strikes a balance between authenticity and modern playability.

Story

The narrative foundation of the Star Trek Action Pack spans grand space operatics and close-quarters drama. Armada and Armada II immerse you in pivotal conflicts of the Star Trek universe: the Borg siege, the Klingon uprising, and the Romulan political intrigue. Campaign missions unfold with memorable briefings, in-mission cutscenes, and voiceovers by series veterans, weaving a tapestry of canonical events and “what if” scenarios that will excite any lore enthusiast.

Voyager – Elite Force places you in a more personal story arc, exploring the darker side of deep-space exploration through the eyes of Hazard Team operatives. You’ll uncover sabotage, alien conspiracies, and ethical dilemmas within the U.S.S. Voyager, all while forming bonds with NPC crewmates. The Expansion Pack deepens these relationships, adding side missions that probe the psyches of your squad and reveal hidden motives aboard the starship.

One of the compilation’s strengths is its pacing. Armada’s escalating skirmishes crescendo into full-scale invasions, while Elite Force’s balance of action and exposition keeps tension high without resorting to endless hallway shooting. Each game’s story threads feel self-contained yet complementary, offering both micro-level character moments and macro-level galactic stakes.

Though some dialogue options and AI behaviors show their age, the overarching narratives remain compelling. Fans will appreciate easter eggs—familiar bridge officers, beloved ship classes, and nods to Voyager’s extended universe—while newcomers get a crash course in Federation politics and Starfleet heroism.

Overall Experience

The Star Trek Action Pack stands out as a stellar value proposition, bundling four classic titles that cover the genre spectrum from RTS to FPS. Its greatest achievement is the seamless integration of these disparate gameplay styles into a single collection, offering hours of strategic planning, fleet maneuvers, and corridor-blasting excitement.

Installation and setup are surprisingly hassle-free. Modern installers streamline configuration, while community mods and patches further enhance stability, widescreen support, and quality-of-life features like improved UI scaling. Whether you’re revisiting these games or jumping in for the first time, the Action Pack ensures a smooth launch into the final frontier.

Replayability is high: try alternate campaign factions in Armada, pursue hidden objectives in Armada II, or explore every nook of Voyager’s decks in Elite Force. Multiplayer skirmishes and user-created maps extend Armada’s longevity, while Elite Force’s mission editor invites creative scenarios and co-op fun.

In sum, the Star Trek Action Pack is a must-have for both longtime Trekkies and newcomers curious about 2000s-era PC classics. It hums with franchise authenticity, delivers varied and engaging gameplay, and preserves some of the best stories Star Trek has told outside the TV screen. Boldly grab your copy—you’ve got a universe to command.