Star Trek: Voyager Game Lets You Rewrite History

Star Trek: Voyager Reimagined: ‘Across The Unknown’ Offers Fans a Chance to Command the Starship

Prepare to boldly go where many fans have dreamed of going: behind the captain’s chair. Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown, a new story-driven survival game from Gamecite and published by Datalik Entertainment, is set to put players in command of the USS Voyager, stranded in the perilous Delta Quadrant. This isn’t just a retelling; it’s an interactive odyssey where every decision, from managing crew to resource allocation, impacts the journey home. Recently, the developers offered a preview of the game’s opening mission, allowing for an in-depth look at how it masterfully adapts the beloved pilot episode, “Caretaker,” into an engaging gameplay experience.

A Familiar Beginning, A New Path

The game’s first mission directly mirrors the events of “Caretaker,” which originally aired on January 16, 1995, as a two-hour premiere that launched the UPN network. In a stroke of meta-humor, the series that helped launch a network that would eventually merge to become The CW, essentially paved the way for shows like Riverdale. The opening sequence of Across the Unknown throws players right into the action, mirroring the show’s cold open: a tense battle between the formidable Kazon and a small outlaw vessel crewed by disgruntled colonists known as the Maquis. Players are introduced to key characters, including Tuvac, a Vulcan operative embedded with the Maquis, whose true allegiance will soon be revealed.

As the Maquis craft flees into a volatile region of space called the Badlands, they are caught in a displacement wave, vanishing without a trace. This sudden disappearance serves as the inciting incident for both the show and the game, setting the USS Voyager on a mission to find the missing Maquis ship and rescue Tuvac. Shortly after, players are introduced to the USS Voyager’s bridge crew: the roguish pilot Tom Paris and the eager, fresh-faced Starfleet graduate Harry Kim, both reporting to the capable Captain Janeway. Across the Unknown wastes no time, placing players directly into this initial briefing, capturing the spirit of the show’s character introductions.

Choices and Consequences: The Core of ‘Across the Unknown’

The game shines in its ability to translate character dynamics and plot points into player agency. Tom Paris, introduced with his signature swagger and a dismissive attitude towards authority, is presented through dialogue boxes that highlight his pride and self-proclaimed piloting prowess – a direct nod to his recruitment by Janeway from a penal colony in the show. Similarly, Harry Kim’s palpable nervousness is perfectly captured, mirroring his initial, somewhat awkward, encounter with Captain Janeway.

The narrative quickly escalates as the USS Voyager, pursuing the Maquis, is also caught in the displacement wave. The ship is flung an astonishing 70,000 light-years across the galaxy, landing them in the Delta Quadrant and face-to-face with a mysterious alien array. This is where the bulk of the first mission unfolds, mirroring the core of the “Caretaker” episode. The crew finds themselves teleported to a holographic simulation of a rural American farm, a disorienting experience designed by the array’s creators.

In Across the Unknown, players control Tom Paris and Harry Kim as they navigate this holographic environment, uncovering the truth behind the simulation and the fate of the Maquis crew. The game faithfully recreates the discovery of the holographic generator and the missing Maquis crew members. However, the game introduces a critical divergence: player choice. In the show, the entire Voyager crew is detained by the array’s inhabitants for medical examinations. Upon their return, they discover Harry Kim is missing from Voyager, and B’Elanna Torres from the Maquis ship. In the game, players are presented with a pivotal decision: attempt to wake Chakotay or have Harry try to awaken B’Elanna. The choice made has significant repercussions, as seen in the preview where opting to wake B’Elanna resulted in Tom and Chakotay being left behind on the array. This moment encapsulates the game’s appeal – the chance to explore alternate timelines and see how different choices might have reshaped the Voyager saga.

Neelix: The Heart of the Delta Quadrant

A fan-favorite character, Neelix, plays a crucial role in the unfolding events. The game allows players to experience his unique charm and quirky nature, which are central to what many fans love about Star Trek: Voyager. Neelix, a Talaxian alien known for his distinctive practical makeup effects and often whimsical demeanor, is discovered by the Voyager crew scavenging through debris. They enlist his help to guide an expedition to the surface.

In Across the Unknown, players take control of Neelix, B’Elanna, and Tuvac as they embark on this crucial mission. This gameplay choice further emphasizes the branching narrative possibilities. While in the show, B’Elanna and Harry are with the Ocampa, learning about their society and the catastrophic event that drove them underground, the game’s player-driven decisions can alter these circumstances. The preview highlights a playthrough where the player chose to have Harry wake B’Elanna, leading to a different team composition for the surface mission. Once at the Ocampa settlement, the game allows players to decide how to approach interactions, with Neelix often taking the lead in introductions, mirroring his role in the show where he offers water to the Ocampa leader, Jabin. However, the game allows for deviations, such as choosing a peaceful retreat over the more combative encounter depicted in the series, showcasing the breadth of strategic options available.

Epic Space Battles and Moral Dilemmas

The climax of the “Caretaker” episode, and consequently the first mission of Across the Unknown, is a massive space battle. The USS Voyager faces off against the Maquis ship and the Kazon fleet, all under the shadow of the Caretaker’s array. The Kazon are desperate to seize control of the array’s advanced technology, hoping to elevate their existence from mere survival to a more comfortable life. The Voyager crew, however, understands that Kazon control would lead to the subjugation of the Ocampa.

The Caretaker, in a final act, initiates a self-destruct sequence for the array. This presents Captain Janeway with an agonizing choice: destroy the array, ensuring the Kazon cannot obtain it but also stranding the Voyager crew on the far side of the galaxy, or allow the Kazon to potentially gain control. In the game, players get to actively participate in this epic confrontation, taking control of the Voyager’s offensive capabilities, firing torpedoes, and evading enemy fire. The game even recreates Chakotay’s daring maneuver of using the Maquis ship as a weapon to destroy the primary Kazon vessel. This climactic battle seamlessly blends thrilling space combat with the signature thoughtful, moralistic science fiction that defines Star Trek.

A Gutsy Choice: Sacrificing the Future for Home

Following the battle, Tuvac and Janeway face the decision of aborting the Caretaker’s self-destruct sequence. Ultimately, Janeway makes the selfless choice to destroy the array, safeguarding the Ocampa from the Kazon, even at the cost of their immediate return home. This pivotal decision fuels the next 170 episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.

The true brilliance of Across the Unknown, as highlighted by the preview, lies in its willingness to let players challenge canon. The game presents a heart-wrenching choice: sacrifice the Ocampa to ensure the Voyager’s return home, or protect them at the cost of their own passage. While the previewer couldn’t bring themselves to make the choice to sacrifice the Ocampa, the mere inclusion of such a profound, canon-altering decision demonstrates the game’s potential. It’s a testament to the developers’ deep love for Voyager, offering fans not just a journey through familiar territory, but a chance to forge their own path.

Beyond the “Caretaker” retelling, Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown promises a deep and engaging experience with extensive ship management, progression systems, and intricate details that flesh out the game far beyond a simple narrative adaptation. The game is slated for release on February 18th, and the excitement is palpable for a title that honors the legacy of Star Trek: Voyager while offering unprecedented player freedom.

Source: Star Trek: Voyager- Across The Unknown EXPLAINED (YouTube)