Star Trek: Generations – Beyond the Nexus

"Space, the final frontier" — and also the frontier of what the SEGA Saturn could conjure from the Star Trek license. Star Trek: Generations – Beyond the Nexus brings the universe of Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise into a game form tied to the film of the same name.

The game combines several gameplay modes, as was customary for film licenses of the time: expect elements of space combat and simulation, complemented by action and story passages meant to draw the player into events set within the plot of Generations. It's an effort to encompass as much as possible of the rich Trek world — commanding the ship, tactical clashes and the atmosphere of the film itself.

Film and television licenses were a double-edged sword in the '90s. On one hand, familiar brands lured in fans; on the other, they were often made under tight deadlines tied to a film's premiere, which tended to show in the result. Beyond the Nexus is a product of exactly this era — a title that stands or falls mainly on how much the Star Trek universe and the desire to command your own Enterprise appeal to you.

That's precisely where its value lies: it's a piece of interactive history of a brand that has fascinated generations of viewers. For a Trekkie, there's charm in the very possibility of immersing yourself in this world through a console, hearing echoes of the series and the film and trying out a role many fans only dream of. For a historian of game adaptations, it's an interesting specimen of how creators tried to transform a cinematic event into a playable experience.

Don't take it as a top-tier simulation or an action blockbuster. Take it as an invitation aboard — a nostalgic ride along the star trek that makes sense above all to those who feel affection for the Star Trek legacy.

Why play: For Star Trek fans who want to experience the world of Generations firsthand and sit in the captain's chair on the Saturn.