Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Starship Bridge Simulator

Forget hopping across platforms and firing a blaster – here you sit in the captain's chair and the fate of the crew hinges on your orders. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Starship Bridge Simulator is a singular attempt to bring to the Super Nintendo the feel of commanding a starship as fans of the classic Star Trek series know it.

The game casts you in the role of a Starfleet Academy cadet who works through a series of tactical missions and simulations. Instead of direct action, you resolve situations by issuing orders: setting a course, managing shields and phasers, firing photon torpedoes, and maneuvering in combat against Klingon or other hostile vessels. The emphasis is on tactics and deliberation rather than reflexes.

It's precisely here that the game both excels and runs into its limits. For players craving a faithful simulation of a captain's responsibility, it offers an intriguing experience where you must weigh shield energy, ship positioning, and the timing of attacks. For those expecting a snappy space shooter, however, it may feel slower and more measured in pace, which isn't for everyone.

The setting in the Star Trek universe is the main draw. The game evokes the atmosphere of the original series and the famous Kobayashi Maru scenario – the notorious no-win test that probes a commander's character, not merely their tactics. For fans of the brand it's a welcome expansion of a theme that appeared rather sporadically on consoles.

In the context of the platform, the title represents an intriguing curiosity. Command-bridge simulations were the domain of home computers, so the attempt to bring this concept to the SNES controller is one of the bolder ideas of its time. It's not a game for everyone, but the right kind of captain can appreciate its niche atmosphere and fidelity to the source.

Why play: For Star Trek fans and lovers of tactical starship command who want to experience the atmosphere of the captain's bridge right on the SNES.