When it comes to Star Trek, the gaming tie in to this summer's much anticipated sequel; Into Darkness from Digital Extremes it must be said that the game looks completely fantastic - as long as you don't move your character, he's not near anything else, the camera is titled at just the right heroic angle...other than that, it's scary bad. It's almost tough to say since the game showed so much promise but Star Trek is an unfinished mess that won't appeal to anyone -even the most die hard fans of the franchise.

Star Trek isn't a direct adaptation of this summer's film, opting instead to tell a brand new story that takes place between the two films. Here, a weapon has been discovered that has the power to tear holes in universes and destroy entire planets and of course, it's in the wrong hands. How did it get there? I dunno, the writers have done such a lackluster job creating Star Trek's plot that major plot lines are completely missing and the game fails to answer even the most basic questions. Even those that the game does explore are often dropped randomly but then picked up at the most inopportune times. Oh remember that thing the game told you about in the beginning of the game but you haven't heard about since - here it is.

"...got even the most basic functions of gameplay astonishingly wrong."

The whole game basically boils down to almost comical basics - some enemies that look like dinosaurs have guns, better shoot them. Sounds easy right? It would be in most cases, but Digital Extremes got even the most basic functions of gameplay astonishingly wrong. Sections of the game where your enemies are attacking you, they'll display some absolutely atrocious AI, like hiding behind tiny objects or even jumping to their own death for no apparent reason. There were a few times when I witnessed four or five of them getting in and out of cover, always in the same pattern, in unison, like a shooting gallery at a carnival - I couldn't help but laugh.

Digital Extremes should get credit for at least attempting to incorporate a number of different ideas and gameplay elements into Star Trek, but none of them work, almost laughably. You'll use your tricorder to find hidden wires and objects -similar to the detective mode in Arkham City, but you'll use it so often it becomes less of a feature and more of a crutch for the developers that's sure to annoy the hell out of you. There are space battles, platforming sections and a number of puzzle sections, and each one is as unappealing as the last. Star Trek also features co-op, and the game is a bit more enjoyable when you're playing with someone else the AI is so remarkably stupid.

"And then there are the glitches."

And then there are the glitches. On several occasions I charged up my phaser to send out a more powerful shot, only to see if blow-up in my face for no apparent reason, sending me to my death. I've been locked in animations, stuck on invisible walls and even randomly died, in the middle of walking. The worst was when I suddenly saw Spock's head inside out - you can't unsee that. In fact, the good majority of the player models in Star Trek are freakishly bad. They animate as if they're made of clay and even though the main cast does add their voices to the game, it's as if someone woke them up in the middle of the night and asked them to read the script - the performances are so incredibly bland and phoned in.

It's almost painful to say this since there was so much buzz around it, but the latest Star Trek game is just that - another disappointing game from one of Sci-Fi's oldest franchises. It's not fun to play, pretty to look at or even interesting in any sense of the word. Sadly, Star Trek feels like it ought to have a red shirt on.