The Mac version of Star Trek Deep Space 9: The Fallen is now available from Simon & Schuster Interactive and features the voices of several members of the original TV show.
Under development for two years, “The Fallen” utilizes a modified version of the Unreal Tournament gaming engine to create alien vistas and highly detailed representations of Deep Space Nine and the starship Defiant. Described as “a third-person game that plays like a first-person shooter,” the game was developed by Collective Studios of Laguna Beach, CA.
Collective Studios enhanced the Unreal Tournament engine and added their own proprietary technology to allow for numerous special effects not seen in other games. For example, to move beyond the “lip flapping” that gamers have seen when characters speak in other games, Collective Studios has implemented technology to sync the character’s mouth, eyes, nose and eyebrows in real-time as they speak.
The Fallen gives the player three popular Deep Space Nine characters to choose from: Capt. Benjamin L. Sisko, Lt. Commander Worf (voiced by Michael Dorn), and Major Kira Nerys (voiced by Nana Visitor). Differences between the characters aren’t just cosmetic, but affect every aspect of gameplay, from the weapons available to the type of challenges presented to the game. Worf excels in hand-to-hand combat, and his default weapon is the ceremonial Bat’leth blade. Kira faces physical challenges that focus more on her navigating levels nimbly. Sisko has a solid well rounded skill-set. Each individual has a separate storyline — though their paths will cross as they progress through the game — and weapons, maps and mission objectives that are specific to that character. In order to experience every inch of The Fallen you’ll need to play through the game three different ways. There will be over 30 maps in The Fallen, with seven to eight missions per character.
Besides the aforementioned actors, other TV show alumni providing voices are Alexander Siddig as “Bashir,” Rene Auberjonois as “Odo,” Armin Shimerman as “Quark,” Andrew Robinson as “Garak,” and Terry Farrell as “Jadzia Dax.”
Gilles Dana, senior vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Interactive, said that “The Fallen” offers next-generation graphics and special effects. She said it lets gamers explore areas of the space station that were never shown on the show and travel to “incredibly detailed” and atmospheric locations to complete this rich game.
“The Fallen represents another accomplishment in our vision of combining our expertise in digital entertainment with a cornerstone Paramount Pictures’ property,” Dana said in a statement. “In this case, this effort has produced the equivalent of a totally immersive, interactive episode of Deep Space Nine that will appeal to Star Trek fans and hard core gamers.”
She added that “The Fallen” also brings to gamers a sophisticated camera system that takes third-person perspective gaming to a “higher plane,” whether in close quarters or wide-open expanses. For example, when a gamer is in a corner, the camera will switch to a first person perspective allowing the player to actually see through the character to get a clear view of the action.
“Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Fallen” for the Mac has an estimated street price of US$29.95. It’s been rated “T” or “Teen” by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). More info can be found at “The Fallen” Web site.
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