My viewer has spoken! We tell Telsia it isn’t working out. Don’t worry, though. I’m sure someone else will come along.

This episode presents a lot of things to talk about. I’ll start with the voice acting. A lot of the voice acting in this game is really really bad. One needs only to look at Telsia’s flat delivery in the first part of this episode, or Korban’s over-exaggerated annunciation that sounds like someone kept telling the voice actor, “No no no, more Klingon!” (I do still get a chuckle out of how…enthusiastic he is when describing the new weapon.)

Speaking of voice actors, you may have noticed the conspicuous lack of any TNG characters other than Picard.  There are no signs of Worf, Riker, Crusher, Troi, Data, or LaForge.  There are some in-game explanations for this, like Picard’s comment about Worf being on leave.  There is also some indication that the game takes place after Riker has taken his own command, and various others in the bridge crew have also been reassigned.  Still, I can’t help but feel like the game’s publishers decided to do this simply to avoid paying a bunch of big-name actors to fill rather minor roles in the game.  It makes sense, and I can’t really fault them for it, but I also can’t avoid comparing it to the original game.  Voyager: Elite Force had Janeway, Paris, Tuvok, Chakotay, The Doctor, and Seven of Nine (among others) all appearing in the game, and (I assume) all voiced by the original cast.  I understand that all game development involves cost-cutting to some degree, but it just seems strange to visit the Enterprise and not see any of the Enterprise…um…people.

 

This episode also highlights the elephant in the room regarding the Elite Force series.  Why has Starfleet never tried a hazard team  in the show?  It would make sense to have people on each ship who are specially trained and equipped for dangerous away missions.  Certainly, the ships are all staffed with security personnel, but that’s not the same thing.  Also, judging by most of the shows, those security people kind of…well…suck at it.  Considering how many redshirts die on away missions, it seems almost criminal for a starship to keep sending un-armored, under-equipped, and (in my opinion) poorly-trained people into dangerous situations.

Well, okay.  I’m sure there are plenty of in-universe explanations we can come up with for this oversight, including Mr. Eyebrows’ excuse given in this episode.  Still, I think the only explanation that really matters is that it wouldn’t have fit in Roddenberry’s utopian vision for a peaceful Starfleet of diplomats and explorers.  I won’t criticize someone for having high ideals, but I think the show’s often overly-strict adherence to those ideals simply makes the Federation look naive.

Aaaaaannnd it’s time to end this tirade and do something more productive.  Until next time!