Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova – Analysis

Video games adapted to younger audiences and children have come in leaps and bounds over the years. Thanks to publishers like open games We can enjoy projects that feel true to their source material and are played in a way that is also engaging and of such a quality that even a mature audience can appreciate them for what they are. That’s the case with Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova, a co-op action-adventure based on the Nickelodeon animated series, in which even the original cast reprises their roles for added authenticity.

The story revolves around the young crew of the protostar, who continues his journey through space. The team led by the captain Dal R’El (Brett Gray) and Gwyndala (Ella Purnell), stumbles across a solar system orbiting three planets in danger of being destroyed by the central star itself, which is being driven into a supernova. Upon arrival in this system, the Protostar ship is attacked and soon finds itself crash-landing on one of three endangered planets, with the crew captured and held captive in various locations. You must guide Dal and Gwyn in their quest to repair the protostar, rescue the crew members while preventing the star from going supernova in order to save lives throughout the system.

Although the plot is simple, it has enough intrigue and mystery to keep them entertained, especially the youngest, who will have a hard time understanding the most typical and predictable twists and turns of the series inaugurated by Gene Roddenberry. It’s got all the elements of Star Trek, with mysterious enemies and plenty of aliens, and a daunting time trial quest to complete, all nicely spiced with tons of good sci-fi lingo.

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As for the gameplay itself, its design is quite simple and revolves around two main concepts. On the one hand they are ecological puzzles that you have to solve to advance further in the level. They can consist of Use Dal and Gywn’s skills to help each other overcome obstacles and dangers, or even in moving blocks and redirecting electricity to overcome electrical barriers. Variety is sparse, but the puzzles are sufficiently difficult to be challenging but not frustrating for younger players.

The other part of the main concept revolves around the Battle, in which Dal and Gywn must cut up, punch and shoot several different types of alien enemies. While many will be robotic spider-like creatures known as sentinels, there are also times when the native flora will spring into action and become aggressive, creating another hazard to avoid. Combat is fairly fluid and loose, with the main challenges being to perfectly control your dodges to avoid the incoming quick hits and projectiles. As with riddles that Difficulty here is perfectly balanced to challenge the younger audience.

While I like the balance between puzzles and combat, I have to say that the only aspect that frustrates me is the balance between the characters themselves: Dal and Gywn. The game often asks you to switch between the two to guide the other through a hazard or block, and the problem is that AI can be so dumb sometimes

that the character you don’t control gets stuck or goes to a place you don’t want, meaning the game often feels repetitive as you have to enforce their moves too often to get both characters where they have to be. It’s a problem that can be fixed by giving the non-player character a little more initiative and common sense. In addition, the gameplay would benefit if your ally could, for example, perform basic tasks such as pressing buttons at the same time as the main character. It’s clear that the game is designed for two players and that you’ll want more when you dive into the game alone.

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Although the version of Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova I played was pre-release, it has to be said that I encountered some glitches and issues, many of which were only fixed by reloading the game or completely rebooting it started. Some of the bugs were due to enemies staying out of attack range and others due to environment or object interaction points not being displayed. It’s a bit frustrating considering Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova isn’t an overly complex title, so if the few game systems it offers have pauses or glitches, it’s quite noticeable.

Overall I really enjoyed the game. Very simple and accessible, it has enough charm and character to get carried away by its world and the narrative. The progression systems and collectibles in each level also provide enough reason to replay previous levels and the way co-op is offered with a competitive pricing system at the end of a level that celebrates which player has defeated more enemies and has been defeated less. etc. means you and a family member or friend can still have fun long after you reach the end of the story. However, once again, it should be noted that this is the case a game adapted to the youngest fans, and that it won’t appeal to the most demanding gamers due to its basic gameplay design elements. But for those who want to keep the kids busy for a few days, here is a perfect babysitter candidate.