While one would think that having the Star Trek license would almost assure a game does well, the IP has had a rather troubled history when it comes to video game adaptations.  Despite a few hit games, many games based on the franchise have suffered from lackluster sales.  Bethesda Softworks is looking to change all of that with their new game for PC, Star Trek: Legacy.  The space-based tactical warfare game will allow you to take control of your favorite Star Trek ships and characters. 

The brief demo being shown at E3 this year featured a battle with several Federation ships fighting a truly massive Borg sphere.  The game placed you in control of four different Federation ships that you could switch between by hitting different directions on the d-pad.  Once you chose the ship that you wanted to attack with you controlled pitch and yaw with the left analog stick while controlling the camera with the right analog.  The controls were simple to pick up but allowed for a wide range of movement on the battlefield which, being in three dimensions, can be confusing at times. 

All in all the game will have 60 playable ships encompassing every major ship from the various television series.  To back up this large roster of pieces from the Star Trek storyline, the development team is in talks to try to get as much of the original voice talent for the different characters as possible.  While the game is mainly a single-player experience, with a story penned by a well-known Star Trek writer, the game will also feature a robust multiplayer mode.  While the basic gameplay will be the same in multiplayer, you will be able to choose between various alien races and their associated ships.  One possible gameplay mode hinted at by the rep I spoke with was a "Borg assimilation" mode where one character would control the Federation ships while his opponent would control the Borg in an attempt to assimilate all the first character's ships.  In addition to competive multiplayer, the game will also feature online co-op play.  From what's been shown so far it appears Star Trek: Legacy is on track to beat the curse of bad sales that has plagued so many titles using the Star Trek IP. 

Description:

Legacy is an epic game of Starfleet combat covering the entire Star Trek Universe. Players become the Admiral of a task force of warships and must lead their fleet to victory in large-scale battles. As the Admiral of the Fleet you choose the ships, equipment, and captains that you will lead into battle. The game is designed to provide an immersive strategic and tactical experience by emphasizing the dramatic excitement of large-scale battles without the hassle of complex starship management.

KEY FEATURES:

• Spans the entire Star Trek Universe. The Original Series, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. It’s all here for you to control.
• Real time Starfleet combat. Engage in large-scale combat with dozens of warships fighting simultaneous battles across vast sections of space.
• Dynamic three-dimensional battlefields. Beautiful space environments filled with fully realized nebulas, wormholes, planets, and stars. Intuitive controls allow players to quickly select targets and destinations in 3D space.
• Detailed weapon effects and damage modeling. Weapons searing with energy and charged shields that surge with every hit. Ships with full damage modeling that break apart, strewing debris and sparks.
• Customizable fleets, ships, and captains. Victories earn Command Points, which are used to personalize your fleet, ships, and captains.
• Single player Federation campaign. Spanning three full epochs (Enterprise, The Original Series, and The Next Generation).
• Robust multiplayer with full Xbox Live support. From small-scale engagements to all-out war involving multiple systems. Matchmaking, stat tracking, and player rankings on Xbox Live.
• Over sixty ships and four playable races. From small scouts and light cruisers to fearsome battleships. Command the powerful fleets of the Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Borg races. All beautifully rendered with the latest technology.