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The Star Trek Online beta is surprisingly captivating. It's some sort of combination of IP that does tolerably well in an MMO setting (even if there are some terrible omissions that would greatly enhance atmosphere) and gameplay that is familiar and different at the same time.

It's amazing how many MMO conventions can be handwaved away as sci-fi fluff, and Cryptic's done a tolerable job of adding in a reward system in a universe that technically doesn't use currency anymore.

Also, auto-grouping and public quests. Mmm, auto-grouping. Mmm, public quests. Combined.

Anyway, some shots. This is the light cruiser you get at start; you have a few variants to choose from, but the customization is limited until level 11. Still, you can do quite a bit with the 3 different paths of advancement given to you (yourself, your ship and equipment, and your bridge officers and their abilities). I am currently sporting disruptors and quantum torps on the front, and a disruptor bank on the aft, with my officers providing shield boost, a shield sap (sunder armor haha) and a salvo of torpedoes.

Edit: More shots in the gallery. Some randomly generated planets and space sectors.

Comments:

TG - Jan. 17, 20:46
Is that 3D space combat I see?

Marcin - Jan. 18, 15:36
Sort of. Well I mean yes, it is definitely 3D but you only have 4 shield quadrants to worry about and your angle up/down is limited to 45 degrees. Still, you can definitely attack in a vertical diamond formation for maximum firepower on target.

As far as I can tell, space regions aren't limited vertically either.

TG - Jan. 18, 16:08
/whine Stop you're making me want to play

Marcin - Jan. 18, 20:48
It's surprisingly fun, although quite unsurprisingly unpolished. I'm really thinking of picking it up just as a show of support for something different, though.

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