Star Trek: Elite Force II

It's Ironic how the worst Star Trek series by far (come on - what about DS9'? - Ed) has managed to produce the only good Trek game in about five years. The good news is that Elite Force II is switching from a Voyager to The Next Generation setting, automatically making it the best ever.

While the first game had its faults, it did have some great features that deserved more attention. It pre-empted Unreal Il's emphasis on dialogue and mid-mission ship exploration, and had scripted moments during levels where your actions could turn the story slightly in different directions.

New technology allows your elite Federation team to actually explore planetary surfaces this time (putting it in direct competition with Unreal II), where you'll meet a far more interesting array of enemies than the first one: Romulans, Ferengi, Nausicaans and even humans, as well as a couple of new races. The ever-present Borg will also make a return.

Missions will involve boarding a failing Federation ship, floating outside the Enterprise in zero gravity as the ship is attacked by hordes of aliens and investigating a planet colony in the aftermath of a struggle. And to ensure continuity with the first game you will once more play the bi-sexual Alex Munro. Nice.

Although there will still be stealth levels and end of level bosses, it looks like Elite Force II will fix everything that was wrong with the original and ensure it will appeal to non-Trekkers too. It could be the biggest surprise of 2003.