The space-based shooter is a type of game that any Trekkie or ardent sci-fi fan will welcome with open arms, with today's technology able to produce the most epic of galactic conflicts in a convincing fashion. It's a genre that has consistently delivered a steady flow of games without reaching the point of saturation, of which Nexus, formerly named Imperium Galactica 3, is among the latest and greatest.

The setting of Nexus is one that follows the Star Trek formula very closely, pitting p ... more >>

The space-based shooter is a type of game that any Trekkie or ardent sci-fi fan will welcome with open arms, with today's technology able to produce the most epic of galactic conflicts in a convincing fashion. It's a genre that has consistently delivered a steady flow of games without reaching the point of saturation, of which Nexus, formerly named Imperium Galactica 3, is among the latest and greatest.

The setting of Nexus is one that follows the Star Trek formula very closely, pitting players in a virtual galactic conflict between a number of super-powers struggling for control of the universe's spatial and planetary resources. And though the story is perhaps the least important aspect of this game, it does help tie things together to deliver a sense of continuity.

Armed with a fleet comprising of a mother ship and a smaller catalogue of support units, the player's ultimate goal is to "explore strange new worlds" and defend your cause from invasion. The adventure itself takes place across several dozen pre-determined missions of increasing difficulty. Because of the complexities of piloting a fleet of ships in combat, developer Mithis has made the decision not give direct control the player. Instead the player will command and instruct their fleet through a more simplified play mechanic.

Thankfully, gameplay is structured so that new elements are introduced gradually, almost like an ongoing tutorial, whereby players are taught to issue simple commands before eventually learning how to manage weapons and target specific enemy systems in battle.

We can't deny that Nexus is much like Star Trek both in its story and in combat, but that's a good thing because it becomes instantly familiar to much of the game's target audience. If you ever wondered what it'd be like to take on the role of Picard, Kirk or Janeway, Nexus may by just what you need. << less