Four Play - Star Trek - 8-bit Computer Comparison

[@TheLairdsLair]

My thoughts: Another great selection of different versions, I enjoyed playing all of them, however there is a definite winner and that is the TI99. This version looks the best, plays the best and sounds the best by far thanks to the wonderful speech. This game really shows the TI99 could more than hold its own against the competition of the time. The next best is the Atari 8-bit, which plays really well but doesn't quite look or sound as nice as the TI99. Then we have the C64, which is pretty decent but suffers from being a bit too easy. Then in last place is the Apple II, which is actually a great port by that machine's standards but the lower resolution makes the map hard to see and the sound makes your ears bleed. So my final ranking is TI99 > Atari 8-bit > C64 > Apple II

[@kenwheeler3637]

Personally, I prefer the Atari 800 version. I think it controls the best and looks really good. The TI99 port is pretty good, being the only version with the voice effects of the Arcade original. It's just disappointing that the graphics for the Klingon ships are always presented as front facing no matter what position they actually are, just like the Atari 2600 port. Perhaps the voice sfx took up so much of the programming code that they were forced to take some shortcuts. The C64 port plays well and has decent graphics and sound. I don't have the Apple ][ version but it looks good. Sound, as always that system, is lacking but could have been worse.

[@TheArmchairrocker]

Probably more so the memory constraints. It's hard to have enough memory for all the sprite patterns needed for the ships at multiple angles for all the needed sizes in addition to the other graphics. When I program games for the TI, the relatively low number of sprite frames is one of the most limiting factors.

[@Trialwolf]

Got the Atari 8-bit version and just recently found a complete copy of the Commodore 64 version, even has the controller overlay with the giant Enterprise sticking out on top. Funny thing is that the Commodore box using the Atari joystick to show joystick support.

[@GCSoundArtifacts]

Really good adaptations of the arcade Star Trek in the computers. But one of them excelled, and it's the TI-99. Graphic-wise, it's near the Coleco Vision, but a bit better. However, it's in the sound department that this version flies high, with excellent effects and digitized voice! It seems reasonable to play, and that wouldn't be compared with the Coleco at all! Atari 8-bit comes in second, being equal to the 5200 version, because I've enjoyed its sound more than the 3rd place, Commodore 64. But I liked the graphic design of the display in the C64. A good solution for certain resolution issues. Apple II is visually great for the system, but sounds terrible. I wonder how well it plays, though. That's my 4th place.

[@Mrshoujo]

You do know the TI 99/4A has a speech synthesizer. It's not digitized.

[@SyntheToonz]

You don't use the photon torpedoes. That was worth the two quarters in the arcade version. I still prefer the Atari 8-bit's larger, shaded enemies in the viewscreen..

[@TheLairdsLair]

I get so carried away shooting that I always forget to use them!

[@jinchoung]

awww boo. you should do a comparative vid on the different text trek games! personally starfleet 1 is my drug of choice although someone really needs to get ride of the password copy protection!

[@IsaacKuo]

C64 is the easy winner here. The Klingon ships actually look like Klingon ships, the action is smooth, and the first person graphics look nicest. The biggest disappointment is the Ti-99/4a version, since it compares so poorly compared to the ColecoVision port (which has the same graphics hardware). The radar Klingon ships are reduced to 8x8 pixel triangles almost, rather than looking like Klingon ships. It also is lacking in the first person view, as the Klingon ships are only shown facing directly toward you. Still, it has smooth action and it has voice so that's ... something. Third place goes to the Apple II, which can get slower with lots of stuff on screen, but actually not bad most of the time. Last place goes to the Atari 8-bit, which bizarrely has blue outer space and weird jarring green gradient effect in the middle of the screen for no reason. The low resolution radar is as bad as the Apple II's radar resolution, even. Action is smooth enough, but the first person graphics are very lackluster compared to what the Atari 8-bit hardware could do. Considering the capabilities of the Atari 8-bit hardware, there's just a lot of "Why?" with this port.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Wow, that's an alternative view!