When it comes down to overall complexity, RPGs still win, but when it comes down to mathematical precision in development, sims hold the torch. A simulation is a game which takes place in a vehicle, past, present, or futuristic, and simulates its every action. Sims range from flight simulators in which you command the flight controls of a Sesna, 747, helicopter, or spacecraft; tank and jet fighter sims, fighting robot suit sims, to starship sims. All of which must be of precise scale, power, sound, feel, and measurement. If armor takes five-too-many bullets, players will notice.

Starfleet Command II: Empires at War

When it comes to tactical simulations, nothing else even comes close to touching the intricacy and balance of SFC2. Though similar in many ways to it's predecessor, SFC2's new additions make it the logical next step in the series. SFC2, although it has a highly developed single player campaign with included random missions between campaign missions, is most notable for it's multiplayer capability, not only with its Dynaverse II meta-game, but, more classically, for its one-on-one ship combat. Structured similarly to the famous battle between Kirk and Kahn in The Wrath of Kahn, SFC2 portrays starship naval combat as it should be: long, slow, and highly destructive, demanding the intelligence and wit of a top-notch captain. Though Trekkies will get the most thrill out of it, surely, any gamer in love with extremely intricate tactical simulations, where a single gigawatt of power to the right system is critical, will fall in love with SFC2 instantly.

Klingon Academy

Klingon Academy, once the bugs were worked out, quickly became a favorite sim. Unfortunately, there were not many sims released this year. Klingon Academy seems to be one the best of those released. The true test on this is the feeling that one gets after having played it. After I completed the review back in July, I put away the discs and assumed it was gone for good. Lately, especially after reviewing Starfleet Command II, I have been getting this strong urge to re-install it and play it all over again. It follows the path of a young Klingon warrior in the Star Trek universe. Acting as a prequel to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Christopher Plummer and David Warner star in the full motion cinematics following the storyline of the civil war that lead to the destruction of the Praxis moon. In terms of scale, it is the most realistic Star Trek game to date, including full weapons systems, all types of Photon Torpedoes, disruptors, Phasers, and shielding.

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