themoken
@themoken@startrek.website
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x08 “The Life of the Stars” 1 week ago:
I don’t have any issue with seeing young adults growing and dealing with trauma. This episode has a lot of pieces working together in the overall storyline, I just don’t think it was that compelling within the episode.
The drama class half of the episode didn’t really go off. Maybe because I only know the play from what the episode told me about it, but I think it’s more like the actual growth part got cut off. We spend time with drunk Tarima (yawn) and then short cut the cadets actually performing the play with each other. That would have been the climax of that story, them getting into character, relating to it, working through it and reaching some sort of understanding or catharsis but that scene gets hand waved. Probably needed a full 45 minutes to do right too.
Or the Sam story, which was closer to the mark but still failed to create tension or consequences and ended up getting resolved neatly with a happy ending. Give Sam half an episode to be dead, for people to be sad, and the Doctor half an episode to reflect on it, resolving to do better before tying it up with a bow and it could have been great.
I love that the show isn’t constantly balls to the wall action and we’re getting a lot of character focus but the story juggling bit this episode in the ass and it isn’t the first to be trying to do too much and fumble the execution.
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x08 “The Life of the Stars” 1 week ago:
Yeah, I think this one didn’t really come together as well as it could have. Should have focused on the Sam story more and do more to make it feel like she was in real danger. When she was dead I involuntarily yelled “yeah right!”. Lo and behold it lasted like under a minute. The drama and Caleb/Tarima story could have more easily been cut short without losing anything.
Probably one of the worst eps, but I’m happy to say that’s actually a pretty high bar for this show so far and this is more meh than truly bad (here I’m flashing back to like 20 different Discovery episodes where the episode ended and I was tearing my hair out over how stupid they were - that’s the real trauma here)
Also happy to speculate that, with two episodes left, the pendulum seems likely to swing back to excitement next week and I’m here for it.
- Comment on Why Star Trek Resurgence and Across the unknown has bad graphics? 1 week ago:
The hero roster will list everyone you’ve unlocked in a run, including the dead / left behind to help you figure it out. Characters can cycle off the bridge if they are injured or otherwise busy with story too, so double check Chakotay and Tom are actually gone and not just at the bottom of a list of 30 injured crewmen waiting to be treated or something.
- Comment on Why Star Trek Resurgence and Across the unknown has bad graphics? 1 week ago:
I’m pretty sure when you get Klingon B’ellana the original is put back to normal in dialogue so that model/portrait makes sense.
But like for heroes disappearing between sectors, were they on quests? You can definitely leave people behind if you don’t fully resolve events.
Anyway, bad luck with the bugs. I’ve had it crash a couple of times or occasionally show an empty pop-up (which looks like it may be fixed now) but nothing really game breaking. Never lost more than a few cycles for reloading.
- Comment on Why Star Trek Resurgence and Across the unknown has bad graphics? 1 week ago:
It’s a narrative game. The graphics are intended to be more functional than pretty.
I also wish there was more voice acting, but the problem there is likely that you’d need the entire Voyager cast to chime in to sound right and there is a lot of dialogue. Not to mention, even the voiced logs with Tim Russ / RDM sound off because they’re 30 years older…
As for 6GB of VRAM, I blame the engine if that’s a real number and not one from the recommended specs (which are probably more about GPU power than memory). This game runs on Steam Deck and it technically doesn’t have any VRAM.
- Comment on 2 weeks ago:
I think it’s pretty fun. Even knowing the story beats, things go way different than on the show.
In my current (still first) run Tom and B’ellana got sucked into a black hole and died, but B’ellana’s full Klingon half is on phasers, Tuvix runs the mess and the Doctor runs the sick bay in tandem with a Malon. Voyager is armed to the teeth and just stomped the shit out of the Borg. I’m still missing a lot of heroes so I must have missed some opportunities too even though I’ve been hitting almost every mission.
Anyway, I enjoy narrative games and ones like Ixion or Fallout Shelter so this was aimed right at me.
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x07 “Ko’Zeine” 2 weeks ago:
However, I hated the suggested romantic tension between Caleb and Genesis, fortunately it didn’t went further than that.
I think they did that well. Spent one moment of “is this…?” and then just move on. Felt very young adult to me, but I also hope that’s the last of it.
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x07 “Ko’Zeine” 2 weeks ago:
Yeah, I liked the episode, nothing felt out of place in individual scenes, but you’re right it does feel like they were trying to fit too much story into too little time. There’s like four B-plots in there.
- Comment on "Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown" has references to ALL the episodes? 2 weeks ago:
I have played the first 4 or 5 sectors now and it does hit a lot of the highlights but not every episode (although there may be some randomness to what shows up). I fucked up and entirely skipped Tuvix though.
- Comment on Did you like Star Trek: Nemesis? 2 weeks ago:
Wesley (the boy?!)
True to your username, I heard the clip haha
the director thinking Geordie was an alien
Ugh. How did Stuart Baird end up directing this when you have a huge bullpen of Trek actor/directors that could’ve done so much better? Frakes is right there and did fine on First Contact / Insurrection. LeVar Burton himself, or even Roxann Dawson or Robert Duncan McNeill would have been available by then (although most of their directing credits come later).
I could understand if they went outside for someone that had a track record of decent movies, but Baird had little experience directing before Nemesis and apparently none afterwards.
- Comment on Did you like Star Trek: Nemesis? 2 weeks ago:
It’s thoroughly mediocre. I will watch it if I’m watching the TNG movies, but probably not standalone. There is definitely some cool stuff in it, and I also like Tom Hardy and Ron Perlman, but as you note I don’t think it really pulls it all together. And then there are things I hate, like dune buggies, B4, and the fact they fucking killed Data.
It is especially bad as the last TNG movie. The TNG era crew should have got their Undiscovered Country epic last ride.
- Comment on Kate Mulgrew Defends ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ And Captain Ake From “Disrespectful” Online Attacks 2 weeks ago:
I encourage you to watch it and form your own opinion (just make sure to get past the first ten minutes of the pilot, the tone shifts dramatically).
Captain Ake runs the Academy and commands the Academy ship, the Athena, which is used to do more hands on training but isn’t the flagship by any stretch. She’s more like a principal than a professor. The other main characters are cadets, with some strong supporting characters too.
IMO it’s the first live action Trek show in the new era to come out firing on all cylinders and it’s great to see.
- Comment on Kate Mulgrew Defends ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ And Captain Ake From “Disrespectful” Online Attacks 2 weeks ago:
Yes, but in context it’s not a big deal. A lot of it is contrasting her with her peer, the chancellor of the war college, who is uptight. Ultimately, she’s less military commander, or even explorer, and more chancellor of a school full of students and in that capacity it makes more sense to generate a relaxed atmosphere. When the situation calls for it, she can be serious as well.
She just has her own style, but people want to be negative because she’s not Picard-ing hard enough or some dumb shit.
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x04 "Vox in Excelso" 4 weeks ago:
I’m a little late to the party, but this episode is everything I wanted from modern Trek.
I’m loving that the cadets are competitive but ultimately supportive of each other. I love that we spent an entire episode focused on Jay’den’s backstory and the Klingons, without any tedious martial arts or (real) space battles but the stakes were still plenty high. I found the resolution, and the message (not letting go of the past, but letting the present in) to be excellent Trek.
Caleb is also proving to be a bit more of an academy-era-Picard style character (great at a lot of stuff, but arrogant) rather than the sort of troubled genius vibe in the first bit of the show. I am looking forward to seeing him, and the other cadets, developed further.
Holly Hunter is doing great, bringing her own style. Loved she had a history with the Klingon guy and advocated for her student. I get why she’s rubbing some the wrong way, but she is masterfully handling the people around her, leading with empathy, and has been very effective.
Also love we got some classic Klingon music from the movies, it was a nice nod.
Overall, I think this show is finally taking real advantage of the far future timeline. It is a little silly that major diplomacy is being effected at the Academy but because the Federation is still finding its feet again and the fact that the world has been mixed up from 90s Trek, it makes the Academy a much more interesting lens on the world than it would have been if it was set in the TNG-VOY timeframe.
- Comment on Tawny Newsome Gives Update On Live-Action Star Trek Comedy – “We’re Ready!” 1 month ago:
Star Trek is just a setting at this point. Lower Decks proved you can do funny and respectful of the fans at the same time. I agree some of SNW’s campiness is a bit over the top, but I’d rather a show spend time trying to do something different like a musical than be totally reliant on drama/action like Discovery (a show that was actually good on the rare occasion the cast could take a break from universe ending peril).
- Comment on I watch the first Star Trek Discovery episode, I didn't like it. 2 months ago:
Eh, I dunno. The opening seasons are usually weak (TOS is an exception) but looking at Encounter at Farpoint/Emissary/Caretaker and even Broken Bow they all do a pretty good job introducing the show even if the cast hasn’t found its feet yet.
Honestly, Vulcan Hello / Battle of the Binary Stars is spot on for how the rest of Discovery behaves. Pay lip service to science and exploration and, at the first opportunity, trash that and turn into an action drama.
- Comment on Shout out to my engineering homies. 2 months ago:
Yeah, I got started in silicon thinking cheaper, faster, more power efficient chips would be a net benefit to the world… Then we became a social media surveillance state and AI dogshit is just the icing on the cake.
Now I try to forget we’re boiling the oceans to ruin society by drinking. One day this capitalist hellscape will end.
- Comment on Ghost of Yotei | Review Thread 5 months ago:
I had no idea that this was coming out, and it sort of makes me want a PS5… And then I check the price and I think I can wait a couple of years until it’s on PC.
- Comment on Yes, That Great-Looking 'Star Trek: Voyager' Game Will Let You Spare Tuvix 5 months ago:
I wonder how many in game days a speedrun would be while still destroying the Caretaker’s Array? I want to dunk on Janeway’s time to the alpha quadrant… Unless I have to run my engines on nucleogenic aliens like the Equinox.
- Comment on Borderlands 4 | Review Thread 5 months ago:
Yeah, I also have this question. I loved playing 1 and 2 co-op but 3 and pre-sequel didn’t hold my attention at all. I’m happy to see good reviews but I’d like to hear a review from someone that doesn’t lose their access if they pan it…
- Comment on Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 3x09 "Terrarium" 5 months ago:
I agree the Metron connection didn’t need to be made so explicit. Would’ve been better if it was if-you-know-you-know about the lights, but I guess that would be unsatisfying to anyone unlikely to wiki things after the fact.
Anyway, also agree this was a great episode regardless. Couldn’t help tear up when the Gorn died, which is not where I expected to be today.
- Comment on irl shiny 6 months ago:
RIP.
- Comment on irl shiny 6 months ago:
I don’t really care what color they are when they are long as your palm and flying at your face.
- Comment on Scott Bakula Eyeing Star Trek Return In President Archer Series Pitch From ‘Enterprise’ Producer 6 months ago:
Yeah, they all are, even though they probably would have been fun. I’d watch Bakula as Archer again too, I just think there’s zero percent chance it would be greenlit.
- Comment on Scott Bakula Eyeing Star Trek Return In President Archer Series Pitch From ‘Enterprise’ Producer 6 months ago:
I can’t wait to put this on my shelf next to Enterprise S5-S7, Captain Worf, and Star Trek: Legacy.
- Comment on Mario Kart World | Review Thread 8 months ago:
Unless you can launch offensive weapons at other racers or eat shrooms to speed up or literally launch your car off of a vertical ramp into the sky and it turns into a glider in Forza, I’m pretty sure these games aren’t even in the same genre.
- Comment on Shout Studios have uploaded What We Left Behind to YouTube. 9 months ago:
Announcing Star Trek: Sisko… A limited run series about Jake running his grandfather’s restaurant after achieving a small amount of literary fame.
Aww, now I’m sad Tony Todd is dead.
- Comment on Do you have any “headcanons” (so to speak) about the Star Trek TNG characters? 10 months ago:
This sounds like a great beta canon novel plot.
- Comment on God is a dick. 10 months ago:
Light speed is a “you must be this clever to participate” barrier to becoming an interstellar species, that’s all. Even if it’s not breakable, it just means you gotta be able to plan hundreds or thousands of years into the future.
- Comment on [DCSS] I did it! I touched the Orb... 10 months ago:
Hell yeah, congrats! I get back into DCSS every few years but I have only escaped with the orb once, a lucky MiFi run.