Video game:Star Trek: Elite Force II

Few series, if any, have made as large a pop culture impact as "Star Trek." When it first aired in 1966, the television show failed to make a large impression, and NBC cancelled it after only three seasons. However, over the years it has amassed a cult following, several spin-off shows, a movie series, and a library of novels and comics. Beginning with a board game in 1967, developers released many forms of interactive entertainment involving the beloved "Star Trek" characters.

Mike Mayfield developed the first "Star Trek" video game in 1971. Entitled simply "Star Trek," this text-based computer game spread to most home computers by the end of the 1970s, and became the first of its kind to sell more than one million copies. It showed that games based on the series could be successful, and paved the way for the release of many more video games.

In 2000, Activision released "Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force" for Windows and Macintosh computers, followed by a version for the PlayStation 2 in 2001. Set in the universe of the fourth "Star Trek" television show "Star Trek: Voyager," this first-person shooter game revolves around Ensign Alex Munro, a security officer who must protect the "USS Voyager" and free it from a starship graveyard.

At the time of its release, many critics and players considered "Elite Force" the first truly successful "Star Trek" video game. They praised the game's plot, graphics, and gameplay, and the only complaint gamers had was that the game was too short. In his review, Vincent Lopez of IGN wrote, "Elite Force' makes it cool to like Star Trek' again," and explained that long-time fans of the series, as well as casual gamers, would all be able to enjoy it. Because of the game's success, Activision released a sequel entitled "Star Trek: Elite Force II" in 2003.

"Elite Force II" takes place upon the "USS Enterprise-E" and serves as a sequel to the 2002 film "Star Trek: Nemesis," as well as the end of the "Voyager" television series. Like the previous game, many actors from the movies and television shows provided their talents to voice the characters in the game. Gamers again play as Alex Munro and must save the "Enterprise" from enemy destruction. While "Elite Force II" is a first-person shooter game, it also features a plethora of puzzles that players must solve.

Critics praised "Elite Force II," though many found it less enjoyable than its predecessor. Ivan Sulic of IGN wrote, "Elite Force II' is an excellent follow-up to the original, but perhaps doesn't hit with enough technical wonder to make it seem truly new or next-gen." He also noted that it would be more difficult for non-fans of the television show to truly enjoy the game.

More than four decades after the original "Star Trek" series aired, the franchise remains popular. J.J. Abrams and Paramount released a rebooted movie version of the series in 2009, followed by its sequel in 2013. Over fifty different video games featuring the beloved "Star Trek" characters exist, allowing fans to go "where no one has gone before."