I was kind of a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation the TV series while growing up. This was probably because I had spent years watching the original series after school at the behest of my mom. It was ‘her’ sci-fi series of choice from when she was growing up. So when the new series came about it was like I got a whole new series just for me.
Eventually, at its peak of popularity, video games were made. And I felt this overwhelming urge to play them. So a friend and I rented the TNG offering for the Super NES and gave it a whirl.
One of the things that we noticed was that the game had built into it a large database of Star Trek universe minutiae in the form of data files of some sort on the computer. We spent literally hours poring over the info, learning all about phasers and shield harmonics and Class Y planets and lots of other completely useless information.
Then we took it back to the game rental store.
It would appear that we never actually got around to playing the ‘game’ part of the game. I assume that it had something to do with sailing around interstellar space, fighting Romulans, forming away teams, and occasionally visiting a star base… but I don’t actually know.
I don’t consider my rental fee wasted, though. I think I got at least that few dollars’ worth of enjoyment out of the game.