Judgment Rites

Star Trek: Judgment Rites
Attribution
Series:	The Original Series
Production information
Publisher:	Interplay
Platform(s):	PC
Published:	1993

Introduction

Star Trek: Judgment Rites is a computer game published by Interplay as a sequel to Star Trek: 25th Anniversary. Set during the first five-year mission of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) under James T. Kirk, Judgment Rites places the player in control of Kirk and the Enterprise as they play out eight episodic missions. While all missions save the two-part finale have resolvable plot lines based on stand-alone objectives, a common thread tying the game together is the search for the mysterious Brassica, a civilization whose tests confront Kirk throughout the game.

The entire original series cast reprise their roles in the CD-ROM Collector's Edition, which includes the enhanced CD-ROM version of the game, another CD-ROM featuring a behind-the-scenes documentary on the game's creation as well as interviews with Gene Roddenberry and Leonard Nimoy, one of eight collectible pins based on the one of the game's eight missions (the Apple release instead featured a collectible badge), and a video cassette containing the TOS episode The City on the Edge of Forever.

This marked the last appearance of DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy.

Summary

Gameplay

The eight missions in Judgment Rites are based around a combination of decision-making, problem-solving, and space combat. The player is initially presented at the start of each episode with a location to travel to and an objective to complete. In the course of the episode, the player leaves the bridge as part of landing party where the majority of the gameplay takes place. At the conclusion of each mission, the player is evaluated by Starfleet in the form of Admiral Melanie Cain, who awards Kirk with points corresponding to his performance.

On the Bridge

While on board ship, the player, while nominally acting as Captain Kirk, controls the movement, weapons, and energy allocation of the Enterprise. Though space combat is an optional feature that can be deactivated by altering the difficultly level, the player is still required to navigate the Enterprise to its next mission objective by consulting a star chart provided with the game and selecting the correct star on Pavel Chekov's star charts. Selecting the wrong star leads to a space combat encounter with Romulans, Klingons, or Elasi pirates.

The Landing Party

In each mission, the player leaves the bridge either to transport off the ship or to move about the Enterprise in control of Captain Kirk at the head of a landing party. Kirk's companions vary depending upon the mission, and include both regular characters and redshirts; causing or allowing the death of redshirt characters drastically reduces the points awarded at the mission's conclusions. While in control of Kirk, the player utilizes an interface allowing Kirk to walk around, look and interact with scenery and items, and talk to other characters. Standard landing party tools include phasers, medical and scientific tricorders, communicators, and mission-specific items acquired during the course of the episode.

Episodes

1. Federation

The crew's mission to the Glorious Pebbles Scientific Academy is interrupted when a heavily-damaged USS Alexander (Constitution class) appears through a rift in space. It's captain, Lucas Rayner, explains that his ship has traveled back in time to warn that the Federation will be destroyed in eight days; his transmission is cut off, however, when the Alexander explodes. Spock tracks the Alexander's origin to Espoir Station, a scientific research facility studying the proto-universe phenomenon Gravity's End. En route, the Enterprise is ambushed by Elasi pirates under Bivander Zane. After fighting them off and arriving at Espoir, Kirk is induced to beam aboard and subsequently captured station administrator James Munroe, who is in league with Ies Bredell and Zane in their plans to destroy the Federation with a new superweapon.

2. Sentinel

The Enterprise is contacted by the USS Demeter (science vessel), a science ship studying the Balkosi, a primitive race developing on Balkos III. Commander John Gellman, captain of the Demeter, reports that his ship has been scanned by a facility on the planet. While investigating, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy discover an advanced alien complex on the surface--a facility regulating the Balkosi's development and holding out untold technological wonders for the Federation. Kirk is called upon to unravel this mystery and to make an important choice that will decide the fate of the Balkosi.

Characters

Regulars

James Kirk | Spock | Leonard McCoy | Scotty | Hikaru Sulu | Nyota Uhura | Pavel Chekov

Others

Trelane | Grinagog | Lucas Rayner | Melanie Cain | Fase | Chris Richards | Boris Breznia | Nielson | Eadric Kamend | Menao Sheme | Vakada Sheme | James Whittaker Munroe | Azrah | Rackaback | Ies Bredell | Vizznr | Eckhart | Bivander Zane | Uhland | Tuskin | Atrioli | Hauptmann | John Gellman | Klarr (23rd century) | Cissaca | Savant

Referenced only

T'Mau

References

Starships and vehicles

Starfleet

USS Alexander | USS Billy Bishop | USS Demeter | USS Galahad | USS Gallant | USS Hood | USS Lexington | USS Maine | USS Olympus Mons | USS Regulus | USS Stalwart | USS Typhoon | USS Zimbabwe

Others

Infinitus | Olympus Mons | IKS Klothos | SS Mniki'rr | SS Shinobi • SS Fraser

Locations

Outposts and stations

Espoir Station | M'dai sensor dish

Planets and planetoids

Borea IV | Onyius II | Balkos III | Alpha Nexus I

Stars and star systems

Praetus | Delphi | Omega Corvus | Symphony Alpha | Epsilon Sierra | Zhraad | Atabis | Klahmac | Stonrak | Saracles | Beta Chimera | Nova Atar | Diogenes | Lachian

Stellar regions

Antares Rift

States and organizations

Klingon Empire | United Federation of Planets

Races and cultures

Alphanss | Balkosi | Brassica | Elasi | Gammans | Omegans | Vurian

Other references

Antarian mankiller | Princeton University | Sacred Scriptures | Tellarite 8000 DNA Sequencer

Quotes

• Pavel Chekov: Why do aliens always seem to invade Enterprise?
• Hikaru Sulu: Actually, Pavel, last year five different alien species tried to take over the USS Regulus. The Enterprise has had it relatively easy compared to them.
• Pavel Chekov: But why do all the competant aliens always seem to invade the Enterprise?

• Hikaru Sulu: Is it my imagination, or is Dr. McCoy getting a litte power crazed lately?
• Pavel Chekov: I'd say a lot power crazed, Hikaru.

• Pavel Chekov: Hello, Doctor. Nice weather, isn't it?
• Leonard McCoy: You're a Navigator, not a conversationalist, Ensign.
• Pavel Chekov: Yes I am. And an unappreciated navigator at that.

• Leonard McCoy: I thought you were a Helmsman, not the bearer of bad tidings.
• Hikaru Sulu: I do many things well, Doctor.

• James T. Kirk: Let's see how our alien friend likes Dr. McCoy's medicine.
• Pavel Chekov: Probably as much as we do, Hikaru. ("Voids")

Related Stories

• TOS video game: Star Trek: 25th Anniversary

Connections

• Judgment Rites article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Star Trek: Judgment Rites article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.