​When a particular franchise reaches its peak point well before the story has arrived at its ending, we often wonder just how the heck the saga is going to be able to top the story that in essence achieved perfection. And judging from the stories we’ve seen that try to out-do the juggernaut that came before it, the answer to our burning question is that…there is really no way to top a flawless story. If anything, all a group of creative minds can do is try and stay true to the spirit of the franchise and hope that it does enough to do that bigger story justice.
 
But, more often than not, creative teams instead work to wow us and blow that other tale out of the water which ends in mixed or disappointing results and sadly, that’s precisely what happened with the Modern Warfare trilogy. For the third and final entry in the series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 tried real hard to overshadow the epic Modern Warfare 2 and well, this attempt didn’t make the game an outright disappointment, because there is a lot to like about this game, but it was evident early on that this game was simply trying too hard and that…definitely robbed the story of some of its power.
 
Which is a crying shame because the story here is actually pretty darn good. I mean come on, this is the big push for Captain Price and the Disavowed 1-4-1 to hunt down Makarov and the script even allows for the madman in question to further his evil machinations by plunging the entire planet into World War III. But the gameplay and ultra-fast pacing of said script is where this game quickly falls apart because at times it often feels more like an arcade game than a first person shooter and important moments that should have gravity and depth are glossed over in order to wow us with bigger action and bigger moments and sadly, that takes you out of the game.
 
However, make no mistake about it, there are some impressive moments to be found in this game. For the Battle of New York is chilling since it actually holds nothing back storytelling wise, even going so far as to answer the question as to what happened to civilians fleeing the Russian invasion and well, it’s not a pleasant answer to say the least. And the ending of this story is quite frankly as wild as it gets since it does feature a powerhouse final showdown between Price and Makarov and how that ends is satisfying to say the least since it brings perfect closure to the trilogy.
 
But once the end credits begin to roll, something about this game simply feels hollow and that’s a shame, because this really could have been quite the incredible finale had the developers taken the time to slow the story down a bit and let the performances and the moments shine. However, this is a fun game to play regardless and some of the more over the top moments will still leave you hooting and hollering and well, while this wasn’t the perfect ending we hoped for, it’s nice that everything is wrapped up in a messy little bow when all is said and done and this trilogy really did serve as quite the grand experiment in video game storytelling and it definitely deserves credit for challenging the audience and the industry and the most satisfying part of this finale is that the story ends exactly as it should, with Makarov paying the price for chilling crimes…

Hitman 2 feels more like a massive level pack with a ton of patches than a true sequel, and that’s absolutely perfect.
 
The reboot of the Hitman franchise, released in 2016 and titled simply Hitman, was a beautiful playground of assassination and controlled chaos. Each level, released slowly over time as ‘episodes,’ was a massive sandbox filled with people and things, all of which could be manipulated as the player saw fit. Whether that was for comedy or killing, or just to see how far you could push the game before it fell apart, the levels in Hitman really felt like they were toyboxes - the longer you spent learning all their little secrets, the more wonderful glorious fun they would give back in return.
 
To that end, Hitman 2 is more of the same, with some improvements. But since the first game provided so many hours of fun, I was still playing it when the sequel came out, two years later, and that’s really all I could have asked for. You get a collection of new levels, each one even more detailed and full of fun than those in the first game, you get a bunch of new items and objects to play with, and you get some UI and Quality of Life improvements. Unspectacular, but delightful. Like eating a wonderful meal at a restaurant, then going back to that restaurant again for the same meal. You know exactly what you’re getting and that it will be the same as last time, but that’s exactly why you’re going back at all: the first time was so wonderful you simply want more. And, somehow, developer IO Interactive has actually managed to make it better while keeping it the same. The server remembers your name, and the presentation on your plate is done with just a little more care, so-to-speak.
 
In game that translates to a better UI that more clearly shows what your options are, how to do them, and the potential consequences. You get better descriptions for your items and tasks, and a cleaner view that presents information more clearly without feeling overbearing or taking up too much of the screen. The game is prettier, too, but largely in the details. The lighting is better and more nuanced, the variety of colors pop just a little more, and the environments react more realistically to your interactions with them. The NPC animations are more fluid, and there’s more dialogue for them to use, whether it’s mission-critical or just idle chit-chat. Load times are noticeably shorter, and the menus are easier to navigate.

​My one quibble is, rather than releasing the levels over a time delay like they did with the first game, all of them are available to you from the start in Hitman 2. As a result, I feel myself pressured to finish them quickly and move on, rather than take my time to get to know each mission intimately and really squeeze every last drop out of it before playing the next one. I can always go back and wring them dry, of course, and I most certainly will. But it feels sort of like having all the courses of your meal placed on the table at once, rather than brought to you one by one to each be savored in turn. This is, as they say, ‘a personal problem,’ more a result of my own excitement than any actual fault in the game, but I feel it’s worth mentioning.
 
Alongside the returning Contracts and Elusive Targets modes adding longevity outside the story missions, Hitman 2 does come with a couple of major new additions: Sniper Assassin mode, where two players work together to coordinate their efforts to eliminate a variety of targets and accrue the most points while doing so, and Ghost Mode, where two players play on the same level at once and race to get a higher score. This mode earns its name from the ghostly nature of your competitor: although the two of you share a map, and affect each other’s worlds, you cannot interact directly. Instead your opponent appears as a see-through specter, to be observed but never touched. Both these modes offer a breath of fresh air between the single-player sessions, and I’m particularly excited to see what the online community manages to achieve with Ghost Mode.
 
In the end, Hitman 2 is exactly what I ordered: more of the same, with a few subtle improvements making my fun even more fun. I’m sure that, like the first game, I’ll easily get years of joy out of Hitman 2, and if Hitman 3 comes along and with more of the same, I’ll be eagerly lining up, hungry for more.

Well, first and foremost, I hope every Trekker (or Trekkie if you prefer) out there that celebrates Thanksgiving had a wonderful Holiday weekend. I know I did, and the massive amounts of turkey that I ate, allowed for me to take a little break from this blog to digest and feel shame, because wow, that was a lot of turkey. But, we’re back and it’s time to geek out about that Star Trek Online lifestyle once again and well, we have plenty to discuss today on The Admiral’s Log because while I was lying on the couch, thinking ‘bout that turkey, I also took the time to dig back into the game and make a decision that I didn’t expect to make.
 
You see, while I was enjoying the second episode of ‘Age of Discovery’, wherein the Galactica and her crew participated in an ugly re-enactment of the Battle of Starbase One, a dust up that Starfleet lost back in the day, a few important moments arose during that mission that made me realize, I was missing out by only diving into the story in the 25th Century. So, while I thoroughly enjoyed Jeffrey Combs’ surprise performance as a descendant of Shran, and while I also loved the powerful combat that took place at that battle, it was obvious that the time had come to give in and play this new expansion pack the right way.
 
So, after finishing the mission in ‘present day’, I finally logged out and created myself a new Discovery-era character, and a new ship to get the full experience of ‘Age of Discovery’ and well, I am very glad I made this call after all. Because two wonderful things happened by making this decision in that, I was able to pay nerdy homage to my very own baby brother by naming my new Malachowski class starship the U.S.S. New Orleans (NCC-1018), which is the namesake of the actual vessel he serves upon in the Navy and the registration number is pretty darn close to the real ship’s registry number and well, I just thought that was cool because I’m a huge goof.
 
But the other great thing that came out of playing this expansion pack the right way, was being immersed into the world established by the series, and it was super awesome to fight alongside Cadet Sylvia Tilly, since actor Mary Wiseman reprised her role for the game and it was even more incredible to be plunged into the heart of the First Klingon/Federation War and revel in the intensity we experienced from the comfort of our couches when watching Star Trek: Discovery, and the best part is, the wonder of this expansion pack didn’t end there.
 
Because what truly caught me off guard here, was how the game was able to play a little bit with the notion of how history repeats itself. Because if you recall, my first mission in Starfleet was a graduation cruise that ended in disaster and combat when the Klingons kidnapped and killed my captain and well, something almost identical happened here on my Cadet Training cruise and that was a fascinating if not harrowing parallel and kudos to the game for pulling that off because it was definitely clever to say the least.
 
But alas, thanks to my obsessive nature, I’m basically caught up now with ‘Age of Discovery’ and there’s no more story to tell in regard to that tale until a new episode arrives. But that’s not going to stop me from finding new things to write about in this game. Because I couldn’t help but notice while I was creating my Discovery-era character that an option existed to create a TOS-era character and well, since I didn’t really dive into the full story of ‘Agents of Yesterday’ either, perhaps it’s time to travel to the mid 23rd Century and see what wonders await me there. Until next time. 

​If there’s one thing I think we can all agree upon, it is that most sequels out there are merely…adequate. They do a fine job of continuing the story and giving us a quality one at that. But they rarely surpass the original or bring about that sense of awe and wonder that the first entry in the saga provided us with and it’s why we search far and wide for sequels that outright blow us away because when we find one, it’s truly a special experience and this search and desire for something more expands to the gaming world as well since so many digital stories receive a second entry, or more, on a regular basis.
 
But alas, I’ve only found a handful of follow up games in my time that outright exceed the quality of the first entry in the series. But when I do, well I definitely celebrate them as often as possible by playing them whenever I have time and one that I revisit often arrived from Infinity Ward in 2009, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is that rare breed of game that still sends shivers down my spine after all of these years simply because its story and overall quality remain unrivaled to this day, and it is the plot of this game that allows for it to stand out as one of the finest sequels to ever hit the gaming market.
 
I mean come on, this is an intricate tale, one that puts you squarely in the center of a grand conspiracy to put the United States and the Russian Federation on a path to war and well, the bad guy in essence wins in this one since Makarov’s wild plan actually works since we are privy to a devastating conflict that sees Russian soldiers on American soil and while that alone is incredible in its own right, it’s not the most stunning moment in the game. No, that’s reserved for the segment in the airport, wherein Makarov slaughters innocents as a prelude to war and the boldness of that ‘level’ sets the tone for what is a powerful and bleak game.
 
One that quite frankly sucks you in as you watch the world slip into madness and it is the conflict on the East Coast that still sends chills down my spine because fighting in suburbia and later Washington D.C. is terrifying and powerful to say the least and what’s truly incredible about this game, is that the stunning moments don’t end with a battle on the White House lawn, because the twists and turns that follow involving General Shepard are equally as powerful as the hell you’ve just been through and the finale truly sets the stage for an epic finale when all is said and done.
 
If anything, this game simply takes your breath away and it just goes to show what a simple FPS can do when it’s given a plot for the ages and I’m quite impressed with how well this game holds up nine years later and I won’t lie, I am holding out hope that it gets a remaster for next gen consoles to make some of the powerful visuals, like stepping out of a trench to see the Washington Monument shattered, even more breathtaking. And I suppose if there’s any particular knock to put toward this game it’s that…it is too damn perfect. Because its level of quality made it impossible to top which made the finale of this saga, a tad disappointing…

One of the things I’ve always loved about video games, is the sheer fact that sometimes they can accomplish what Hollywood and even novels cannot. Because video games can truly immerse you into a moment and a story unlike any other medium and sometimes, this particular genre of storytelling is able to tell incredible tales, the kind that no studio would ever put the money up for and one such series that I’ve always found to be incredibly cinematic and immersive is the Modern Warfare trilogy, because it truly offered up some bold storytelling when the first game in the saga hit the market back in 2007.
 
Granted, the gaming world had seen strong stories and jaw dropping moments arrive well before Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ever arrived on consoles but what made this game so special is that it managed to set the bar going forward for strong stories in gaming since its powerful script was unlike anything else on the market. For this was in fact, a Hollywood script nestled into a world of graphics and honestly, that world building was what caught me off guard when I first popped this game into my Xbox. Because it became inherently clear that something special was happening, and the sense that real trouble was brewing hung heavy over this game from the instant you became ‘Soap’ McTavish.
 
That sense of danger added a real gravity to what you were doing in the game. Because it wasn’t just about spraying bullets and putting down wave upon wave of bad guys. This was about saving a fictional world, one on the brink of horrible things thanks to the machinations of a mad man and the power of that was only enhanced further by the top notch voice acting present during the missions and also that the story wasn’t told through only cutscenes that would only load at the beginning or end of a level, it unfolded in real time, and that’s what made this one so incredibly immersive, the fact that you were at the whim of digital fate and well, the wonder of this game doesn’t end there.
 
Because what was truly impressive about this game, is that it went to some supremely dark places. I mean, it’s one thing to see your fellow soldiers die alongside you while in combat, but it’s quite another thing to see a nuclear weapon unleashed upon the earth and fake or no, seeing that flash and having your character open his eyes and stumble about while bleeding out under the shade of a mushroom cloud is some powerful, powerful stuff and well, that particular moment is merely the gateway to far darker moments, including the ending and really when all is said and done, this really is a modern classic, one that pushed the envelope and provided the user with a unique and powerful experience.
 
In fact, this game was so unique and intelligent in its design that I’ve yet to see any other first-person shooter remotely replicate what this game had to offer, but many certainly tried to recreate the wonder of Modern Warfare. Because a sense of grit and gravity trickled into the gaming world after this one arrived and that alone is respect enough for a revolutionary story that set the stage for an incredible trilogy of games, one that didn’t end as perfectly as we would like, but one that truly set the bar for quality storytelling and a dynamic experience. 

​Sometimes, the sequels that we get to our favorite stories, outright disappoint us, for various reasons. It could be that the story was downright underwhelming, providing us with a boring tale. Or, the performances weren’t up to snuff, or the plot was/is outrageous and silly, and perhaps the best example of a sequel that meets all of that criteria, would be Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, because…well you know why, so it’s best don’t take that awkward trip down memory lane.
 
Instead, let’s focus on the fact that we don’t always have to accept sub-par sequels as the only path for the story to go. Because sometimes, computer games and the creative folks that bring them to life, feel the need to create their own sequels to incredible franchises and back in the 1990’s LucasArts decided it was high time to give the world what everyone was hoping for, a sequel to the wildly popular Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and in 1992, they provided fans everywhere with a fresh and original Jones story by way of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.
 
Now in this particular game, a chance encounter plunges Indy into a world of intrigue and mystery as he and his new friend Sophia Hapgood, come to uncover all kinds of clues that point to the final resting place of the lost city of Atlantis and while such a find should be cause for celebration, there’s danger surrounding Indy and Sophia at every turn. For on the eve of the Second World War, the Nazis see great value in getting their hands on the mysterious technology of this lost city for their war effort, pitting Indy in a race against time to save Atlantis, and the world from the evil of the Third Reich.
 
So, while this game definitely looks dated when it comes to its graphics, those ancient visuals can be forgiven when one takes into account that this game is an utter blast to play. It simply captures the spirit of the Indiana Jones franchise by giving the player a grand and sweeping adventure around the world, one that uncovers incredible secrets and wondrous moments and the quality script to this game enthralls the player as well because you’re simply dying to know more about the City of Atlantis and how exactly Indy is going to save the world from the Nazi’s once again.
 
Yet, while the story alone makes this game worthwhile, what I appreciate more about this one, is that it truly is a brain teaser. There are actually a lot of puzzles to be found here, far more than I’ve ever seen in an adventure game and well, that’s somehow fitting since Indy’s adventures were always a touch more cerebral and you are compelled to finish them in order to see where the story goes. If anything, this is another computer game that I think upon fondly, simply due to the fact that it really is a wonderful Indiana Jones adventure, and it really does capture the spirit of this magnificent franchise and if you’re now compelled to seek this one out, it is available online and I honestly hope you do, because it really is a blast to become Indy, and it is equally as fun to slap some evil Nazis around as you work to save the world. 

​I think it’s safe to assume that fans everywhere of just about everything are always hoping to find the perfect adaptation of their favorite stories, simply due to the fact that they want some kind of visual medium to do their imagination and the story justice. And while we often believe that film is the place for that happen since computer generated effects can create wonders, I’m of the firm belief that sometimes the only way to properly do a story justice, is to have it adapted into a video game.
 
Because in a game, there truly are no limits. No sets to build, no green screens to create, just the imaginary world in question and all the wonders you could ever ask for and quite frankly, some of the games I’ve seen over the years back this personal theory up because there are breathtaking moments and events that happen in the video game world that simply could never be replicated on the silver screen. But, sometimes, to get a quality adaptation, the creators of the game don’t need to think big, they just have to create the world in question and let the wonder of it take on a life of its own and one such game that meets that criteria was the 1993 LucasArts release, Sam and Max Hit the Road.
 
Now this particular game, was based off of a comic series by Steve Purcell and it introduced a whole new audience to the wonder of a talking dog named Sam and a violent bunny named Max and this unusual and delightful duo just so happen to be a pair of freelance police officers who are tasked in the game to help solve an important case involving a missing Bigfoot and their hunt for this missing monster will take them all across America, to various tourist trips across the land as they try to discover who would be wicked enough to kidnap a majestic Bigfoot.
 
If that seems like quite the wild plot, well, you’d be right, but that storyline is merely the beginning of one the wildest and off the wall computer adventures that I’ve ever had the blessing to play because really, what makes Sam and Max so amazing, is the sheer fact that it’s a magnificent and silly comedy tale. One filled to the brim with goofy one liners and hilarious moments and all of it stems from that unique plot and really, this is quite the refreshing game to play when all is said and done because of how original this game turned out to be. There is simply nothing like it on the market and its uniqueness helps draw you into the game.
 
But more importantly, and this goes back to my original point, it really is Steve Purcell’s comic come to life. Everything about this wild and hilarious world just works and it truly feels like you’re a part of this incredible place and you’re compelled to see this one to the end not only because the plot ends up being quite engrossing, but also because you want to see what other wonders await you in this world as well and really, this is a game that I still look upon fondly after all these years, and play when I can. Because it is still available online and if you haven’t played this one yet, I definitely encourage to seek it out simply due to the fact that this one is something special and something that the gaming community has never been able to recreate.  

Well, after many weeks of voyaging through wonderful memories involving Star Trek Online with all of you fine geeks and nerds, today is a red-letter day for The Admiral’s Log. Because on this fine Friday, there is no more reflecting upon a year’s worth of experiences in the game, we are finally going to talk about current events if you will. For Tuesday saw the launch of the brand-new expansion pack ‘Age of Discovery’, and now I get to geek out about it will all of you and well, I’m pretty excited to talk about this today because it’s Trek, but also to discuss all the awesome surprises that I found when I first logged in.
 
Because it would seem that the update that hit my Xbox One included a new graphics upgrade, since I noticed some new lighting and shading and depth when it comes to the characters and the cutscenes, adding new life to something as simple as communications via the viewscreen and I also couldn’t help but notice that the Mission Journal received a brand new layout, with some missions for me to replay down the line and a brand new set of Task Force Operations missions to toy with as well, meaning that there is going to be plenty to do once I finish up this initial run of Discovery themed missions and well, that’s just lovely. But alas, while it was supremely cool to find all of these treats waiting for me, I had one thing on my mind, those new missions.
 
Now, getting into that, took a little bit of effort on my part, because I had a tough decision to make. Do I go into the character screen and create a Captain from the 23rd Century, and truly enjoy the new world that was created for the players, or do I roll with my current crew and the missions presented to me in the 25th Century? And well, after a brief debate in my mind, I simply chose the latter of those two options simply due to the fact that I’ve invested so much time into the Galactica and my current character that it just wouldn’t be right to get a new ship and start new adventures with another crew and another vessel, so I opted to just hit play on ‘Secrets’ and well, in the end I’m pretty satisfied with my choice.
 
Because this ‘season premiere’ allowed for the crew to take part in a simulation of a mission from long ago, one involving a powerful foe named J’Ula, who just so happens to be the sister of the late T’Kuvma and well, I’ll say no more on the plot so that I don’t spoil it and instead discuss the wonder of being aboard a Discovery era vessel. For in this episode, you get to step aboard the U.S.S. Glenn (NCC-1030), sister ship to the U.S.S. Discovery (NCC-1031). to help them deal with J’Ula and man, it is cool to face off against Klingons from this era and walk the halls of a Crossfield Class starship and well, once again, this expansion delivers since it sets up quite the plot for the future and it’s just a blast to play.
 
Normally though, I have a tendency to just power through as many missions as I can when it comes to this game. But this time around, once I finished ‘Secrets’, I opted to pace myself going forward, so that I can properly savor these missions with all of you, and really take my time in enjoying the story. So, that’s really all I have to geek about today, but believe me when I say, I am stupid excited to play the next mission and review it, because it would seem that the next chapter is going to chronicle one of Starfleet’s darkest hours in the First Klingon/Federation War since the Galactica will be plunged into the midst of a battle over Earth, and a fight to save Starbase One… 

I would venture to say that if there was one key component that goes into being a geek or a nerd, it would be that all of us do our best to recreate the wonder of a particular moment that brought great excitement to us when we first experienced it. It could have been a powerful sequence in a movie that led us to buy said movie and watch it over and over again, and we all have books or comics that are struggling to stay in one piece because we’ve poured over the pages time and time again because we are hungry to feel that rush when we reach that awe inspiring segment.
 
But sometimes, and this is a touch more difficult, we want to do everything and anything within our power to outright live in that moment and that sometimes means we need to go to a particular theme park or place to satisfy that itch. Thankfully though, sometimes the video game world helps us nerds and geeks out when it comes to that last component since they allow for us to immerse ourselves within the world that we wish to escape to and when I was younger, a particular console release allowed for me to re-live a comic book storyline that was swimming through my head constantly thanks to the epic nature of The Death and Return of Superman.
 
In fact, this is one of those releases that I was counting down the days to because this particular part of Superman’s history is hands down my favorite storyline involving the Man of the Tomorrow, so to have the opportunity to don the cape and save the world from Doomsday was everything I could have hoped for and more and well, there’s a lot to like about this game. After all, it does a fine job following the comics storyline and in doing so, it allows for you to immerse yourself into some iconic moments from the series, and you even get the chance to play as every single Superman that appeared in ‘The Reign of the Supermen’ saga.
 
Which is awesome to say the least, because this was in fact quite the epic storyline and I distinctly recall that my brother and I ripped through this game over the course of a weekend and we were both hooting and hollering as we battled the Cyborg in Coast City or watched The Man of Steel return to glory. But while this game does win a lot of points for its ability to recreate this storyline to a tee, after revisiting it after all these years, there are some flaws to be found here, specifically the game play itself. For its side scrolling melee design, combined with recycled enemies does wear on one a bit with its excessive repetitiveness.
 
But, once Doomsday or The Cyborg arrive to battle it out with a particular Superman, all is forgiven because just like that the magic is back and well, this is a game I definitely cherish. For while it’s not perfect, it is one of the better Superman themed video games out there, and it does immerse the player into this world nicely and that’s really all you can ask for when it comes to an adaptation game. Sadly, this one is no longer readily available to buy, but YouTube has plenty of playthroughs of this one. But if you saved it, love emulators or find it in a game store, either give it a replay or enjoy the ride because this one is just plain fun and it’s likely the best adaptation, we’ll ever get of one of Superman’s darkest hours. 

​If there’s one thing that every fan of movies, television shows or gaming love more than anything else, it’s when a particular release that they’ve been waiting for, outright exceeds their expectations when it arrives, to the point where they are utterly blown away. Because when that happens, it means that the people in charge of said release, put all kinds of care into it, knowing full well it was about the user experience over anything else and recently, I found myself completely and utterly blown away in Star Trek Online, thanks to the powerhouse release of ‘Victory is Life’ a little while back.
 
Granted, I already expected this Deep Space Nine themed expansion pack to kick a lot of butt as is, but I was ill prepared for just how good it truly turned out to be and the wonder of this expansion, started the instant the Galactica arrived at DS9, because the first mission got right down to business and did everything and anything possible to ensure I geeked out in epic fashion. Case in point, the complete redesign of the iconic station so that it looks exactly as it did on television and walking these authentic halls is awe inspiring in its own right, but meeting the cast and interacting with them, well that just plain made the experience all the more incredible because holy cow, I was sitting here talking to icons from the show.
 
Which is why I’m quite thankful that the game got these introductions out of the way first thing. Because once I got over the wonder of talking to these Star Trek legends, it was time to get down to business and deal with the Hur’q, and while that did lead to more wonder, since hey, I was traversing the Gamma Quadrant, the shine finally came off of this expansion pack once the powerhouse story got underway and well, that brings me to what exactly blew me away when it comes to ‘Victory is Life’, the writing. Because hands down, this ‘season’ featured the finest writing that I’ve ever seen when it comes to STO, since every story was filled with depth and intrigue and hell, it even managed to leave me in tears with laughter.
 
That happened when I got to ‘Quark’s Lucky Seven’, since you were able to take control of this famous Ferengi, in an episode that quite frankly rivaled the wonder of ‘The Magnificent Ferengi’ from the series since it provided a laugh a minute, and one of the coolest explosion walk offs in gaming history and well, this was a welcome respite from the rest of the season, since it was heavy to say the least, and speaking of the darkness, this season also featured the first time I’ve ever felt genuine danger in Star Trek Online. Because the season finale, ‘Home’, saw my crew in a precarious spot in the climax of the story, to the point where I thought I might see some of my bridge officers lose their lives.
 
Thankfully, that never happened, but damn, what an incredible ride this turned out to be and I won’t lie. I was a touch melancholy to see this powerhouse season come to an end, and the more I think about it, the more I’m itching for a replay of this season. When all is said and done however, an interesting moment has arrived for this blog in that, we are now caught up when it comes to my journey through this phenomenal game. And while that should mean it is time to sign off and wait for something fresh to discuss, the timing of this blog worked out perfectly so that doesn’t have to happen. For Tuesday will see the launch of ‘Age of Discovery’ a Star Trek: Discovery themed expansion pack and well, for the first time ever I get to write about the latest and greatest storyline shortly after it arrives. Which means I will see all of you next week to geek out over this brand-new chapter in Star Trek Online. Until then.