With the closed beta coming to an end and the open beta starting tomorrow, Star Trek Online is finally getting into the hands of Trek fans everywhere.  In anticipation of the launch, ZAM has just released a preview of ST:O's away mission mode.  We'll be participating in the open beta and look forward to seeing our faithful readers in the world of 2409!

Players will begin STO's tutorial and "starting zone" area in avatar mode. The first 20 minutes of the beta-version tutorial is your standard fare; acclimating players to universal mechanics like movement, interaction, UI functions and combat (and of course, the game's own specific "brand" of these mechanics, some of which greatly differ from other titles).

STO's avatar mode "feels" remarkably familiar to Champions Online's gameplay—which shouldn't come as a surprise to many players, since both games were developed by Cryptic Studios. In fact, based on our initial impressions of its graphics and gameplay, we would hazard to guess that STO's avatar mode was developed using the same engine as Champions Online (or many elements of it, at least). The settings offered in the video menu are nearly identical, and the third-person character interaction feels noticeably similar.

However, that's not to imply anything negative about STO's third-person gameplay. Aside from the opinion shared by some players that Cryptic's latest graphics engine could have been optimized a little better (its "scalability" on lower-end systems, that is), the client offers a solid third-person gameplay experience with impressive visual and shading effects. Cryptic succeeded in re-creating the classic interior design of spaceship hallways and corridors that 'Trek fans have come to know and love throughout the years, while supplementing the environment with its own artistic vision of futuristic motifs and décor. (source ZAM)

Read the full article here.