FTL may be the closest we get to a great Star Trek game for a long time (though Digital Extremes upcoming game might make me eat my words). FTL has the player commanding a single spaceship that must make it across several sectors of space many of them controlled by hostile aliens or bandits in order to deliver important data to your military forces. Why they cant simply transmit the data is never explained but, hey, shut up and play the game. During your voyage, youll come across ships that you will usually have to engage in classic missiles/laser beam warfare with. In these conflicts, you can target specific systems on your opponents ship, such as shields and weapon functionalities. But this game isn't strictly about fighting. Sometimes you will be presented with unique situations, such as welcoming a crew member aboard your ship or trading scrap for fuel with another ship. FTL is extremely difficult to beat because of the games permadeath function. In other words, if you die, thats it. Your save file is erased and you have to start over. Each games encounters are also randomized so, for instance, in the third sector lets say you run into an alien battle cruiser that decimates your crew by beaming members of their ship aboard yours. Your next run will likely have a trading station, a different baddie, or just plain nothing in the cruisers place. Each game really is a brand new adventure, offering both a challenge and high replay value.