Written by: Peter [a.k.a. Dosman] (SoSF Fan & Gamer)
Trek Core Gaming has launched what I consider a “lost episode” of STAR TREK: Deep Space 9 (DS9). It was actually the first DS9 game for the PC and Mac, but currently the only one to feature the voice of Avery Brooks as Captain Sisko. The game, titled “Deep Space Nine: Harbinger,” features episode-quality writing and dialog that bring out the best from the voice actors and makes this a truly unique and original DS9 experience.
For its tenth anniversary, I created videos of the beginning of the game so that others could finally experience what “Harbinger” has to offer the DS9 and gaming fan.
“Deep Space Nine: Harbinger” is only one of Trek’s multimedia adventure titles, but is one that will give non-gamers or those new to the STAR TREK gaming world a chance to experience its series-quality dialog, voice acting, and storyline without having to actually play the game. The writers of “Harbinger” were devoted Trek fans, and, with Avery Brooks (Sisko), Nana Visitor (Kira), Terry Farrell (Dax), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Armin Shimerman (Quark), and Judi Durand (computer voice) the game play is like being surrounded by the dark and intriquing world aboard this well-known Deep Space Station in the Star Trek universe.
“Deep Space Nine: Harbinger” won the 1997 CODiE Award for “Best Use of Live Performers in Multimedia.”
Created in the style and spirit of an episode from DS9, Harbinger starts with a pre-rendered teaser followed by a game-modified version of the third season’s opening credit sequence. I highly recommend watching this teaser/OCS video first (“Harbinger1.avi”), followed by the “Act One” gameplay video, or the smaller video below it (“Harbinger2_Beginning.avi”). The “Act One” video is over 23 minutes in length, and, when combined with the teaser/OCS, creates an original, “mini-episode” of DS9!
I’ve got and have played Harbinger….from what I recall Brooks didn’t lend his voice to the game. Neither did Colm Meany as O’Brien.
Unless there was a patch I missed….
Here are the actor stats from the game itself:
FEATURING THE VOICES OF:
Avery Brooks as Captain Sisko
Rene Auberjonois as Odo
Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
Armin Shimerman as Quark
Nana Visitor as Major Kira
Judi Durand as the Computer
Other Voice Actors Featured:
Andrea Clrie as Jani Tharen
Nicole Donery as Ensign Desma Yarrow
Mary West as Vedek Rasmus Selin
Michael, you’re thinking of “Star Trek Deep Space Nine The Fallen” from Simon & Schuster in 2000. Harbinger is from 1996 and was the first and only game to feature Avery Brooks. Supposedly, the upcoming “Star Trek Legacy” will be the second.