Inspired by the evil, goateed counterparts that the original series' crew encountered in the second season's "Mirror, Mirror" episode, this Star Trek combat flight sim is set in an alternate universe where the Federation is an evil empire bent on heartless conquest. Other important icons of original series episodes are featured as well, including the planet-eating "Doomsday Machine," the "Guardian of Forever" time portal, and even the bulb-headed Balok from the little-alien-behind-the-curtain episode "The Corbomite Maneuver."
The Star Trek: Shattered Universe player guides the good U.S.S. Excelsior as commanded by Captain Sulu, in a time frame occurring just after Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The Excelsior houses squadrons of the Federation's new single-pilot fighter craft and much of the action consists of 3D dogfights in the void of space. The displaced crew must learn to battle old "friends" and ally with former "enemies" if they hope to escape from the backwards universe. Success in missions earns new technologies and ship upgrades.