Final Score

9
Excellent

Pros

Very strong solo play.  Major improvements over past year.  Episodic quests, duty officer system, and other unique features.  Fantastic graphics  The Foundry system lets players create their own missions for others to enjoy.

Cons

Pvp is still an issue for many players.  Ground combat, while much improved, remains a feature that needs development.

Star Trek Online is an MMO for those who are looking for something unique and different.  While it has many of the standard features you'll find in other games like WoW and Rift, it is a breath of fresh air for those who are tired of the cookie-cutter direction MMOs have been traveling in recend years (i.e. Old Republic).

Now that it's free to play, I'd suggest anyone who is looking for something new to give it a serious try.  Those who tried it during its first year and were turned off, I'd highly recommend a second look.  If you are someone who likes to take the road less travelled and find treasures lurking off the beated path, this just may be what you're looking for.

This is exactly what it has been for me.