If you want to save a lot of money, the first Armada is definitely the way to go. I played demos of both Armada and Armada II, and for somebody who wanted Star Trek and Starcraft combined, I liked the first Armada better.

Maybe you should consider the first Armada Map objects include six types of planets, nebulae, and wormholes, all of which can help or hinder your missions. To collect material resources, mining stations, orbital processing facilities, trading stations, shipyards, research facilities, science stations, and turrets (for protection) have to be created. Building requirements include freighters for moving resources, construction, repair, and colony ships, and combat vessels ranging from a Galaxy-class Federation ship to a Species 8472 battleship. Star Trek: Armada II objectives require you to manage unit attacks, repair and re-crew, patrol, scout, search and destroy, guard, build, or trade. Multiplayer action on the Internet (GameSpy) or a LAN offers players the option of playing a regular game or engaging in Capture the Flag, Alliances, Collect Latinum, Colonize Planets, Defend Planets, or Assault modes. In Instant Action mode, you select one of six races (including Species 8472), choose the area and resource level, then prepare battle plans to exterminate all other players. Battles are planned tactically from a top-down perspective, then played out in real-time 3D.

Multiplayer games add races such as Romulans and Cardassians to the mix. Each race has a specific agenda: the Federation needs to eliminate the Borg from the Delta Quadrant, Klingons act as peacekeepers in the Alpha Quadrant, and the Borg try to maintain their collective. In this sequel to Star Trek: Armada, trekkers and strategy gamers lead the Federation, the Klingons, or the Borg in single-player missions featuring interstellar exploration and fleet combat.

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