While in the vicinity of Sigma Iotia, collecting data on strange disturbances in the local gravitational and magnetic fields, fluctuations produced a hole in space. Luckily, a space distortion threw the starship Enterprise and her crew into a safe (but uncharted) territory before it could be sucked into this rip in space.
As Captain Kirk, your job is to return to the Iotian system and find a way to reverse the expanding rip in space before it destroys the entire galaxy. You control navigation, communication, and battle tactics from the ship's bridge. To help you with your mission, you've got the finest crew in Starfleet: Commander Spock (science), Chief Engineer Scott, Lieutenant Uhura (communications), Chekov (navigational/helm), Sulu (navigational/helm), and Doctor McCoy. You can go to each of these experts in their respective fields at any time for status reports.
Like in the Star Trek television show, you must choose a landing party and beam down to strange planets. You can use members of your primary crew or choose from experts in biology, history, geology, and security. The landing party's job is to look for items such as dilithium crystals that provide the Enterprise with power. You can talk to inhabitants of the planets, analyze plant life, and evaluate ancient artifacts. At times you will need to use your phaser weapon to kill or stun aliens who are less than friendly. Only Kirk and the security guards are authorized to use phasers.
While aboard the Enterprise, you must sometimes defend your ship against other vessels by firing phasers and photon torpedoes. Others you can communicate with to gain information. Created to celebrate the long-running popularity of Star Trek, one of the most influential television series ever produced, Star Trek: The 25th Anniversary is just one of a slew of merchandising tie-ins to commemorate this event.