User Reviews (11 - 21 of 64)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Much Better The Second Time Around

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center, first released for the Nintendo DS, brought a fun and fresh gaming experience to the portable console. In that game, you would use the stylus throughout a series of medical operations (even though they weren't very realistic) to perform such actions as injecting serum into the patient, making incisions using the scalpel, lasering off tumors and stitching up the patient. In my opinion it was one of the best experiences you can have on the DS. The game was very difficult and sometimes it could be very difficult to get the stylus to do exactly what you wanted to do. It featured a great cast of characters as well as an over-the-top dramatic storyline. I am pleased to say that Second Opinion takes what made the first so much fun and makes it even better!

The storyline for Second Opinion pretty much follows the same path as its predecessor, with the addition of some characters and some new missions. In particular you will be able to play a few missions in Chapter Z with a new doctor. She has the same special ability as the hero from the original who is also the main character in this game, Dr. Derek Stiles. Graphically, the game looks very crisp and colorful now that it is on a bigger screen. No complaints from me in that department. The controls on this Wii version are very near perfect! It feels so natural right off the bat in performing the various operations (provided you learn what the different tools you are using are) and it is so smooth translating the movement of the Wii remote to the screen. This was my biggest concern for this game but fortunately Nintendo got it so very right!

New to the Wii version are the addition of difficulty levels on each operation. You can now choose easy, medium or hard depending on how brave you are. And beating the game will open up Chapter X which has Extreme difficulty! If you can beat that you are a damn good gamer. Also new as I have stated is the addition of a set of operations titled Chapter Z, which occur alongside the main chapters story-wise. You will get to use a couple of new tools that were not available in the Nintendo Ds game, such as the defibrilator. I must disagree with all of the reviewers saying that the game leaves you to figure out what to do on your own. If you take the time in the beginning to familiarize yourself with the tools and operating procedures, you will have much better luck with this game. I had a tough time with many of the operations, but knowing what to do wasn't a problem. Practice does make perfect.

With all of the new content put into Trauma Center: Second Opinion, I highly recommend this game to Wii owners. It may very well be the second or third best Wii game released so far. I love the Trauma Center series and I hope the series keeps going (with better operations). The main reason I can't give 5 stars to this game is that the replay factor isn't very high. Sure, you will get satisfaction in beating the higher difficulties, but after I did I dont have the need to play a whole lot. It is an excellent game nontheless, and one I will keep in my collection. If you own a Wii, at least rent this game. It is a lot of fun, and not too time-consuming like say Twilight Princess (best Wii game!). Good job, Nintendo!

Best Wii controls of all the Wii launch games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center Second Opinion is a Wii-make of the original which was the first game on the DS to really show the DS true potential for new and innovative game types for the portable handheld gaming machines.

The version for the Wii fills exactly the same role for the new Wii console. It really shows the true potential of the Wii for new and innovative game types but for the home console. It is the most polished of all the Wii launch titles and has the absolute best controls. It controls even better than the Wii menu interface. The pointer functionality is extremely accurate as well as the rest of the controls and the game challenges you to fully utilize the excellent controls.

In fact the controls are soo good that the version on the Wii becomes much more accessible and fun game compared to the version on the DS which was much more difficult. The DS game only had one difficulty setting, your hand or stylus would get in your way and the control scheme didn't allow for rapid tool switching which the Wii version using the Nunchuk control style allows.

In addition to the better controls/gameplay the Wii version has. It also includes more content, better graphics, more refined tools, and better story overall. The first 5 chapters of the Wii version are more or less same as the DS version with minor changes (improvements) and it also has a chapter 6 as well as alternate doctor story called chapter Z. Also if you complete all 6 chapters and chapter Z than it unlocks the really challenging chapter X.

This is the single Wii launch title that I would recommend to everybody who gets the Wii console in addition to Zelda Twilight Princess. It is just that good and really the only Wii launch title (in addition to Wii Sports) that shows the full potential of the Wii innovative gameplay potential.

Trauma Center Deserves Second Opinion

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Atlus definately shows its strengths with this launch title. The gameplay, using both the Remote and Nunchuck, make Trauma Center feel fluid to your hands - and they need to be, because as you progress through the storyline, you quickly discover you need the fastest fingers on the planet.
The game begins simple enough, with basic surgery of lacerations and the like, but something gruesome happens in the year 2018, and you need to be quick on your feet and quicker in your hands. You will feel your palms sweat and your body shake as you try to remove the most bizzare and deadly diseases with not a moment to spare save for wiping the sweat from your forehead.
This is no childrens game. By the end, this game will keep you and your onlookers at the edge of their seats, not from the long, winding and enjoyable (I like soaps) storyline, but from the near impossible surgeries that you pull off usually by the skin of your teeth.
A required launch game. Do not rent. Buy.

Needs some work, but worth the play

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: February 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center: Second Opinion is not a game for people who aren't willing to sit through screen after screen of a boring (and poorly written) plot. The story itself is lame, at best, and doesn't really make you like any of the characters.

Once you finally make it through the excruciating script and get the the surgeries, the fun finally happens. The controls are quite easy and the surgeries, though they vary in difficulty, are really quite entertaining.

If only the nurse would stop shouting "Doctor!"

The creators of the game should re-release the game once they do two things: 1) get a better script and 2) make an option to skip the story mode and just do the action parts.

Sorry...HATED it!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 19
Date: January 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

After all the glowing reviews, couldn't wait to try this one. Bought it, played it once & sold it. The graphics are stilted anime, the text dialogue is completely inane, attempting to select tools from the circular grid is frustrating, navigating the menu is tedious-especially since you have to do it over & over when trying not to kill the same patient for the nth time plus each redo means fast-forwarding through the dialogue. On the up-side, none of this seems to faze most people posting here, so there was no problem selling it. If your local video store stocks Wii titles (ours only has 5 so far & this isn't one of them), take this puppy for a test drive before investing...apparently you're either gonna LOVE it or HATE it!!

A good game, but not perfect

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is fun to play, but it is an action game (in a medical milieu), not really a 'medical' game.

You take the part of a young doctor, performing emergency surgeries and treating strange and very aggressive diseases that move around quickly within the bodies of your patients. It isn't medically accurate, so you can't expect to learn much from that point of view, but you do get to use a wide selection of tools and instruments to zap diseases and fight little 'monsters' in the body. All while being harried with unexpected problems and juggling one 'need' against other, equally pressing catastrophes. As you gain experience and develop new skills, the problems get tougher. If you can't keep up, your patient becomes overwhelmed and dies. You lose your medical license and disappear into obscurity.

I do wish it had been based a bit more on real medicine. How much more fun to learn something real, whyle playing a game, and it wouldn't have been hard to add some real facts.

In addition, there is a story line of printed words that kind of tells you what is going on, but isn't really necessary. Besides, it takes WAY too long. It would have been nicer to record a few actors SAYING the lines, and it would have sped up gameplay if there had been some way to skip the introduction and bridge sequences, rather than scrolling through DOZENS and DOZENS of screens.

Still, the game is fun, and people do enjoy playing it. I just don't rate it as being quite the same level as other games such as Madden NFL 2007, Rayman Raving Rabids and Monkeyball Bannan Blitz. In addition, it seems to be exclusively a single player game, so you don't get the enjoyment of playing with other people.

Healing touch?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: March 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game for my Girlfriend who's a Trauma Nurse since she's not much of a gamer and I thought she'd enjoy it a bit.

Well it is pretty fun, not very accurate medically, but fun none the less. the hand/eye coordination with the Wii remotes are what make this game. trying to make a straight incision is tougher than you'd think. We were having a great time learning to use all the tools in the proper order, etc. until we reached the middle rounds.

without spoiling too much for those of you who haven't played it, let's just say the Plot goes off the deep end in a way that only goofy anime can. That in itself isn't such a bad thing, it's pretty funny to joke about actually. But what really kinda killed the game for us was once the "healing touch" powers were introduced into the game, you pretty much had to use them - and they're not easy to use. It gets kinda frusterating that this annoyingly difficult skill is so tough to trigger, incredibily crutial to the game, and yet has no real world basis.

Maybe I was looking for a different type of game - something a bit more like an OR sim than a B Anime adventure. Either way, the game was fun for a day or two of play with my girlfriend -which is tough to come by for someone who's not into games all that much. I'd say it was worth the price, and give it a b- overall.

Now I know why I didn't decide to go through med school after all.... :P

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing this game in "Easy" mode, and I'm surprised by how hard it still is. Even at "Easy," it's really not easy to get more than a grade of C with a number of the oeprations so far. I don't make mistakes with the operations I've done so far, so maybe it's a matter of working faster? I don't know. Anyway--this game isn't fun for me, honestly. Or it's not fun like Wii Sports is--for me personally, this isn't the kind of game that I'd play to unwind and have a good time. This is the kind of game I tend to play when I'm bored and need to give my brain a jump-start. It's challenging--you really have to think and remember back to previous procedures to get through future operations--and that's the main reason why I've stuck with it, even if I've learned that I stink as a surgeon. :P Another reason why I've stuck with it is, it's an interesting idea for a game. As another reviewer pointed out, it's like the board game OPERATION. It's OPERATION for grown-ups, and that's what makes this game cool.

Personally, I think it'd be nice if this game featured a practice area or mini-games of some kind...mini-procedures, maybe, that don't involve the patient dying...that helps players get used to the equipment and basic procedures and prep for the actual operations. As it stands, I tend to rewind a lot when I pop this game into the Wii. I'll sometimes go all the way back to the beginning and keep doing previous operations till I have more of a feel for what I have to do in the next operation that I haven't completed. I guess that's okay enough as a way to review previous procedures, but I'd really prefer some stepping stones of some kind, in the form of mini-games, to help prepare me for future operations.

Perfect vessel to demonstrate what the Wii can do

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

"Let's start the operation!"

Trusty scalpel in hand, loyal nurse at his side, Dr. Stiles enters the O.R. to perform surgery on a patient. That's the basic premise behind Trauma Center: Second Opinion, one of the quality launch titles for the Nintendo Wii.

Conceived (clearly) as a beefed up version of the Nintendo DS version of the game, this game truly shines with its wonderful use of the Wii's innovative contoller. Use the nunchuck to quickly and smoothly select an instrument, and the Wiimote to execute surgical procedure. The motions include making a sort of pinching motion to use a pair of forceps, cautiously sliding the controller along to make an incision, and even pushing the paddles onto a patient to administer a shock that could save their life.

All in all, the controls and gameplay are fluid and masterfully done. The graphics are sharp anime style, and the music is sufficiently hospital-y (whatever that means) The only beef I have is the lack of voice acting. While there are a few phrases, most of the story in conveyed textually. Voices would have helped with the game immersion.

This is a fun and engaging title that I recommend fully. In the early stages of the Wii, this game truly utilizes the innovation of Nintendo. One can only hope that future games can build on the start presented here!

Overall, It's a Good Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is fun. If you like puzzle type games, you will like this one. It does have a lot of dialog. Nevertheless, like many games on the on the Wii, you can skip the dialog by clicking the "-" button the controller.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next 

Actions