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Intense, emotional, and just plain fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: October 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center, is the first game to come out, in a very small niche genre that I had thought dead. If you can recall games like "Life or Death", then you will be right as home here...but there is a twist.

In Trauma Center, you are thrust into the role of Dr. Derek Stiles, who while being called a doctor, comes off aloof and unaware that, he is deal with life or death here, real people...and this, is where the game grows on you.

You will experience what Derek does, his ups, his downs, and you will experience what it means to truly play God, as Derek learns about his special ability. Taking a page from all good anime, Atlus has created a game where, the basis is quite simple, but by infusing you into situations that seem insane, and impossible, the game will push you to succeed, and ultimately, learn what becomes of Derek.

That is however just scraping the surface. Through the course of the game, you will not only deal with emotions, but with medical terrorism, and ultimately, Derek's "Gift". This game is good as is, but had the writing and characters been flat, it would not be interesting enough to keep playing. Fortunately, what you get here, is top notch presentation, and great dialoge.

Not to dive to deep into the story, as to spoil anything, but lets just say, if you think this is going to be ER with anime style characters, and 3D operations, think again.

This game proves why you need a touch screen, and why the concept works so well. As soon as you dig into this game, you will realize first hand, why this game will only be available on the DS, or a system with a touch screen. You will perform life or death operations, in 3D, and with the stylus, so every twitch you make, every wrong slice, will cost you dearly. However, it is the intense pace, and stylus, that make this game what it is.

Graphically, it works. It's nothing all that impressive, and while its about operating, the gore is kept to a respectable level...still, there are moments where you might cringe or go "eww". There are also moments when, you'll think your done, and then all hell will break loose. It is then, that you must learn to use Derek's special gift, and your own split second operating skills, to overcome what the game throws at you.

Simply put, it's intense. Trauma Center is an emotional rush, an addrenialine pack romp of playing doctor and learning the cost of human life, and above all else, a fun game.

So whats the verdict? If you have a DS, you have no reason not to own this game. After the storyline ends, you can go back to any of the operations, and try to beat your skill record. This is not easy, hence, to get the best rank for all operations in the game, you will need time. So the game has replay.

Aside from all this, it's that rare gem from Japan, that infuses two types of gameplay, and mixes them into a pot, with good gaming elements already found in the US, and comes out with a awe inspring tasty mix, that you won't want to put down.

Buy Trauma Center now, or miss out on what could be considered one of the best games of the year.

A superbly crafted game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Up until now, the DS games I had enjoyed had two things in common. First, they were all based on established franchises. Second, they might have been considered by some as "kiddie". Trauma Center: Under the Knife breaks those traditions. It's a bold step in the right direction for Atlus, the DS, and games in general.

Understandably, some people might be turned off by the concept, thinking that it's a boring medical simulator. This is not so. Although you will operate on some "real-life" diseases, and the methods you use are grounded in reality, you'll spend most of the game fighting against a fictional, futuristic infection that takes many forms. The game designers obviously had a lot of fun with this; each operation is essentially a "level", and you'll find yourself doing all kinds of things, especially with all the different tools available. Although you will repeat a few surgeries, no two stages feel exactly alike; you definitely won't get bored.

The basic gameplay is extremely tight and unforgiving. You need a steady hand, quick reflexes, and a lightning-fast brain to get through some of the harder operations, but it never feels unfair. Your success is based entirely on your skill, experience, and understanding of what needs to be done. Yet at the same time, it's just flat-out fun; the DS' unique abilities are used in so many different ways, and the sense of accomplishment is incredible.

To keep you engrossed, the game also has a rather involved, gripping story with many interesting and fleshed-out characters. Even though it's told solely through text-based dialogue and static scenes, I actually found myself getting emotionally involved. For those who don't like the story, though, you have the option to skip right through the story segments to the gameplay.

If you own a DS, there is really no reason not to pick up Trauma Center. Great gameplay, an exciting story, and a decently long, challenging quest (along with an addictive "Challenge Mode" where you can compete for better "grades" on operations) make for yet another excellent addition to the handheld's library.

They'll survive

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 141 / 144
Date: October 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

There was a time when the closest I came to becoming a doctor was my handwriting. Thanks to Atlus, now I can at least save lives with my stylus. Yes, the library of innovative, interactive DS games doesn't seem to be drying up, and in Trauma Center: Under the Knife, we've another quirky Japanese title that somehow makes playing games fun again.

Assuming the role of Derek Stiles, a rookie surgeon, your task in Trauma Center is to save the world. Blessed with a unique gift only known as the "healing touch", which gives you extraordinary speed and concentration when performing a surgery, you'll take on a group of terrorists who've brought upon a mysterious, yet life-threatening virus called GUILT upon the world.

Of course, as a surgeon, you won't have to take on these people head on, Street Fighter-style. Instead, each attack from the terrorists is sent to you in the form of a patient. The injured parts are revealed as close-ups on the touch screen, while you use a host of items to salvage the situation within a time limit. Obviously, the cases get more and more complicated as the game progresses, and saving the lives of these patients becomes truly a race against time, as well as the strange ailments that befall upon them.

In essence, Trauma Center requires you to perform surgeries after surgeries. While this may sound a little repetitive, you probably won't even notice it in practice. The game is paced so quickly, you'd barely have any time to think about what to do next, and before you know it, you're on the job again. Sharp instincts, quick reflexes and a lot of patience are what will get you through the game. But if you're into unveiling the mystery behind GUILT and its perpetuator, you wouldn't be shortchanged too. The game did a good job of making a simple story interesting, and despite some insanely difficult to perform surgeries (and many lost lives), you'll get great satisfaction out of every soul you save.

Saving lives is not exactly rocket science in Trauma Center. It basically involves selecting an item from the icons on the sides of the touch screen, and applying them to the wounded areas. For example, you can suture a wound by stroking your stylus in a zigzag fashion over a cut, or remove a foreign object from the bodies by lifting it in the correct direction by holding it and slowly dragging it away with the stylus. Your assistant will also give you instructions on the top screen on what to do, so you ought to have some ideas on how to make things work like a real surgeon, even though you may never emulate the handwriting. However, as the action gets thicker and faster, you may simply find the advice being a bother rather than help.

And then they give you some cases when no one else is around to advise you.

Such is the pressure of Trauma Center, I'd only recommend it to gamers who have a strong heart (no pun intended). If you're not into looking at wounds and lacerations, the game won't shock you by the quite unrealistic graphics (for the bodies and blood and what have you - the nurses, I mean, people, are generally well drawn ). But it does have the potential of making you want to throw your DS towards the wall when you fail to save yet another a life, and that's when the real problem comes in. The game is very difficult to play, and as I mentioned, you'll need a lot of patience to engage it. But at least it tries to help you concentrate on the task by toning down the audios, which may not be a plus point for some, but definitely one for me.

And, if after all that I wrote, you still think you've what it takes to seek the truth behind GUILT, you should immediately turn off that episode of ER, and make an appointment with Trauma Center: Under the Knife.

True Innovation.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

There is really nothing else like this game out there. Nothing. This is what the DS can really offer in terms of revolutionary new gaming experinces. Trauma Center is not a surgery simulation, which is what one is tempted to call it. Unlike most "simulation" games it has a storyline. Its fairly dramatic, almost to the point of unreality, as I cannot imagine any nurse getting so upset as the second nurse does during surgeries.

The gameplay itself is what the real draw is, however. Suturing, draining, disinfecting, incising, burning things with the laser, and many more tools are used in a variety of operations from tumor removal to removing glass imbedded in someone's arm from a car accident.

While not perfect, and a bit too demanding at times, this game is simply wonderful, and it shows that the DS can offer up gaming experiences no other platform can.

Fun, And In-freaking-sanely difficult.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center: Under the Knife is a surgical puzzle game slightly similar to those 'Emergency Room' PC games from the mid to late nineties. You play as a Dr. Derek Stiles, and you go on an odd surgical 'adventure' involving terrorism, & anuerisms. The gameplay is fun and fast paced, but the difficuly curve is steeeep. I had no trouble... For one chapter. Right when chapter two began, it got hard. Overall, anybody who has a strong stomach and likes innovation will have fun with this game.

Essential DS game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Trauma Center manages to take the title away from Kirby for the best usage ever of the DS touch screen. This is exactly the kind of game the DS was designed for and the kind of game that could exist on no other platform ever created. Trauma Center literally gives you a hands on experience at being a surgeon. Although the surgeries are often more fantasy than reality many of the terms and procedures are real.

Early surgeries are pretty easy and most can be conquered on a single try but the game ramps up fairly quickly. The strange thing is that one of the toughest surgeries in the game appears rather early in the game. After quite a few tries I managed to complete it but I certainly can imagine some people getting absolutely stuck. Fortunately the game is so much fun that repeating the surgery dozens of times never grew tedious.

Surgeries generally last from 3 to 10 minutes and the game often reaches a level of tension that players may literally feel like they just completed an actual operation. Many of the reviews I've read online claim the game is an upgraded version of the old board game operation. That is a complete mischaracterization. The only similarities are that both use the surgery theme. In Trauma Center you create incisions, drain tumors, slice and reattach veins, laser polyps, suture wounds and so much more.

Trauma Center is a game that combines a great idea with stellar execution. The only other game by Atlus I ever played was Astro Boy for the GBA. It got great reviews and had terrific game play but settled for some mediocre sales. Hopefully Trauma Center will do better because DS owners really owe it to themselves to play a game that capitalizes so successfully on the strengths of the DS. It's also a decent bargain at $29.95.

if you have a ds buy it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 10
Date: November 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

this game is awsome. the only reason i gave it a four is because the game is freaken hard(sometimes).

A Game That the PSP could never duplicate

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 18
Date: December 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well the Nintendo DS has finally created a game that the boys at Sony could never duplicate. The DS now has a game that is a VERY challenging version of the board game "Operation". Honestly, this is the type of game that the DS was created for.

As a quick reset - "Trauma Center" has you a rookie surgeon trying to learn the ropes and save a few lives. Sound easy?... Well the first few operations are pretty easy, but then it becomes difficult... and I do mean DIFFICULT.... the game is rated "T" for teen... probably just for the difficulty level.

In short - "Trauma Center" is unlike any other game for any other system - the touch screen stylus is incorporate in a way that it was designed for. If you can handle the challenge - buy it!

A must-own for anyone with a DS.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: December 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Of course, no one should be surprised that one of the best games for the DS, if not THE best, comes from Atlus.

Those "old school" gamers who remember Life and Death from years gone by in the early days of gaming, can remember the joy of performing amateur surgeries. Take Life and Death and throw in some good old fashioned Anime stylin' and plot twists, and there you have Life and Death.

This game makes excellent use of the touch-screen on the DS. It responds perfectly. Gaming skills rise above button mashing here. You need precision and concentration in good supply -- and critical thinking, as well. While it starts out easy, the difficulty curve can be steep in parts. Hey, it's not easy to be a surgeon, right?

It's not bloodyish graphic as might be expected. It is over-simplified surgical technique (which a game obviously would be). But, that adds to the fun.

If you don't get this, you're definitely missing out. Even people I know who hate medicial stories, or hate the DS, adore this game. Well worth a try!

Trauma Center : Under The Knife

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: December 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

At first I thought " A surgery Game! Thats absurd!!!" But Atlas Suceeded in puttin the Hesitatation and Fright of Real surgery into a tiny DS chip. This game is great with it's cool anime style, interesting operations and a new fictional Disease. The game is 80 percent realistic with a couple of impossible things. The first half of the game is a breeze but when you start operating on GUILT Disease victims it gets way too tough. The Coolest Mission is number 4. This game is Great for Wanna-be Doctors and kids with Medical Interest.

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