Trauma Centre: Under the Knife (Nintendo DS) Preview

By Adam Riley 20.06.2005

As you will have noticed from my write-ups so far, I got lumped with some of the more unusual games on the show's list. However, rather than that being a negative thing, it proved to be a highly lucrative trade-off as they all turned out to be excellent beyond belief. One such game is Trauma Centre: Under the Knife on the Nintendo DS

As previously mentioned, Trauma Centre was stuck right in the corner next to Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a place where it was assumed nobody would bother going, instead preferring to head over to the wider open area full of Mario Kart DS pods for some crazy multiplayer shenanigans. That certainly did not stop a determined few from squeezing in and preparing to slice and dice! Unfortunately it was sometimes hard to concentrate as anyone playing Phoenix Wright really was hovering just near your right shoulder all the time. But hey, what is an operation without some unforeseen pressure?

Screenshot for Trauma Centre: Under the Knife on Nintendo DS

Now, I have never been a fan of ER, but I do watch Scrubs religiously. Yet somehow I doubted that the crazy hi-jinx of the comedy show would really apply to the intense nature of this game. Time to don my own set of scrubs, put down my bottle of beer, steady my drinking hand and prepare to read a lot of preparatory text before heading into surgery. And I am not joking about the text either

Screenshot for Trauma Centre: Under the Knife on Nintendo DS

Throughout the first two procedures, you have an attending nurse to guide you through, telling you step-by-step what is required of the perfect doctor. However, rather than being simple, there is still a lot of pressure due to the heartbeat of the patient at the top of the screen and the time limit placed on Dr Stiles to deliver a hasty success. Some patients have tumours that need to be dealt with, whilst others have shards of glass sticking out of their skin, as well as being embedded under the surface. Trying to discover what is exactly going on with the people lay unconscious in front of you is not always as simple as you might originally think. Okay, perhaps a degree in medicine or the equivalent may not be required, but 'trial and error' does not go down very well in the operating theatre. People's lives are at risk, after all!

Screenshot for Trauma Centre: Under the Knife on Nintendo DS

Therefore, it is imperative you use the correct equipment. For example, when trying to locate a possible tumour you should not simply slide your instrument in without checking you have the right place

Screenshot for Trauma Centre: Under the Knife on Nintendo DS

Final Thoughts

The range of possibilities tied in with the pressure of the time limit really does get to you as you are desperately trying to keep your stylus steady, yet quickly moving around the screen. Trauma Centre has massive potential due to this, although it will definitely be interesting to see how the idea is stretched out for the sake of a complete game that people will want to buy in stores...

Trauma Centre: Under The Knife (Nintendo DS)

Developer

Atlus

Publisher

Atlus

Genre

Simulation

Players

C3 Score

8/10

Reader Score

8/10 (2 Votes)

28.04.2006

Out now

Out now

Out now

Comments

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jesusraz 20.06.2005#1

Slicing and dicing - nice! :-D

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Flaight 20.06.2005#2

All off shore reviews have so far said this is a creepishly addictive game. Sounds like another step into the unknown world of creativity. Good stuff.

jesusraz 20.06.2005#3

Yup, just what I found. Rather than like the old board game 'Operation', which annoyed the hell out of me, this is more gruesome as you can delve into people's bodies and poke around...which should not sound so appealing, yet I couldn't put the damn thing down! :read: :alien:

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Mason 20.06.2005#4

This game really sounds fantastic. I want it...

jesusraz 20.06.2005#5

It seems to be building up quite a reputation in the gaming world...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Guest 20.06.2005#6

I'm hoping there's no needles and arms involved, as that will scare me away, unfortunately.
It seems like some sort of RPG game to me, although, yes I know it's a simulation. Hopefully we will see new genres like this on the Revolution too!

jesusraz 20.06.2005#7

Oh yeah, big needles, lots of blood! Sorry Bartholomeus, but it wouldn't be much of a doctor simulation if it didn't have those included! :-D Smilie

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Guest 20.06.2005#8

Yeah, too bad for me then. I'll just go and sit in this corner playing Electroplankton...:tongue:

Erotic_Spider 20.06.2005#9

i hope its got good sound then as to hear the all the greusome things being practised.

-Have you any idea what it's like to be a Fembot living in a Manbot's Manputer's world?
-What?

Hawk 20.06.2005#10

Looks really cool.

Working like a fiend isn't very fun... and surprisingly isn't very fiendish either.

jesusraz 20.06.2005#11

Yeah that's the one aspect I missed out on with quite a lot of games, the sound side. It would be a nice touch if there were screams of pain and squelching noises included! :eek:

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Monkeyman 20.06.2005#12

I maybe able to import this, seeing as my Dad is a Doctor, how could he not want me to follow in his footsteps.Lol

King of the 'League of Kings'||My deviantART|| My Photography

Bz0 21.06.2005#13

Hmm, interesting.
Is there a EU release date?

Revolution is the solution.

jesusraz 21.06.2005#14

Importing for the moment seems like the best option (from the US) as there has been no Euro date announced as of yet, which is a shame.

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

mooojc 22.06.2005#15

Another interesting game, i'll be keeping my eyes on this one.

howzy22 23.06.2005#16

You say its addictive(creepishly?? lol), do u then not find it monotonous??

It seems like it would be :p

jesusraz 23.06.2005#17

The three scenarios were highly addictive at the time and the idea of being in such control of people's lives is a very interesting concept, but I see where you're coming from. With a simple range of tools to select from, then the scenarios offered up are certainly going to have to be damn varied to keep people's attention fixed. That or there's going to be a really gripping story and some side-games to work through...