When I discovered the DS game Trauma Center had a sequel while browsing a grocers electronics department I decided I must have it. I was eager to be reunited with Dr. Derek Stiles and see the aftermath of the GUILT bio-terror scheme. Upon returning home I counted what money I had and found I had enough to buy this game. I soon returned to the grocer to buy this game and happily begun to play it once at home. This game was titled Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2. Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 was a unique game for the DS in the sense that it dealt with surgery, yes surgery. Now, you may wonder how a game about a trauma center can be entertaining. I invite you to look at shows like Greys Anatomy. Such shows are entertaining because of the dramatic situations thrust upon the medical centers staff and how they deal, or don’t deal, with the situations. Although I never finished the first Trauma Center game for the DS (never actually owned it) Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 filled in the gaps of my game knowledge and didn’t call upon the past game much anyways. So without further ado I shall begin my review.

Graphics 8.0
To compare the DSs graphics to that of a 3DS would be absurd. The DS, although capable of supporting 3d models, could not support 3d models of great detail and have an environment of equal detail. Despite this fact some games near the portable consoles phase out such as Black and White 2 boasted 3d environments and detailed sprites for overall nice graphics. But am I talking about Pokémon? No, I am not. Those two games were released just recently comparatively to the game I’m reviewing. The game I am reviewing is one that was initially released in 2008, and we need to be mindful of the tech from then. Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 is a game classed as a ‘visual novel’ so there isn’t any wondering around the game world like an RPG. Instead of glamorous environments and a stunning combat system the player is treated to eye pleasing sprites (not sure if their technically sprites without animations but whatever) and wonderfully made environment backdrops on the top screen to help with atmosphere. On the lower screen, however, the player is given a simple backdrop and something that I’m not entirely sure if it’s a low polygon count 3d model or an exceptionally done 2d art piece representing what you’re operating on. Some of the best sprites I’ve seen are from this game, and the 3d models are on par with other games produced for this console. The textures found on the 3d models for the game were simple, yet detailed enough to take notice. I enjoyed this games graphics thoroughly. A solid 8.0 from me.

Sound 6.0
What can I say about this games sound? There a few repeated throughout the game, without many of such sounds being unique. My favorite sound effect from the game would be Derek’s shocked/surprised sound effect. This sound effect is a simple “What?!?!” with a slightly comedic extension on the H and A. To my ears this is the most impressive sound effect. There was not a wide range of sound effects, and of the ones present they were somewhat simple. A small snippet of speech such as “Doctor Stiles!” or the wailing of a siren is basically the extent of the sound effects. The soundtrack, however, is more complex. To be honest I didn’t really listen to the soundtrack while playing the game but from what I remember it was nice, not distracting, and energetic. The audio for this game, while not impressive in its variety, was not grating or irritating, each song fit perfectly, was pleasing to the ears. I feel it deserves a 6.0, if it had a wider range of sounds perhaps it would have been rated higher.

Addictive 7.0
I have come back to this game many times since acquiring it in 2010, it numbers in my most replayed games in fact. Once you figure out the gameplay it becomes something you can easily pick back up and comeback to even after months of not playing. For someone who usually completes a game and will barely play it again, this is a rare quality for a game. I enjoy the gameplay, art, sound, and story of Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 so I keep coming back to it. I give it a 7.0.

Story 7.0 _{Contains spoilers!}
The game begins with Dr. Derek Stiles and Nurse Angie in the Costigar region of Africa, far from Angeles Bay where the series started. Derek and his Nurse Angie came to this war torn region to aid in the medical relief effort. Derek quickly became an asset the camp could not operate without because he possesses the healing touch. The healing touch is something of an inborn ability which not all surgeons have, but this will be explained more in the ‘difficulty’ section below. Despite how much aid Derek Stiles provides the relief he was eventually called back to America. Shortly after arriving back in America a grim disease rears its ugly head again named GUILT. Although the GUILT strains encountered is not the same strains that were originally deployed by the terror organizations years ago, and what’s more they first showed up in survivors of this disease. It was not long after beginning research on the new strains that it was discovered that they did not naturally mutate to their new states. It was not long till after this revelation that a bio-terror strike was to occur at a recovery facility for GUILT survivors. The terrorist organization Delphi is now confirmed to be resurrected. During this strike, a man died that was in Derek’s care. Derek slowly started to doubt his ability’s as a surgeon for failing to save this man. These doubts led his loss of the healing touch, this shattered him. He was transferred to the hospital where he performed his internship and was put under the direction of his former Nurse. With her help he slowly got his life back together and regained the healing touch. After being transferred back to the trauma center he was greeted by the staff present in the story and his Nurse Angie warmly. Eventually more bio-terror strikes from Delphi take place and one ends with Derek and Angie becoming hostages by the hands of Delphi thugs. They would escape the Delphi headquarters and report to national security it whereabouts. The Delphi headquarters turned out to be a remote mansion on the coastline around the Angeles Bay area. A rain was to take place where Derek and Angie would be present to provide medical attention to Delphi’s GUILT research victims. The game would come to a close with several epic surgeries performed in a short time span and the destruction of Delphi once and for all. Now, I did leave out some minor things in the story, I feel the reader doesn’t need a description of all events that occur in the story. Overall, I like the story. It was well written, tied in with gameplay nicely, and was not too absurd to take place in a future version of this world. With my inexperience in reviewing I give it a solid seven.

Depth 7.0
While not deeply engrossing, Trauma Center: Under The knife 2 is a game that’s hard to put down. There were times when I wanted to keep playing but I knew I couldn’t, and there were also times when the difficultly got in the way of the immersion. It was a story that you wanted to know the end of, and for me one worth experiencing again. Each time I played this game I wanted block out everything else and experience it again. The first time I played Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 I couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy the story it’s easy to become immersed. I give it a 7.0 easy.

Difficulty 8.0
Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 progresses nicely in terms of difficulty. While the controls were a bit difficult to memorize, for me at least, I found they flowed quite nicely once memorized. The game can be played almost entirely by use of the touch screen I believe, and because of this I almost feel the need to applaud the smart usage of limited space for the controls. From the first level, or ‘surgery,’ right away you’re presented with a screen that has many tools for you to use, although not all the boxes are unlocked yet. The developers gave you same screen gameplay screen at the beginning that you see in the end; only differences would be boxes unlocking and letting you use certain items. In the first level you can only use the scalpel, antibiotic gel, stitches, and gauze. But by the end of the game you are given the option to use other items such as syringes, laser, ultrasound and more to help you properly perform surgeries. When each item is unlocked your told its function and made to use it in the level so you have an understanding of when to use it in later levels. Once an item is unlocked it is permanently unlocked, giving you access to it even if you shouldn’t use it. Now, you may be given hints at some points if the game detects no progression in the level but generally you are on your own in remembering how to treat what and what to use to treat it. The healing touch, once unlocked may be used once every level. What the healing touch is is is basically the ability to slow time for yourself so you may operate faster and with greater accuracy. While this may sound like a cheat, it was very helpful in some latter levels. I found the overall gameplay fun yet challenging. I had to replay more than one level before finding success. I’ll rate the difficulty at an 8.0 for that reason, but mind you not all levels are that hard.

And so ends my first review. Tips for future reviews (although likely never to happen again) would be appreciates.

Man, the Game Reviews forum is a wild fire because of TDV. This is very scary. But this was a great review of yours. It's not a game I can get into, but nice job