Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

"Doesn't live up to the Trauma Center Name."

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is the fourth entry to the popular Trauma Center Series(Third distinctive game, given that Trauma Center: Second Opinion was a remake of the first one.) It's the series first return to the Nintendo DS since the Original, and in my opinion they should stick the to the Wii. The DS Controls are extremely lacking compared to the Wii Variants, and it almost feels as if the series has taken a step backwards.

GRAPHICS
I really have nothing bad to say about the graphics; The original was on the DS and the graphics were severely lacking, with the Wii Variant greatly improving on it. The next game(Also for the Wii) would hold to that graphics style, and then this game, instead of reverting to the style used on the previous DS entry, sticks to the now-classic Wii Style, improving the feel of the original DS Game.

MUSIC
The Trauma Center series is well-known for their excellent musical scores. I've had but one problem in the past, which is that the operations themselves do not have enough musical variance, an issue which was solved in the last entry. This game keeps up with that tradition, offering well-designed and original themes and much variance to keep the game rolling. The music in this game is some of the best I've heard in a while.

STORY
Heres where the game starts to fall apart for me. In the beginning it starts out okay, with the game starting in Africa and then switching gears to America at the end of the first chapter. This is fine. However, at a certain point, the game starts to get waaaaay to farfetch'd for a game about Doctors. What kind of doctors really get on the front lines of Medical Terrorism?
Okay, sorry about the spoilers here, but I absolutely LOVE how the doctors get kidnapped by terrorists for a chapter. That's a very unique and exciting plot! Except they ALREADY DID THAT in the last game! You'd think they'd be able to come up with a new story?

My other main issue with the story is the insane amounts of dialogue. Maybe I've just grown more impatient, but there's at least TWICE as much conversations then there was in the last game. It's ridiculous that I'll spend more time talking then actually performing the operations.

GAME-PLAY
The Game-Play is almost exactly the same as the first DS Version, which really makes me feel like we're taking a step backwards. The Wii Game-Play style is outstanding and really allows for speed and ease of use. The DS Variants however leave much to be desired, proving it to be tedious to drain blood, use the syringe, or even switch tools. I realize it might have been difficult to come up with a new game-play style that's enjoyable for the DS, but maybe that should have been your clue that this was not the best system for the game to run on. Had this game been on the Wii, I think it would have been much more enjoyable.

OVERALL:6/10
I realize I may have been harsh in this review, so I want to get one thing clear: I am not saying, by ANY means, that this is a bad game. It is a very fun and exciting game and any fans of the series will enjoy it. All I am trying to say with this review is that Trauma Center is a great series and I think this could have been a bit better before become part of it. If you like the games, then pick this up! If you don't like them or have never played one, then skip it. You aren't missing the game of the year.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/08

Game Release: Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (US, 07/02/08)