Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Developer(s)	Atlus Vanguard
Publisher(s)	Atlus
Director(s)	Daisuke Kanada
Composer(s)	Manabu Namiki Noriyuki Kamikura
Series	Trauma Center
Engine	Vanguard Trauma Center Engine
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	NA: July 1, 2008[1] JP: August 7, 2008[2]
Genre(s)	Simulation, Visual novel
Mode(s)	Single-player

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (救急救命 カドゥケウス2, Kyūkyū Kyūmei Kadukeusu 2, lit. "Medical Emergency: Caduceus 2") is a simulation game developed for the Nintendo DS and the third in the Trauma Center series. The game is a sequel to Trauma Center: Under the Knife. The character designs of Under the Knife 2 were provided by Masayuki Doi, who worked on Trauma Center: Second Opinion, instead of Maguro Ikehata, who worked on the original Under the Knife.

Gameplay

The player conducts the operation on the touch screen, while the top screen displays the score, time limit, and information from the nurse.

The gameplay of Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is similar to its predecessor, featuring improved graphics and surgical instruments. The game is divided into multiple chapters on a linear plotline. In each chapter, the player must complete an operation using the Touch Screen. The player is ranked based on multiple scoring factors. Once a chapter is completed, it can be replayed on another difficulty level. Extra, difficult chapters are unlocked upon the game's completion. Surgical tools used include the surgical laser, antibiotic gel, drain, forceps, ultrasound, magnification tool, scalpel, needle, syringe, defibrillator, wire, and an air compressor and penlight in extenuating circumstances. The player can also use the Healing Touch once per operation to slow time.

Plot

The game is set in 2021, three years after its predecessor where Dr. Derek Stiles, the protagonist, and his nurse, Angie Thompson, travel to the African nation of Costigar to help out at one of their hospitals. While there, they begin to research a new zoonose, which becomes serious enough for Derek to use the Healing Touch on a patient. Soon after this, Derek and Angie are called back to the Caduceus headquarters, Derek’s medical organization, to investigate a new GUILT-related disease tentatively called Post-GUILT Syndrome.

Afterwards, a terrorist organization called Delphi begins causing outbreaks of GUILT, which has evolved. The police raid some of their hideouts, but are unable to find their headquarters until they kidnap Derek and Angie. After they escape, the police and a new medical organization called the Hands of Asclepius (HOA) raid the building and arrest Delphi’s leader. The HOA replicates the Healing Touch, using data collected from Dr. Stiles in order to give their surgeons the power. However, this proves to be dangerous to most surgeons attempting the procedure.

Several days later, Angie’s father, who works for the HOA, informs the head of Caduceus that many of the HOA’s doctors are showing symptoms of GUILT. A police raid of Acropolis, a pharmaceuticals company working with the HOA, shows that the head of the HOA, Patrick Mercer, has been creating new strains of GUILT, dubbed Neo-GUILT, hoping that one strain could cure his wife, who is in a coma. He tries to escape to another part of the building; Derek and Angie follow Mercer into a room in which the head of Acropolis, Reina Mayuzumi, is attached to a series of tanks. She explains that she is using the Neo-GUILT to maintain her youth. Mercer injects her with another strain of GUILT, which causes her to age rapidly, and necessitates a final surgery by Stiles. Mercer is shot by police while trying to escape. With the threat of GUILT neutralized, Derek and Angie begin to travel the world together to improve their skills, as well as to spend time together in their now budding romantic relationship.

Music

The game's music is composed by Manabu Namiki and Noriyuki Kamikura. One of the songs 'Gentle Breeze' became a meme on YouTube when a user named ChristopherCooler posted a 10 second video called 'Squidward' consisting of a picture of Squidward (from the Nickelodeon TV show SpongeBob SquarePants) heavily edited with effects with this song in the background. Many users copied it, and so a fad was born.^[3]

After completing the story mode in any difficulty, the player will unlock the Sound Test, where they can listen to the game's 18 tracks, as well as the game's sound effects and voice-overs.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings 81% (28 reviews)[4] Metacritic 79% (29 reviews)[5] Review scores Publication Score 1UP.com B[6] AllGame [7] Edge 6/10[8] Game Informer 8.5/10[9] GamePro [10] GameSpot 8.5/10[11] GameSpy [12] GamesRadar [13] GameTrailers 7.8/10[14] GameZone 8.5/10[15] IGN 8.4/10[16] Nintendo Power 8.5/10 Nintendo World Report 6.5/10 X-Play [17]

Reception of Under the Knife 2 has been generally positive, with a 79% on Metacritic^[5] and an 81% on GameRankings.^[4] Edge rated Under the Knife 2 at 6/10, praising the visuals and controls, while criticising the lack of originality as compared to the first game.^[8] It was nominated for Best Action Game on the DS in IGN's 2008 video game awards.^[18]

References

External links

• North American website
• Japanese website