The Nintendo DS is all about innovation, right? Nintendo itself has led the way in this, with games like Wario Ware: Touched and Nintendogs; but little ol' Atlus trumps even the big N with something as weird as it is wonderful. It's a surgeon sim with unique control, an ER-worthy storyline, and appropriately squeamish graphics.

You haven't lived until you've removed a plethora of glass shards from a guy's heart. This and other varied, dramatic situations encapsulate Trauma Center's gameplay. All the patients you come in contact with are in deep doo-doo, and only you can save them. To do so, you've got to use every tool at your disposal -- of which there are many, and every one has its place. Antibiotic gel preps areas for cutting with the scalpel, or can heal minor injuries; sutures are for stitching up wounds; and you have several liquids to inject into hurting bodies.

Eventually, you unlock an inner power to slow time. I probably could've done without this element, but it at least adds some validity to your timid, lazy main character. Balancing all these tools and abilities could have been confusing, but the game eases you into your task at a merciful pace, letting you learn as you go. The top screen has a nurse letting you know what needs to be done next. Just don't expect her to always be there. That's why you make the big bucks.


Trauma Center is almost a spiritual sequel to the electronic board game Operation. All of the actions use the stylus and touch-screen, and almost every one of them controls perfectly. The lone exception is suturing, as you don't always know where to put the stitches. There's a miss limit on each mission, meaning you can screw up and not blow the whole thing. In challenge mode, you can go back and replay levels to try to beat your rank. Getting above a B is a darn tough thing; if you can do it, you're a better surgeon than I.