Trauma Center (video game series)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Trauma Center'' is a series of video games developed by
Atlus is a Japanese video game developer, publisher, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for video game series such as ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona'', ''Etrian Odyssey'' and ''Trau ...
and published by Atlus (Japan, North America) and
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
(Europe). Beginning with '' Trauma Center: Under the Knife'' in 2005 for the
Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
, the series released four more entries on the DS and
Wii The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...
. The gameplay is split between a surgical gameplay
simulation A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of Conceptual model, models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or proc ...
, and
visual novel A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...
storytelling. While mostly dealing with different characters, the games share a common setting of a near-future Earth where advanced medical procedures are used to treat several patients, including outbreaks of deadly viruses. A recurring organisation is Caduceus, a worldwide semi-covert medical foundation. The series was created by
Katsura Hashino is a Japanese video game director and producer, best known for working on the ''Persona'' role-playing game series by Atlus. From 2006 to 2016, Hashino served as director of P-Studio, an internal team at Atlus that manages the ''Persona'' seri ...
, who wanted to use the DS's controls to explore a simulation type only previously possible on PCs. Following the first game, a dedicated production team dubbed "CaduceTeam" was created to handle future games. Beginning with the Wii remake ''
Second Opinion A second opinion is an opinion on a matter disputed by two or more parties. Law In legal cases, a second opinion which contradicts the opinion of a jointly retained expert may be disregarded as not being impartial. Consumer rights In cas ...
'', the series was directed by Daisuke Kanada.


Titles

*'' Trauma Center: Under the Knife'' is the first entry in the series, released on the
Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
. It was published in Japan and North America in 2005, and in Europe the following year. The game follows protagonist Derek Stiles as he confronts a manmade disease called GUILT. *'' Trauma Center: Second Opinion'' is the second entry and a remake of the first game. It released as a launch title for the
Wii The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...
in Japan and North America in 2006, and the following year in Europe and Australia. In addition to revisiting Stiles's battle against GUILT, ''Second Opinion'' adds missions for surgeon Naomi Kimishima, and a new chapter closing off both narratives. *'' Trauma Center: New Blood'' is the third entry in the series, released for the Wii first in North America in 2007, then in Japan and Europe regions in 2008, and Australia in 2009. The narrative follows two new doctors as they are recruited to fight Stigma, a new manmade disease spreading across the world. *'' Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2'' is the fourth entry, a direct sequel to the first game developed for the DS. It was released in North America and Japan in 2008. The story features Derek Stiles when he encounters a new GUILT-based threat. *''
Trauma Team ''Trauma Team'' is a 2010 simulation video game developed and published by Atlus for the Wii. It is the fifth entry and current final entry in the ''Trauma Center'' series. The narrative of ''Trauma Team'' follows six protagonists who operate in ...
'', the fifth and to-date final entry and cited as a spin-off title within the series universe, was released in 2010 in Japan and North America. The narrative, split across six different characters working at Resurgam First Care, focuses on the emerging threat of a new disease.


Common elements


Gameplay

The gameplay and presentation of ''Trauma Center'' use two recurring features;
surgery Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
simulation A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of Conceptual model, models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or proc ...
carried out from a first-person view; and the narrative delivered using a
visual novel A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...
style. ''Trauma Team'' includes surgery, but also uses five other professions;
emergency medicine Emergency medicine is the medical speciality concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Emergency physicians (often called “ER doctors” in the United States) continuously learn to care for unsche ...
where patients at the scene are given rapid treatments,
endoscopy An endoscopy is a procedure used in medicine to look inside the body. The endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, endoscopes are insert ...
for small-scale internal treatment,
orthopedics Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...
which focuses on skeletal operations and reconstruction,
diagnosis Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " cause and effect". In systems engin ...
for determining medical conditions through a routine of speaking with the patient and examining medical scans, and
forensic medicine Forensic medicine is a broad term used to describe a group of medical specialties which deal with the examination and diagnosis of individuals who have been injured by or who have died because of external or unnatural causes such as poisoning, assa ...
where evidence from crime scenes and the victims are used to reach a conclusion to the case. During surgery, the player operates on the patient use a variety of tools; these include the scalpel, healing gel, a syringe for injecting health boosts and other substances, a laser, an ultrasound scan, a drain, forceps, and thread for stitching wounds. Later titles introduce the defibrillator for reviving dying patients. Operation types range from organ repair and tumor extraction to skin grafts and bone repair. The DS titles make use of the touch screen, with players selecting and using tools using icons. For ''Second Opinion'' and ''New Blood'', the controls were adjusted to work with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and added functions including the
defibrillator Defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) and non-perfusing ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach). A defibrillator delivers a dose of electric current (often called a ''coun ...
. A recurring gameplay mechanic across the series is the Healing Touch, an ability which grants superhuman advantages to surgeons who hold it. Its effects vary between individuals, with demonstrated abilities including slowing time, healing patients, and stopping a patient's health from dropping. It is activated by drawing a star shape on the screen. The Healing Touch and similar fantastical elements were toned down or removed for ''Trauma Team''. Both ''New Blood'' and ''Trauma Team'' included local cooperative multiplayer options.


Setting and themes

The ''Trauma Center'' series is set in a near-future version of Earth where medical advances have led to the development of cures for previously major diseases such as AIDS and cancer. A key organisation is Caduceus; while outwardly a medical research body for studying intractable diseases, it has a semi-covert role fighting bioterrorism using artificial viruses. Originally founded in Europe, Caduceus has branches established around the world. A recurring element across the series is the presence of science fiction or supernatural elements in the narratives. ''Trauma Team'' made less use of these elements, including not using the Healing Touch. All the ''Trauma Center'' titles share the same universe and timeline. The original game and its remake are set in the year 2018. ''Under the Knife 2'' is set three years after the first game's events. ''Trauma Team'' takes place at some point after the events of ''Second Opinion'', though it is not directly connected to the rest of the series. The action takes place around the locality of Resurgam First Care, a fictional hospital in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
where many of the protagonists work. ''New Blood'' is set ten years after the events of ''Second Opinion''. Two recurring characters are Naomi Kimishima, a player character in ''Second Opinion'' and ''Trauma Team''; and Derek Stiles, who makes appearances in each title in the series. A recurring narrative theme in the ''Trauma Center'' series was saving life through surgery, and the passion of doctors to save lives. In ''Second Opinion'', a secondary theme was the damaging impact of surgery being used for the wrong reasons. The narrative themes of ''New Blood'' are the battle to save lives and the preciousness of life. The story of ''Under the Knife 2'' incorporated issues of treating the poor, doctor shortages, and anti-aging medicine. In ''Trauma Team'', the story focused on how people lived full lives in a world that could see terrible life-threatening events, drawing direct inspiration from the
2009 swine flu pandemic The 2009 swine flu pandemic, caused by the H1N1 influenza virus and declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) from June 2009 to August 2010, is the third recent flu pandemic involving the H1N1 virus (the first being the 1918–1920 Span ...
.


Development

The original ''Trauma Center'' was created by Atlus staff member
Katsura Hashino is a Japanese video game director and producer, best known for working on the ''Persona'' role-playing game series by Atlus. From 2006 to 2016, Hashino served as director of P-Studio, an internal team at Atlus that manages the ''Persona'' seri ...
, who acted as producer. Beginning production in 2004, the team wanted to recreate the surgical simulation gameplay of PC titles for the DS, since its controls and hardware were more capable compared to others of the time. Many of the staff were veterans of Atlus's
role-playing Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing a ...
''
Megami Tensei ''Megami Tensei'', marketed internationally as ''Shin Megami Tensei'' (formerly ''Revelations''), is a Japanese media franchise created by Aya Nishitani, Kouji Okada, Kouji "Cozy" Okada, Ginichiro Suzuki, and Kazunari Suzuki. Primarily developed ...
'', making production challenging due to the team's inexperience. Following the success of ''Under the Knife'', Hashino formed some of the team into a dedicated team to work on the series; they were internally known as "CaduceTeam", made up of what director Daisuke Kanada described as Atlus's most enthusiastic gamers. Kanada has worked on multiple ''Megami Tensei'' titles and collaborated with Hashino on several games since ''
Maken X ''Maken X'' is a first-person hack and slash video game developed by Atlus for the Dreamcast. It was published by Atlus in Japan in 1999, while Sega localized and released the game overseas in 2000. Gameplay has the Maken—a sentient sword-l ...
'' in 1999; ''Second Opinion'' was his debut as a director. Production of ''Second Opinion'' began in January 2006. Recurring staff included Kanada as director; artist Masayuki Doi, who replaced original artist Maguro Ikehata from ''Second Opinion'' onwards; programmer Takaaki Ikeda; and scenario writer Shogo Isogai, who worked on ''Under the Knife'', ''Second Opinion'' and ''New Blood''. ''Under the Knife'' was directed by Kazuya Niinou, who was later lead designer on the original ''
Etrian Odyssey ''Etrian Odyssey'' is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game series. It is primarily developed and published by Atlus and currently owned by Sega. By 2016, the series had sold a combined total of 1.5 million copies worldwide. Titles Main se ...
'' for Atlus; and would later work on titles for
Imageepoch was a video game developer based out of Tokyo, Japan. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2015, due to its declining sales and debt. History The company was founded in June 2005 by Ryoei Mikage. Their first release was the tactical role-playin ...
and
Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate, best known for its ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', ''Star Ocean'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'' role-playing video game ...
.Translation
/ref> MediaVision helped with production on ''New Blood'', while Vanguard developed ''Under the Knife 2'' under Atlus's supervision. ''Trauma Team'' began development in 2007, beginning as being close to a mainline entry before expanding into its current form, covering multiple medical professions.Transcript
/ref>


Reception

In a series retrospective, Peter Davison of ''
USGamer Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...
'' noted both the series' notable position in Atlus's gaming library, and how the titles made use of the Nintendo console mechanics.


References

;Citations ;Notes


External links

* {{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings Sega Games franchises Video game franchises introduced in 2005