Doctor needed for the Inflation Room.... (Theme Hospital (PC))

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Theme Hospital (PC)
Date:	04/09/07 (196 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap and cheerful, amusing, plays on XP, does not require a lot of memory space

Disadvantages: save game option could be easier to access

Being a fan of simulation games, it is perhaps no big surprise that sooner or later I would come across Theme Hospital. This game has actually been around since 1995, and admittedly I had seen it before, but other games caught my eye and ended up in my trolley. One day whilst on Amazon however, I noticed the title on my SUGGESTED FOR YOU part of my homepage, and noting the super cheap price, went for a closer look. The reviews were excellent for it, and it had a gaming pedigree that I recognised, EA Games and Bullfrog. The premise of the game also sounded a bit fun: build a hospital from scratch, finding cures for and treating a variety of admittedly comical diseases, build clinics, and maintain staff and patient satisfaction levels whilst making a profit.

Like the original Sim City, which is also an EA Games creation, this game contains scenarios that one must complete to win. Unlike the original Sim City, however, the scenarios are linked so that they form levels of difficulty, and further items of research and equipment become available as one gets to the appropriate level. Obstacles crop up along the way as you play, ranging from a simple VIP visit, to an epidemic, to earthquakes which damage the buildings and equipment. Once you are advanced enough, the challenge increases to where the actual type of staff itself provides a challenge as one can only get a couple of consultants and the rest are all junior doctors of dubious quality so that the consultants must also train the junior doctors and bring them up to standard, whilst juggling patients in order to maintain quality of care.

The diseases themselves are rather humorous and of course, completely imaginary. From people needing psychiatric consults for thinking they are various TV personalities or they are indeed Elvis Presley, to broken bones (that are lethal if untreated or set improperly) to spare ribs that require surgery, to the unforgettable balloon head syndrome that requires the head to be popped and reinflated, to invisibility and beyond, there is guaranteed to be a medical issue that has certainly never been seen at any hospital you are likely to have visited in the real world. Nor can you simply hire doctors and simply cure what ails these patients. You need a research facility and a researcher to study these diseases and find the appropriate cure for the specific forms of each illness type, as otherwise, you run a risk of killing your patient. You also require a nurse with a pharmacy to dispense the medications, and a receptionist to check in and direct the patients. Handymen also need to be accounted for, as they clean the hospital, water the plants, and keep the diagnostic and treating room machinery in proper condition. You also are responsible for choosing room sizes, decor, and other items such as chairs, toilet blocks, and drinks machines, so observing patient and staff needs and wants is very important as well.

Resolution is not very detailed, and while the game's engine was updated to accommodate XP, it is obvious the game itself was not overhauled for a more up to date look. The graphics are very cartoony and rather basic when compared to the slick graphics of, say, the Sims or SIm City 4 Rush Hour (other EA games I might add). but rather than be a deterrent, with the silly illnesses and rather quirky personalities within the game, it adds to its charm. Gameplay itself is rather straightforward, with simple mouse commands and point and click options upon the screen. The only quibble I actually have is that the Save game feature is not as intuitive as the rest of the game, nor is it obvious from the instructions. Rather I had to Google for an unofficial guide to discover how to uncover the hidden task bar that opens the option for me to save a game, as otherwise it seemed to randomly open previous scenarios, including one for another player, which was VERY annoying.

The sound effects are also pretty basic, but the announcements over the tannoy add a strage veracity to the surreal nature of the hospital. The tannoy is worth listening to, as it will call your doctors to where they are needed (and they go on their own if available), so you can use it to check staffing levels. It also announces VIP's entering the building and arriving emergency cases so a careful listener can gain an edge on handling these parts of the scenario. The other sound effects are pretty well much just sort of there, with a low rumbly sound that sounds suspiciously ike Pooh Bear in need of honey sounding during a quake and not much else. Not that I am complaining; I do not particularly wish to actually hear the patients vomiting or anything!

For repeat playability I will give it a nod here, as it is strangely addictive, and is a game that even after completing all the levels, you find yourself picking up from the shelf and playing again when nothing else seems to suit. For age appeal, I can tell you that this nearly 40 year old enjoys the game as much as the six year old does, though the six year old finds the game difficult to master without assistance, which is unsurprising seeing as some advanced strategic thinking is required to get the most out of the game. All in all, a nice cheap game under £5 that is great for whiling away the time, and has repeat playability. Due to the type of thinking skills required, I would recommend it for ages 10 and up.

Summary: Build a hospital and save lives while making money...or not!