Computerised Doctor/Nurse Roleplay (Theme Hospital (PC))

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Theme Hospital (PC)
Date:	12/09/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A comical and original classic

Disadvantages: Can leave you frustrated

I bought Theme Hospital for the PC a while ago as it was one of those games I had heard a lot about and wanted to try for myself. It does seem rather dated now, but it still retains its classic appeal and appears to have received a lot of positive reviews.

Theme Hospital is, unsurprisingly, a theme-based, simulation style game located within a hospital. What fun can one have in a hospital, you ask? Quite a lot when Bullfrog develop a game!

This was produced by Electronic Arts in 1997 following the release of Theme Park, and with other similar games such as the Sims gaining popularity around this time, Theme Hospital soon became popular.

This isn't an open-ended game, but it's not a game you have to play entirely to complete the levels as you can play, like I have, as if it were open ended and just do what you want whilst you get to grips with what you're required to do.

In this game, you can't control the patients but you have control over the set-up of the hospital wards and the staff. Like real doctors, you can't stop what infections, complaints and diseases come your way, and it's upto you to ensure each patient is given the time & medical attention they need until they're good as new (though this isn't quite my experience of being in hospitals lately).

On your budget, you direct the picking up and placing of your equipment and furnishings (from fungus testing and brain surgery stations, to water dispensers and office desks), and of your staff (doctors, nurses, receptionists, handymen, skilled doctors etc).

The rooms are divided into 4 main groups: diagnosis, treatment, clinics and facilities. At the start of the game on your first level, the hospital will be empty and it's down to you to set up your rooms and fill the hospital to cope with the incoming flock of patients.

The bar at the bottom of screen will inform you of your budget, requirements, patients cured, hospital value etc. I found this to be vital and helped greatly when trying to form strategies for completing the levels.

Game play isn't as smooth and pixel-clear as you'd expect from games today, but it's still of good enough quality to play easily without too much complaint. I found that my desktop was quite slow and so have a few technical hitches with the game, though I think this is due to my computer rather than the game itself.

The game has a dark comedy edge to, which is another feature of the game which makes it unique. For example, the diseases and illnesses are far from what you'd expect (such as 'the squits'), taking away the serious nature of medical issues and making it a fun game, rather than something sombre.

Unexpected incidents, such as earthquakes, help to (quite literally) shake the game up a bit and throw you new challenges.

There's plenty of detail in this game to keep you entertained and finding new bits & pieces to discover for a while. It's light-hearted and comical, and yet provides a challenge as you attempt to complete the increasingly difficult levels.

Overall, this game is very popular and for good reason, though it's not something I found myself addicted to for months on end. I think I got frustrated at trying, and failing, to complete the levels, got bored and neglected it. However, it's one I would recommend as it's enjoyable and gives you a break from more serious matters when you're too busy performing brain surgery or curing the infamous case known as 'the squits'.

(Amazon £3.96. Also available on Playstation)

Summary: A classic 'theme' game. Enjoyable but requires thought