Talk:LifeSigns: Surgical Unit
Game reception had to be more detailed
[edit]Back in January, I noticed that the "Reception" section wasn't clear enough on what was being criticized, since LifeSigns wasn't a very well received video game to begin with. I edited the "Reception" section entirely. Why? This is why:
Below is what the "Reception" section initially read:
Some reviews have noted that far too much talking goes on in the game. Many in-game conversations must take place before any further medical progress will happen. This has been mentioned in several game reviews.
Which is a poor way on describing what critics had disliked about the game. Overall, I did edit most of the article. Giving more than 10 additional references. However, the "Reception" section is what I had improved the most.
Below is how I transcribed it:
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| IGN | 5.5/10 |
| GameSpot | 6.5/10 |
| GameZone | 7.5/10 |
| NintendoWorldReport | 6.5/10 |
| Game Informer | 6.0/10 |
| GameShark | 4.2/10 |
| Pocket Gamer UK | 4.0/10 |
LifeSigns received a mixed reception. Based on 17 reviews, metacritic.com had an average critic score of 61 out of 100.[1]
Some reviewers praised the game for having a more realistic hospital setting as opposed to a more fictional one in Trauma Center. Some also praised the large amount of character interaction, which mainly came from Sanosuke of ZTGameDomain, who gave the game it's biggest praise, "I'm having trouble typing this today, as my left hand is sore from playing Lifesigns so much yesterday. And when a game compels me to play to the point of arthritis, that my friends, is a good thing."[2]. However, Sanosuke also pointed out how there is "A little less trial and error in diagnosis", and how a few aspects of surgery functionality may aggravate[3]. ZTGameDomain has given LifeSigns an 8.5/10.
Some of the game's criticism had been the fact that it "feels more like an interactive storybook than an actual game."[4] GameShark.com's review states, "It’s like reading a book where you drop paragraphs into order. This is a tremendous flaw after all; this is a game, not a movie." Level (Czech Republic) had noted the unbalanced gameplay and that it "slips to boredom gibberish." Although many reviewers have noted the large amounts of conversations that goes on in between missions, as many conversations must take place before further medical progress will happen, which was widly criticized by critics. Chris Adams of IGN stated in a closing comment about the game, "The game needed some streamlining, or at least more pressing decision-making within all these conversations, rather than mindless drag and drop."[5] Games Master UK states, "Heavy on text, low on game, which makes it less fun than "Trauma Center."[6] NintendoWorldReport describes the inability to skip the long conversations as "a tedious and frustrating process." Tracy Erickson of Pocket Gamer UK remarks, "Almost all of your time is spent tapping through conversations instead of actually examining patients and performing operations. This makes for a remarkably boring game, if Lifesigns can even be called a game."[7] GameShark.com concludes, "Finally, the fact you can’t actually do anything to affect any of the game’s outcomes is somewhat ridiculous, and in the end makes it difficult to recommend."
Despite the large amount of criticism by critics, the game fared better with the public, receiving a 7.0/10 from Metacritic based on public scores. However, IGN's public score average was 1.0/10. The game was listed #5 on Pocket Gamer UK's "Ten Worst DS Games of 2007."[8]
Much more better isn't it? I edited this section entirely as mentioned before, only to give viewers of this article an even better description on what the game was praised for and what the game was criticized for. Jonah Ray Cobbs 20:43, 14 March 2009 (UTC)JRC3 —Preceding unsigned comment added by JRC3 (talk • contribs)
References
- ^ Metacritic , states the average critic score based on 17 reviews.
- ^ Taken from Sanosuke's closing comment of his review about the game
- ^ ZTGameDomain, in Sanosuke's review, both of these things he pointed out were listed in a grid of minor criticisms about the game.
- ^ Metacritic The Official Nintendo Magazine UK stated, "Frustratingly, it plays more like an interactive story book than a videogame."
- ^ IGN's LifeSigns: Surgical Unit game review
- ^ Metacritic.com
- ^ Pocket Gamer UK
- ^ Pocket Gamer UK's "Top Ten Worst DS Games of 2007"
"Like Scrubs being crossed with Trauma Center?"
[edit]I knew what this statement meant. Scrubs is a comedy show that centers on doctors and the life of them in a hospital, combined with a comedic nature. And Trauma Center: Under The Knife is the first installment in Atlus's Trauma Center series, which has a medical theme. True that LifeSigns combines these themes, but just what critic commented this? Prior to editing most of the article, I found this statement below located in the opening paragraph:
The game is commented as being "like Scrubs being crossed with Trauma Center."
Like I said, Scrubs wasn't mentioned in any review I've read about the game. Instead, critics said it was a blend between Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center since LifeSigns additionally uses Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney's use of records (notes) that can be used for further evidence (In LifeSigns, these are known as "medical records"). So I changed this to keep up with critics. Jonah Ray Cobbs 21:06, 14 March 2009 (UTC)JRC3
To my last edit...
[edit]My edit of the reception noting the criticism of the intense in-game conversation is sort of redundant, Here it reads: "Although many reviewers have noted the large amounts of conversations that goes on in between missions, as many conversations must take place before further medical progress will happen, which was widely criticized by critics. I have, as of now, changed it. Just wanted to point it out.--Jonah Ray Cobbs 01:49, 4 February 2010 (UTC)JRC3 —Preceding unsigned comment added by JRC3 (talk • contribs)