Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward Review

Hysteria Hospital, the name itself conjures up a rather manic picture alone. Oxygen games have certainly hit that nail right on the head. It wouldn't be unusual to see the more wacky style of game on the Wii and we all know it has its odd ball titles. Some are rather good others less so.

So along comes Hysteria Hospital not exactly the most advertised title to come the Wii's way and somewhat slipped under the radar. The immediate conclusion to draw would be that the game encroaches on the idea that made Theme Hospital successful. The idea of trying to balance a working hospital around all the crazy diseases and problems that come in. Hysteria Hospital obviously isn't the same kettle of fish, but it's clear that some of its ideas were definitely brought about from Theme Hospital. However, is it going to be any where near successful, or will it be due to flat line?

Hysteria Hospital essentially has two modes: Story and Endless Mode. The Story Mode starts players off with a short narrative, which focuses on a graduate that's trying to become a nurse. She doesn't have much luck however, until she finally manages to secure a job. The game then does an excellent job at easing you into the game, explaining clearly and slowly adding the different tasks to the mix for running the hospital and managing the patients.

Everything is done by pointing at objects with the Wii Remote and selecting them with the A Button. Patients mainly move around the hospital at the whim of the player, as they have to be dragged and dropped into various diagnosis and treatment facilities. Thought bubbles above the patient show what they require and everytime they require treatment a prescription is requested. This is where the nurse factors into the gameplay, as they must take the prescription to the respective patient so the treatment can then commence. As the game progresses the nurse's tasks increase to repairing broken equipment, tidying up sheets and bandages, delivering medicine and more.

After nine days at a hospital, the player is then transferred to a new hospital and the process continues. There are seven hospital in all, and each one offers a new set of challenges. The game may seem very simple at first, but later on numerous treatments are added, as well as multiple floors. These can be accessed by pressing the + and - buttons on the Wii Remote, but patients have to be sent up and down levels by being dropped onto the elevator.