Somewhat funny and fun to play but not quite the 3D-Theme Hospital we were expecting... :(
Sometimes we like to sit back and play a game that doesn't require our entire brain to kick in. A game with which we can just relax and watch things happen. One that doesn't require extensive strategy or planning... THIS GAME is it!
Those of you that remember 'Theme Hospital' will be able to get into Hospital tycoon without a, excuse the expression, hiccup!
An easy to play, easy of the hardware and on the eyes modern cousin of the classic "Theme Hospital'. With new infirmities, machines and cures. Less all the building hassles one ran into with the older game. Building rooms is just a matter of selecting the right size ratio, rotating and click. No more placing windows, doors and such. The room modules come prefabricated, add your primary machine to define the type of room and presto, instant application! You can still add decorations so the interior designer in you will still feel good.
The graphics are great, clean, clear and run great! All the information is very well organized and sortable lists make managing a breeze. You know where everything and everyone is and what they are doing in just a couple of clicks. A very well designed GUI. Clear type and logical navigation.
A great feature is not only being able to track an individual patient or staff member, but also you can see what they see... sort of reminded me of the movie "Being John Malkovich." Very nice touch, although when the hospital starts to get busy, do you rarely have time to take in the view as Ms. Peabody sneezing all the way to the pharmacist.
The music is alright and blends in with the game's style of play.
There's a story mode and a sandbox mode which I like the most.
The bad: There's interaction between the staff members that adds nothing to the game play. I totally skip even trying for the staff to get along, it adds nothing to the game.
I honestly wish there were a slider to adjust game difficulty... because as it comes out of the box this game is very hard to lose. I finished the story mode without thinking. One thing is for a game to be easy another is for it to be a cakewalk.
Another annoyance is the voices, the generic-mumble Sims style is poor in comparison and can get on your nerves fast.
To sum it all up:
Overall, Hospital Tycoon is a good game that could use a better story mode and more challenges. Perhaps in future patches?