Summary
- Release Year: 1988
- Genres: Simulator
- Platforms: Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari ST/STE, DOS, FM Towns, Mac, PC-9800 Series, Sharp X68000
- Publishers: Mindscape, Inc., Takeru, The Software Toolworks, Inc., Ving Co., Ltd.
Life & Death (1988): A Pioneering Medical Simulation
Released in 1988, Life & Death is a groundbreaking medical simulation game that puts you in the role of a doctor in a busy hospital. Your job is to diagnose patients, administer appropriate therapies, or even perform surgery when necessary.
For its time, Life & Death was incredibly realistic. To diagnose a patient, you had to press on his or her abdomen to see which portions of the stomach caused pain. Based on this knowledge, you could choose a therapy (observation, medication, or referring to another specialist) or administer an X-ray or ultrasound scan to get more information about the patient’s illness.
In some cases, surgery would be necessary. As the surgeon, you had to perform the operation very carefully, adhering strictly to the procedures, preserving hygiene, and maintaining care when cutting into the patient.
Should you mistakenly administer the wrong therapy or kill your patient on the operating table, you were kicked back to medical school, where you were given hints as to what you had done wrong.
Life & Death was a challenging game, but it was also very rewarding. It was one of the first games to give players a realistic glimpse into the world of medicine, and it helped to popularize the medical simulation genre.
Gameplay
Life & Death is played from a first-person perspective. The game begins with you in the role of a newly graduated doctor. You are assigned to a hospital and must work your way up the ranks by successfully diagnosing and treating patients.
As you progress through the game, you will encounter a variety of different patients, each with their own unique symptoms. You will need to use your medical knowledge to diagnose each patient and then choose the appropriate treatment.
In addition to diagnosing and treating patients, you will also need to manage your hospital. This includes hiring and firing staff, purchasing new equipment, and expanding your hospital’s facilities.
Medical Accuracy
One of the things that made Life & Death so groundbreaking was its medical accuracy. The game was developed with the help of real doctors, and it accurately simulates the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of different medical conditions.
This made Life & Death a valuable educational tool for medical students and other healthcare professionals. The game also helped to raise awareness of the medical profession and the challenges that doctors face on a daily basis.
Legacy
Life & Death was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the best-selling games of 1988 and was praised for its realism, educational value, and addictive gameplay.
The game has been ported to a variety of different platforms over the years, and it remains popular with gamers today. Life & Death is considered to be one of the most important medical simulation games ever made, and it has helped to inspire a new generation of games in the genre.
Conclusion
Life & Death is a groundbreaking medical simulation game that gives players a realistic glimpse into the world of medicine. The game is challenging, rewarding, and educational, and it has helped to popularize the medical simulation genre. Life & Death is a must-play for fans of simulation games and anyone who is interested in learning more about the medical profession.
Review Score
8/10
Art
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