Second opinion isn't in need of any surgery
The plot focuses mainly on Doctor Derek Stiles who is the main playable character throughout the game but there is the occasional side mission involving Doctor Weaver a female doctor with a secret to hide. Derek starts off as a fresh faced doctor who is quite frankly lazy but over the course of the game he matures well and the threat of GUILTS a new terrorist biological disease is what it takes to transform him into one of the best Doctors around.
Infact I think that the story is one of the best parts of the game. It's well told and genuinely captivating. Cutscenes may be still backgrounds with still characters popping up with text but that doesn't hold it make. For me that serves to give the game a more unique feel because you don't see that a lot in this day and age. Voiceovers are non-existant in cutscenes but in the operating room during missions there is the odd moment of text but it's never a sentence as such, it's more of a soundbite.
Now onto the actual gameplay. The game plays very well and it feels natural. You use the nunchucks analog stick to choose a surgical tool, point at the screen using the wii remote and use it with either A or B. Variety is key to the game because without it Trauma Center would grow old pretty quickly and thankfully with a wide range of equipment and missions your not likely to get bored throughout the games six hour + duration. Only six hours I hear you cry well considering the game is made up entirely of five minute missions with the occasional ten minute mission thrown in for good measure I'd say that's pretty good.
Missions are set out well and each start with a briefing from your assistant and fellow doctors. The briefing shows the time limit and what you'll need to do. Don't worry if you forget though because your assistant is always on hand guiding you through the operation. Once you've compoleted an operation you'll recieve a score and a rank. This is to encourage replay value and i'm sure you'll want to replay it anyway because it's a very enjoyable ride throughout the game.
One key gameplay mechanic remains for me to describe and that is the healing touch. The healing touch is a gift that only few doctors posses. The two main characters Doctors Stiles and Weaver both possess the gift. If you hold down Z and B and draw a star on the screen time is slowed own making it much easier to complete some of the later, harder missions. You'll need to use it becaue even on easy the later missions can be very hard. I'd recommend any players who are new to Trauma Center to play it through on easy first so they can get to grips with it.
Last but not least the games graphical style. The graphics aren't bad but because of the way the story is told on still backgrounds they're nothing that couldn't have been done on the Dreamcast. Also the music is good but not amazing. It won't win any wards for best soundtrack.
So to conclude Second opinion is a fun, enthralling experience that only the Wii can provide and it's a game that player who are looking for something different in a market saturated by Minigames and first person shooters will relish.