Topic: First Impressions: Hospital Havoc

Time for yet another iPhone port, this one in the time management genre. I'm having fun with it so far, and based on the bit of research I did on the iPhone version, it appears to be the full experience with all the content from the original. You use the touch screen to zip around juggling multiple tasks, like diagnosing patients, filling prescriptions, washing your hands to keep your cleanliness meter in the green and lots more. It gets very hectic as you progress. Humorous touches, like treating acne patients by putting paper bags on their heads, and the occasional pop culture reference keep things somewhat light hearted, and the colorful cartoony look of the characters is pleasing to the eye. There are many modes to choose from as well: a career mode that teaches you step by step how to play, an endless mode where you are able to adjust practically all of the gameplay parameters, and a "Scenario" mode where you can choose from 11 unique preset situations.
All in all, I'd recommend it. It's a solid entry in a genre that is perfect for DSiWare, and up til now hasn't really been represented (unless you count Flight Control).

Seeing the game made me think of this mini-game from Zoo Frenzy. Nice thoughts, BTW

Figured I should mention, I just had the game freeze on me 3 times in about 30 minutes.

Ugh, I hate buggy games.

I was hoping this would be a bit like Theme Hospital. Actually, Theme Hospital for DSiWare would be AWESOME.

After a bit more time with the game, I suppose I'll rate it for those looking for a # value. The freezing issue is strange, in that I can go all day without it happening, then one hour it will happen repeatedly. I almost wonder if it's related to the DSi WiFi running in the backround, which was giving me issues around the time of one of the troublesome sessions. If it weren't for this issue, I'd give it a 7, but its sporadic occurance leads me to lower my score to a 6. If you're itching for a good time management game though, you'll probably be able to overlook it. For all I know, you may never even experience a freeze.

Is anyone else having trouble switching difficulty in career mode from Normal?

Yep, I just checked and it doesn't seem to apply your selected difficulty in career mode. No matter what difficulty I choose it stays "Normal".

@:errorsupply
hm...... thanks for your impressions and thoughts about this game. Seem like you took one for the team with this download.

I didn't think it was so bad at first, but the more I play it the more bugs pop up. In addition to what's already been mentioned, there are times where it doesn't save your high score, a mode that should end just goes on and on and some objectives in scenario mode that seem glitched.
I can't really recommend it in good conscience at this point.

So, read the review here on NL (6 out of 10) and it seemed like the kind of game I would like (I like puzzle/strategy games and the Diner-Dash style games that are out there) and so far, I am loving this game... I highly recommend it if you like the kind of games I like. Sure, the graphics seem like they belong on a GBA game but I think its kind of charming in a retro kind of way. Plus, the characters moan "I'm sick!" and everytime I hear that it makes me chuckle (it's in a slightly robotic anolog voice, and I love it.) You basically go around and admit patients, diagnose them (in a way) while turning in their prescriptions and keeping the place clean. Oh, and you even get to make clowns out of plastic surgery patients I think this game has a good charming appeal and I give it a 7/10. I recommend it, not bad for 500 points.

Yep. It froze on me today during Level 7 (and I've been playing it for 2-3 days a few minutes here and there.) I wonder if they'll issue a fix for this? it seems to be a glitch in the software (download) as far as I can tell... not hardware specific at all. Sucks.