PC CD-ROM, minimum system requirements: Pentium; 16MB RAM; 25MB hard disk space; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; Windows 95; SVGA. £29.99
FOLLOWING its huge success with Theme Park, Bullfrog's latest release is a similar type of game. In Theme Park you were required to build an adventure park including rides, shops, restaurants and hopefully plenty of visitors. And if you attracted huge numbers you had to keep them happy while relieving them of their hard-earned cash. With Theme Hospital it's not day-trippers you have to please, but patients.
Every conceivable aspect of hospital management has been crammed into Theme Hospital. You hire and fire the staff, build wards, pharmacies and treatment rooms and furnish them with the relevant equipment. You are even required to look after the heating, ventilation, rubbish, staff morale and fire safety.
Being a hospital, one might expect things to get a little boring. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Strange things can happen in Theme Hospital like the Vomit Wave. This occurs when one person sees another person getting sick and the feeling of nausea spreads. Unless your handy-men are quick to clean up the mess things can rapidly get out of control.
But humour aside, Theme Hospital is a serious sim, and balancing the books is fundamental to your success. If you're a fan of Sim City 2000 or Theme Park then this is a must for your collection. But it does require patience.
Graphics: 90%, Sound: 82%, Gameplay: 89%