For those of you completely unaware of Surgeon simulator, allow me to give you a brief rundown of what it is and why you should be trying it. The game is the result of one of those indie game jams – you know the ones where they make a game in a set time limit – and so this small group of people came up with a comical take on those “Insert random job here” Simulator games. Using surgery as a backdrop, they were able to produce a game that over-exaggerates what could – and will – go wrong during an operation. The core mechanics see you in full control of a single hand, from the movement of the limb all the way to individual control over each finger. By manipulating your digits and your position you will attempt to cut into the poor soul in front of you, curing him of his ailments with the various tools surrounding your workspace. Everything is affected by physics, and our unlucky patient isn’t immortal in the slightest, so even the most minor of mistakes can easily spiral out into a bloodbath.

So, what did these guys have to tell us at Rezzed then? Well, they were promoting their latest content for the game, which consists of a TF2 themed mission, allowing you to play as the medic as he replaces the heavy’s heart with the ubercharge attachment. This content patch is absolutely free for all owners of the game across steam, both present and future, and adds a nice twist to the already hilarious antics of the game.

Alongside the TF2 patch, the guys were demoing the game on the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality helmet that places you inside the game space, with full 3d visuals. Interestingly enough, they also paired this with the Razor Hydra, which allowed for a full range of motion with the players hands, making the game pretty dam immersive when you can move your head and hands naturally to interact with the game world.

I didn’t just stop at what they were showing off either, inquiring as to the future for the game and its dev team. When asked about any possible multiplayer content for the game, I was greeted with an optimistic response, stating that there are several ideas floating around on how they might implement some sort of multiplayer aspect to the games unique style of play. One such suggestion was ambulance races, where 2 teams of 2 would control an ambulance and a patient in a head to head environment, allowing them to sabotage each other as they race for victory. I found this to be a cool idea, but let me tell you it’s not necessary to cause the death of a patient. Simply place them in front of any player and you have signed their death warrant.  

I find it hard to say anything bad about Surgeon Simulator 2013. It’s a brilliant dose of comical gameplay and innovative design bundled together in an affordable package. So the question remains, why haven’t you bought it yet?! You can pick it up on steam so hurry up, those poor souls won’t murder themselves...