Have you ever wondered what a hospital would be like in space? What the patients would be like? Would it be like the NHS in the UK where you are waiting forever just to see a doctor? Well, that’s what I got to put to the test in Galacticare. The folks over at Brightrock Games have provided us with an engaging strategy game that is like Two-Point Hospital but on a galactic scale. After watching the trailer online and being lucky enough to be provided with a PlayStation 5 copy of the game I was able to begin my time making various hospitals to provide healthcare that was out of this world.
Build, manage and optimise intergalactic hospitals. Recruit staff to help the various alien species and cure their bizarre illnesses, for money of course, even in video games health care isn’t free. Dive into Story Mode to save the Galaxy or if you prefer a more relaxing experience and want to let your imaginations run wild then you can dive into sandbox mode and design the hospitals of your dreams. You are the Director of Galacticare, it’s down to you to manage your interstellar healthcare company and do whatever possible to cure the Galaxy.
I decided that before playing sandbox I wanted to experience the campaign and get a better understanding of how the game plays. I feel this was the best decision as you get shown the ropes and build a better knowledge of what is expected when building hospitals in space.
Galacticare does a fantastic job at showing you the ropes simply by playing through the first few levels of the campaign. You’ll learn effective ways to manage an intergalactic hospital and the bizarre illnesses that people in the galaxy deal with. For me, the level of depth the game goes into with the patient’s needs and doctors’ traits and backgrounds is enough to add a sense of complexity without overwhelming the player.
There are some simulation games out there that require so much attention and detail that I just can’t keep up with, whereas Galacticare does a brilliant job at creating a playstyle that requires you to pay attention to the details but doesn’t overly complicate it.
The game is very creative in the methods it uses to heal sick patients. You’ll need to design, furnish, and upgrade your hospital to make sure it meets the needs and demands of your staff and patients. Doctors can be hired based upon their backgrounds and traits as some doctors will be proficient in the experimental treatments you provide. Meeting the needs of everyone will make for a well-oiled machine and above all keep everyone happy.
As you progress through the campaign you will come across consultants who bring unique bonuses and characteristics with them. By levelling up your consultants you can explore their levelling choices, and mechanics and watch them grow throughout your journey. you’ll get new skills and playstyle options the more you use them and progress. Saving the galaxy can be a taxing job as patients will come in all shapes and sizes.
As you develop relationships with each species, you’ll unlock rewards that will make them feel happier and more comfortable in the hospital. Certain species favour lots of plants to be on a show whereas others just love the number of toilets you have available (yeh this is an actual thing). Some of the missions without spoiling too much will have you providing healthcare to a deep-space prison and musical festivals. The level of diversity keeps you on your toes when trying to build the perfect hospital that caters to all.
I love the little details Galacticare goes into when it comes to managing your patients. Managing the micro-bots to clean up and fix things when they break or making sure you have the latest treatments available in the hospital. There are other cool things like when you have big hospitals you can use short-range teleporters to allow for your doctors and patients to get around easier. You can invest in holographic doctors to diagnose and treat patients, but they can’t be as reliable as the real thing.
Sandbox is just as enjoyable as the main campaign as I do enjoy being able to have creative freedoms and not have to worry too much. You will quickly find out that the main aim is to raise the hospital rating and of course, make money in the process. Saving lives is also why we are here but mostly it’s for the money.
Graphically Galacticare is crisp and looks amazing running on the PlayStation 5, there are little to no frame drops and the wacky equipment, aliens, and hospitals you can build are brilliant. The voice acting is funny as well as builds character for the characters you come across in the galaxy. The humour is very good and each character you interact with in your hospitals has a different personality and needs which keeps you on your toes.
The UI is very clean and tidy for a management sim game however it does feel awkward to navigate when using a controller. If I was using a mouse and keyboard, it wouldn’t be an issue, but I find this problem with every sim game I play on a console. Even had it when trying to play Jurassic World Evolution 2 on the PlayStation 5 it takes time to get used to navigating the menus but is still a pain even when you know where things are.
Like all simulation games, there is plenty of replay value in Galacticare. The campaign is fun and if you are dedicated to getting a five-star rating on each of your hospitals, it will take some time. Then after you have completed your run-through of the campaign you can dive into the sandbox where at this point you will have built your knowledge on how to run an effective galactic hospital.
You must earn certain decorations and cosmetics through in-game currency to help increase your ratings with patients and the more of the game you play the more things get offered to you. You’ll come across new alien species, new equipment and more. I am having tons of fun playing Galacticare and as far as Simulation games go it has a good level of depth to be able to see what each patient needs but not to the point where you feel overwhelmed and snowed under.
Conclusion
Overall, Galacticare is a brilliant game that I found myself being hooked on right from the get-go. It has genuinely funny moments combined with over-the-top characters like Baz the space whale. Even though at times it might feel like the game is getting repetitive it still manages to keep me playing with its well-structured missions and having each location bring a new challenge. Galacticare is a pleasant experience and I love the cartoony visuals and the world it builds.
Granted it might not be as challenging for some people who regularly play simulation games but it’s the perfect medium for me. I feel there is enough going on without getting snowed under. This imaginative, wacky game has a lot of personality and is up there with one of the best games I have played this year, for those reasons I’m giving Galacticare a galactic score of 9 out of 10.
Galacticare Trailer
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