Developer Bossa Studios' physics-based sequel, Surgeon Simulator 2, adds four-player co-op, customization, and a full-fledged adventure mode to the irreverent antics of the first game's core quack doctor gameplay. The name "Surgeon Simulator" is something of a misnomer, and a hilarious one, at that.
While the 2013 original certainly features players taking on the role of a surgeon tasked with removing and replacing patients' delicate organs, realism is not the primary goal. Or a secondary goal. Or even a consideration on any level. Instead, Surgeon Simulator peddles in ridiculous physics-based antics, with buckets of blood and absurd gameplay scenarios, like performing surgery on an alien in outer space. The game became an instant viral hit and helped kick off the trend of physics-based games with comedy gameplay and off-kilter sensibilities. Surgeon Simulator has been ported to everything from PlayStation 4 to mobile phones, having even received a VR conversion for PlayStation and PC. All these years later, Surgeon Simulator is still popular, so a sequel seemed inevitable.
Surgeon Simulator 2 was announced at the 2019 Game Awards, and now a new trailer from this summer's Guerilla Collective event pulls back the curtain on what players can expect from the long-awaited sequel. The biggest addition to the new game is four-player online co-op. The console ports of the original game allowed two players to play together, with each controlling one of the doctor's hands. For the sequel, though, each player controls their own doctor, each of whom are actually embodied and can move around the environment at will, so the game is no longer locked to a fixed perspective of the original.
Building on the new co-op mechanics, players must do more than just cut up their unlucky patient; they must solve puzzles using severed limbs, explore a sprawling funhouse hospital, and even engage in some light platforming challenges. Of course, the deliberately janky physics remain core to the experience, and there are plenty of opportunities for wacky hijinks. The game will also allow players to customize their own operating theater and their characters, as well as even create their own medical situations and story with the new "creation lab."
Surgeon Simulator 2 aims to be bigger and better than the original while still retaining the core gameplay elements that made the series such an off-key hit in the first place. Audiences will have the chance to see if developer Bossa Studios succeeded when Surgeon Simulator 2 releases in August 2020 on PC as an Epic Games Store exclusive. The game has only been announced for PC so far, but it's hard to imagine console ports won't arrive at some point in the near future if the launch is PC-exclusive.
Source: Surgeon Simulator