Review of Grey's Anatomy: The Video Game for Nintendo Wii

Gameplay (2 out of 5)

The game is structured like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, with Meredith providing the voiceover narration that ties together different elements from the show. You take turns playing as different characters, including Derek, Cristina, Izzy, Alex, and George, making decisions that will impact the outcome of the story. (Unfortunately, you can’t create your own doctor character.) Scenes include the characters discussing their person lives, meeting patients, and performing surgeries – just like you’d expect to see during a day at Seattle Grace.

Challenge (2 out of 5)

If you were hoping for a title with all the complexity of The Sims, you’re going to be disappointed by Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game. There is a fairly minimal amount of exploring you can do within the game, so you won’t be able to arrange hookups between your favorite cast members or hatch a clever plot to get Cristina promoted to chief resident. All you can do is make simple decisions, such as choosing if Meredith should be hard to get or flirtatious when talking to Derek, and complete short Wii puzzle games. It’s true you can help the characters perform surgical procedures, but the cartoonish graphics and oversimplified instructions are unlikely to satisfy anyone with more than a basic understanding of human anatomy.

If you fail a task, you’ll lose one of your character’s hearts and be required to try again. Lose all of your hearts and you’ll need to repeat the whole scene. After you complete each scene, you’ll get a rank such as intern, attending, or chief of surgery to describe how well you did. It’s not quite as satisfying as actually going through medical school, but what can you expect for under $20?

Overall (2 out of 5)

While this game will undoubtedly be amusing for hardcore Grey’s Anatomy fans, it doesn’t provide much of a challenge in terms of actual gameplay. It’s a fun game to play for 15-30 minutes, not something you’d be able to spend the whole night doing.

Rent the game as a fun icebreaker to play with your friends during a Grey’s Anatomy-themed party, but don’t waste your money on this purchase. The Grey’s Anatomy trivia board game is cheaper and much more satisfying for true fans of the show. Seriously!