Today, we’re scrubbing in for a deep dive into the Trauma Center series, Atlus’ bold foray into surgical simulation that began with Under the Knife on the Nintendo DS. We begin by exploring how a team of RPG veterans—best known for their work on Shin Megami Tensei and Persona—pivoted from demons and dungeons to scalpels and styluses, inspired by the DS’s touchscreen to create something truly different. Then we follow the franchise’s evolution across consoles and concepts, from the Wii’s motion-controlled Second Opinion and its co-op sequel New Blood, to the return-to-form Under the Knife 2, and finally the genre-blending, multi-discipline drama Trauma Team. Along the way, we highlight how science fiction, high-stakes gameplay, and emotional storytelling helped these games carve out a unique niche. So steady your hand and grab your stylus—it’s time for today’s life-saving trip down Memory Card Lane!