112 Operator, in case of emergency, don’t dial me.
I received this game from Humble Choice from October 2021 and had put off playing it for a while because it’s just not a game that’s high fun priority for me. I mean you gotta really want to be in a stressful environment at the moment to start play, I feel like, and life or death situations make me a tad too anxious–even in video game form.
But we finally got to playing it.
It’s not a job I prefer.
- Developed by Jutsu Games
- Published by Games Operators
- Available on Google Play
- Available on Nintendo Switch
- Available on Steam
Who is this game for?
Explanation to Negative Feedback
Can become boring
All right, it sucks to say that in a game where the choice you make can save someone’s life in hectic situations, and you get some pretty upsetting calls at times, but…just sending cars out from one place to another and waiting in silence for the next call (even if you could speed up the time) did bring out some boring downtimes.
Not enough money
I always found myself running out of funds fast, because things get expensive (obviously). And once you’re out of funds…you’re basically screwed and what you have is what you’ve got. Maybe it’s the campaign I chose, but I just couldn’t figure out how to get more money, as I’d already done the previous areas and the game was pushing me to just complete the area I was on.
Starting screen is all over the place
When I first booted this game up and got to the starting screen, I had no idea what to click or what certain things would take me to. It was super fucking confusing to someone who prefers neat and tidy layouts. I think I know what they were going for–an interactive look where menu options were trying to fit into the environment–similar to something that Bear With Me went with, if you’ve played that.
In reality…it was just a mess to me.
Explanation to Positive Feedback
Speed up time
Thankfully you don’t have to wait around twiddling your thumbs when the units are out and you’re waiting for the next call. You are able to speed up the time to make things move along. Just make sure to slow it back down when something happens, otherwise things could move a little too quickly and you’ll flub something up.
Variety of cities to choose from
It’s awesome that there are so many cities you can pick and choose from and of course they all have their own layout and own roadways and segments on how to get places faster. You can even have a go at helping those in need in your own city.
Links Worth Checking Out
- nothing here yet
Gameplay
Achievements
45 Steam achievements
Plot
Manage emergency services in any city in the world! Take calls and dispatch rescue forces. Handle difficult situations, now depending on the weather, and traffic. Help the citizens through cataclysms and natural disasters, becoming a better emergency number operator every day!
Game Length
Anywhere from 10-50+ hours, depending.
Replay Value
Not so much.
Genre(s)
You’re playing the role of an emergency operator, thus you’re placed into a role that will either save a person’s life or, well, end it.
112 Operator Review
This game is not for everyone.
Both in terms of actually playing the game and the scenarios that occur during it. A few of these scenarios may even be triggers for people, and you have to remember, even though it’s a game, there are real life circumstances that it takes its objectives from. You have to really pay attention to what people are saying on the phone, and decide if they truly are a prank caller tying up the line, or if they’re sending you a secretive message of needing help.
It can make you kind of paranoid on whether as the operator you’re going to choose the right choice at times.
And that can just add to your stress and anxiety.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be a fan of it, and I can’t say I had much fun. There’s not much fun to be had in emergency situations. So…it’s not fun and it’s not relaxing. You really have to be in the right mindset to play it.
But that’s not to say it’s a bad game at all. If you want to know what the life of an emergency operator is like while on the job, then you’ve got it right here. It’s certainly not easy, and decision-making is crucial. The game can get tougher as it progresses–certain cities have areas where almost every ambulance, cop, and firetruck needs to be sitting at a specific spot, which makes it especially hard to deal with areas across the map needing attention.
I only played a specific campaign, and I’m pretty sure there’s a whole lot more to try out. I just wasn’t engaged enough to keep going.
