I get off to a slow start at playing through my backlog, but Trauma Team quickly cures me of any hesitation.
Current Backlog Size: 48 Wii games
Goal: Play (but not necessarily beat) them all by the Wii U launch
Progress Since Last Update: Trauma Center
I know I'll have to pick up the pace a bit (a lot?) if I want to burn through all 48 of my games before November, but I'm glad to be underway, and I'm really pleased with the game I chose to get me started on clearing my backlog: Atlus' Trauma Team.

Andrew challenged me to play this game during Episode 44 of the connectivity podcast and I'm really glad he did. I'm getting the feeling that this game is the epitome of the trauma center series, it's Atlus exploding with doctor gameplay variety (surgery? endoscopy? forensics? diagnostics!?!?) and really embracing a storyline told from 6 different viewpoints with just a touch of zaniness to keep the game fantastical (Superheroes? Ninja heiresses?). And of course, the requisite "easy mode" (a.k.a. "Intern"), which is utterly necessary since the first Trauma Center on the DS mercilessly pummeled me into submission with its insane difficulty level.
I think the thing I most love about Trauma Team right now is the motion-comic style story cut-scenes. They're simple low-budget affairs, obviously because full anime-style animation would've gone way over-budget, but they work mostly because of the voice work Atlus got for this game, which is top notch. The variety of angles Atlus found to work into the medical gameplay theme is also impressive, I love the endoscopic segments so far, and the diagnostic and forensic modes are just WAAAYYYY too much like Phoenix Wright for me NOT to be head-over-heels in love with them.
I have to say though, as much as I love the medical drama storyline, there is something that gets me a little queasy about the rare patient storyline that touches on the "suicide" issue. Trauma Team so far only brushes up against the topic, but a major plot point of the earlier Trauma Center: Second Opinion revolved around a "death doctor" and the controversial idea of euthanasia. Ugh. I honestly feel uncomfortable with the potentially controversial aspect of these games, no matter how much I love them. I'm not averse to being challenged by video games to think heavy thoughts, so I guess I got what I asked for and have to "evolve" beyond the shock I'm feeling now.
I'm still playing through Trauma Center (I'm gonna beat this game! That'll be such a good feeling!), and after this heady mix of medical drama, ethics, and gameplay I have to decide what I'll attack next. Hmm... maybe Klonoa... maybe Zumba Fitness 2...