E3 '07: Flash Focus Hands-On Impressions

If your mind is in shape, you’re smart. If your body is healthy, you’re fit. And if your eyes are sharp, well, is there even a word for that? Maybe not, but there is an upcoming Nintendo game for the Nintendo DS that will make your eyes feel like new again and help you develop dynamic visual acuity called Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day. We know that doesn’t sound as cool as giant pectoral muscles or a brilliant sense of humor, but if you don’t think having good eyes is good for gaming, well, you’re blind.

We recently saw the light in a short two-part play session. The first was a brief minigame that tested the ability of our eyes to quickly focus on different targets, via a series of symbols that quickly appeared and disappeared. The symbols had very subtle differences, and we had to replicate the sequences to prove we’d accurately seen them. At the end of the exercise, we were given an Eye Age (á la Brain Age). The game explained “If your eye age is younger than you are, you have superb focus! If not...you have great potential for superb focus.”

Ah Nintendo, ever the optimists. According to the demo, the eye exam we received was the abridged version. When the game ships this October 15th, you’ll take one that’s much deeper and multifaceted. You’ll have a clear image of your own sense of sight.

Of course, Flash Focus isn’t just a series of tests, it’s a collection of minigames designed to give you sharper peepers. One such game was on display in the form of a baseball hitting simulation. On the touch screen, the computer throws you 10 pitches, including curveballs, fast balls, and change ups; you must tap the ball right as it enters your strike zone, represented by a yellow square.

It was a fun minigame that we played twice and could have spent even more time with if there weren’t other titles waiting for our newly sharpened eyes. If a collection of minigames focused on improving the way you look sounds like a worthwhile investment, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for this game when it ships in October.