It's a very unique and entertainming game while it last. A budge game that you or anyone is sure to enjoy.
Nintendo has been dedicated in bringing some of the most unique and interesting titles ever. Brain Age for the DS is no exception. Well except if it can even be called a game at all.
Brain Age is created and inspired by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima's, a Japanese neurologist, study that working your brain with simple task everyday could cure and help prevent brain functions. And that's what this game offers you, simple task to help improve (and work your prefrontal cortex) your overall brain functions. But does the game really help improve brain power?
Time to train that Brain: (Gameplay)
This is actually a very unique game as you'll find yourself holding your DS just as you would with any book. It almost make you feel as if you are holding a book, but don't let that fend you off, it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. You'll be playing the nearly most of the game using your stylus, but there are a few games where you have to use the mic. There was only one problem in the game, and that was that during some of the training task the hand recognition is way off, so you'll end up having to tweak the way you write your 4's for example. This gets frustrating, especially when you are trying to beat your own record. On the other hand games like Sudoku it's the writing recognition is nearly perfect. It makes you wonder why those other task didn't play out the same way. Once you've learned how the game works (and how to get over the horrible handwriting recognition) you will really enjoy the unique experience.
Looks arn't everything: (Graphics)
There really isn't anything visually amazing in Brain Age, but that is something that is irrelevant to this game, as most of the game is pretty much text driven. There is however the face of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima who looks pretty creepy, but some of the face expression he makes are just hilarious, and will make you laugh.
Music to my Brain: (Sound)
There really isn't any music here except in the title screen and throughout the menus (and it sounds like some weird Science Techno music). The sounds are pretty basic, menu clicks and victory bells, nothing really amazing.
Let's play minutes a day! (Value)
You start off with a few training task and as you progress (the more you play) you unlock about a handful more. Within a month of so you should have unlocked all the tasks the game has to offer. The task include solving 20 basic math calculations, to reading out loud as fast as you can, to memorizing two dozen words in two minutes and writing them out, and many others. There is also over 100 Sudoku puzzle games that work really well, and are just plain fun.
Final Thoughts:
I've been playing Brain Age for a little over 3 weeks now, and although my IQ isn't 150, I have freshened up on my math skills (especially multiplication). I've also notice that I can read a lot faster. And although there really isn't any data to back up the claims made by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima about this game helping your brain functions, it's still a nice and unique game that you'll enjoy while it last. Besides it's only $20