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The
unique user interface of the NintendoDS has opened-up the way for
totally original and distinctive development. Titles such as Viewtiful
Joe: Double Trouble and Resident Evil:
 Deadly Silence
are new takes on classic game styles, whereas the brilliant Trauma
Center: Under The Knife and Nintendogs have virtually
created their own genres. Perhaps it’s the pioneering nature of
the Touch! Generations titles, Nintendo’s reputation for
excellent handheld systems, or the sheer cuteness of the Nintendogs
that has helped the NintendoDS and it’s successor, the NintendoDS
Lite, to sell over sixteen million units, but whatever it is, sales
show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The latest craze to
sweep Japan, which, given the popularity of the NintendoDS in all regions,
should be read as “the next craze to sweep the world”, is Brain
Training. Yes, games that are actually good for your brain.
Aiming
primarily at older users, the first of these cerebral workouts to
arrive in the UK will be Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How
Old Is Your Brain?. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How
Old Is Your Brain? is a game that has been overseen from
concept by the Big N’s big man, Satoru Iwata and was produced
under the supervision of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, a prominent Japanese
neurosurgeon. Sounds like Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How
Old Is Your Brain? has all the ingredients, and certainly the
right backing, to become a great and original title. But how much
fun can a game that trains your brain really be?
Dr.
Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? is unique
in that instead of the traditional method, playing involves holding
your NintendoDS on its’ side, similar to a book, and using your
Stylus in interact. Thankfully, as with Metroid Prime: Hunters,
Nintendo has offered support for left and right-handed users.
Coming in at a budget price, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training:
How Old Is Your Brain? runs the risk of being  either a total
bargain or a cheap gimmick and, on first glance, you may well go
for the latter as the interface, while functional, is hardly slick.
On first play, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your
Brain? asks you for a few details, such as your age and your
signature, before ascertaining your Brain Age through a simple test
game. Your Brain Age is the figure you will be aiming to lower as
you progress through the several games available. Initially only a
few games, such as Calculations X20 and Reading Aloud are
available, but continued play will unlock further challenges.
Although you may train as much as you like, Brain Age will only
record your initial score each day, discouraging players from
practicing extensively and affecting the educational nature of the
title. After you have practised you may check your Brain Age,
another feature that is effective only once a day, through the
course of three tests. Although it may sound fairly boring in
print, you will find your initial Brain Age to be less than
flattering, and striving to lower it is surprisingly enjoyable. It
also seems likely that Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old
Is Your Brain?  does actually help you think logically quicker,
as illustrated by a declining Brain Age, although this may be
simply because the player becomes well practiced in the activities.
There
are a few problems however, some of the Voice and Character
Recognition can be a little ropey at first, although most issues
can be countered by learning how Dr. Kawashima’s Brain
Training: How Old Is Your Brain? wants you to speak or write.
The main game also lacks the option for extended play since only
one High Score can be recorded each day. However, in order to
counter this, Nintendo have included over one hundred Sudoku
puzzles; a feature that is sure to appeal to the UK’s many Sudoku fans. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain
Training: How Old Is Your Brain? offers four profiles to the
owner, allowing more than one player to train their brain, and
results can then be compared for bragging rights. Dr.
Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? also
allows other NintendoDS  owners to download a fairly limited, but
ultimately free, demo as well as offering a calculation based
Multi-Player game for up to sixteen players.
As
expected, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your
Brain? pushes the NintendoDS very little. Most of the game is
text or minimal 2D graphics with the exception of Dr. Ryuta
Kawashima, who appears throughout the game as a simple 3D head.
Sound is a better feature, with the Theme Tune likely to stick in
your head for a while. Sound effects are simple, but effective.
Despite
what Nintendo might like you to think, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain
Training: How Old Is Your Brain? is not a game for everyone.
It’s unlikely it will garner much interest with the Need For
Speed: Underground crowd, nor is it likely to find fans in
adolescents. However, those curious enough to give it a go will
find a simple, yet fun package that is very easy to play and does
seem to increase the speed at which you think logically, something
that actually might interest the fabled older gamer.
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