List Price: £19.99 Price: £14.98 You save: £5.01 (25%)
Media: Video Game Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Editorial Review:
In a nutshell: The portable phenomenon that has taken Japan by storm finally hits the UK. Part puzzle game, part self improvement tool this is the only game that's both lots of fun and good for you - and that's before you even start on Sudoku!
The lowdown: Nothing about this game is ordinary, from the price to the way you hold the DS while playing it (vertically, as if you were reading a book). The basic idea is that you play through a series of puzzles each day, for about 10 minutes, and at the end of each session the "age" of your brain is calculated. The puzzles themselves range from simple maths questions to spot the difference, memorisation and comprehension. All of the answers are inputted either by drawing the answer on the touchscreen or speaking it into the DS's in-built microphone. There's also a multiplayer mode for up to 15 people where you can try and compete to record the youngest brain age.
Most exciting moment: A brand new addition to the game, not included in the Japanese version, is a special DS version of Sudoku. This works great on the DS's touch screen and is worth the already low price of admission on its own.
Since you ask: A sister title to Brain Training, named Big Brain Academy, is due for release in July and offers to "weigh" your brain and improve specific skills such as memorisation and analysis. A direct sequel to Brain Training has also been released in Japan but is not yet scheduled for released in the UK.
The bottom line: The only game that really is for the whole family - from kids to OAPs. Harrison Dent
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
It's ok, but could be better I found that the voice recognition worked well but had problams with it reconising my hand writing. Maths isn't my stong point so i did loose interest in the training. Prefer the sight trainer.
Voice recognition Bought this game 1 week ago and mostly find it enoyable and challenging. I found it very frustrating when saying blue, and kept getting "try again". Yesterday I got so frustrated I shouted out purple instead. Voila! Each and every time since then there has been no problem. so instead of blue just say purple!
MUST BUY! This game is mint! I got it for my birthday and thought it would be easy but actually it's great fun and I get a few questions wrong! It's great fun and helps you learn how to read, draw, solve puzzles and learn answers
to questions. I'm not going to tell you what games you can play on it, so you'll have to buy it and find out yourself! Hope you'll enjoy your new game or at least think about getting it! Hannah 8 years.
It doesn't understand me! Like another reviewer has said, when I say Blue, it doesn't recognise it everytime, he struggled with his Red, and like another reviewer said, as it doesn't pick up what your verbal answer is straight away, it doesn't give an accurate "brain age", but, this in turn makes you work harder to get it improved, and shouting can help you but not your "brain age"! worth perservering though - first electronic game I've ever had and I'm nearing 40 - hope for everyone
