First Glance:
Mini-games, Sudoku puzzles, and a version of Virus Buster all packaged in this
“mental exercise” game? So I can goof off and say I’m doing something good for my
brain? I’m in.
The Short Story:
The mini-games are harder than they look. They also really give your brain a work
out. After just a couple of days, I can tell a difference in how my memory works.
Sudoku puzzles are a passion of mine so their inclusion in the game is pure bonus.
The Score:
The box sums it up pretty well, stating “More training in minutes a day”. The whole
package is perfect for the Busy Gamer. The training can be done all in one sitting or
you can come back to it later. The benefits the game provides to your mental acuity
aren’t noticeable unless you’re playing every day but even short sessions can be
enjoyable. As such, Brain Age 2 lands a 5 on the Busy Gamer scale.
Body of review:
I’ve admitted to being a fan of puzzle games in past reviews and there’s something
about this game that makes you want to come back day after day to see how well you
can do on a particular puzzle. I’ll also admit that at first, this game made me feel a bit
stupid. I consider myself a fairly intelligent individual but when I first started playing
Brain Age 2, it was clear that I don’t use my brain effectively on a regular
basis.
It isn’t that the training is particularly hard. The “activities”, as the game calls them,
are pretty straight forward in their presentation and explained well by game creator
Doctor Ryuta Kawashima’s digital avatar. There’s no guess work to how an activity
plays out but the work within the activity can force a mental stumble out of most
people. From memory work to spelling to simple arithmetic, Doctor Kawashima’s
creation will keep you on your mental toes.
Initially, not all of the activities are available. You have to do the daily exercises to gain
stamps for a particular day. The stamp is placed on a digital calendar which allows
you to track what days you’ve performed your activities and as you gain more stamps,
more activities are unlocked. And if you continually excel at a given activity, a harder
version of it will become available.
There’s a Brain Age test available that will allow you to track just how much you’re
benefiting from the training. The scale is based on how old you are in “Brain Years”
versus your actual age. Many people might be put off when they take the test for the
first time and discover their Brain Age is considerably older than their actual age but
continued play will quickly change all that.
This isn’t the sort of game you purchase for quick thrills. While there are Sudoku
puzzles available within Brain Age 2, it’s the mental activities that should be the real
draw here. If you’re persistent, playing through the activities several days a week, you’
ll notice a marked improvement in your memory and mental acuity. It isn’t just a
gimmick to sell the game, the activities actually do seem to give your brain a work
out… They did for me at least.
The bottom line is that this is a thinking game. If you’re not into that sort of thing or
have an unnatural fear of Sudoku puzzles, pass this one up. But if you’re looking for
something to keep you on your mental toes, the activities can be completed in just
minutes a day so the Busy Gamer will benefit from picking up Brain Age 2.
Grits - End of Line
Mini-games, Sudoku puzzles, and a version of Virus Buster all packaged in this
“mental exercise” game? So I can goof off and say I’m doing something good for my
brain? I’m in.
The Short Story:
The mini-games are harder than they look. They also really give your brain a work
out. After just a couple of days, I can tell a difference in how my memory works.
Sudoku puzzles are a passion of mine so their inclusion in the game is pure bonus.
The Score:
The box sums it up pretty well, stating “More training in minutes a day”. The whole
package is perfect for the Busy Gamer. The training can be done all in one sitting or
you can come back to it later. The benefits the game provides to your mental acuity
aren’t noticeable unless you’re playing every day but even short sessions can be
enjoyable. As such, Brain Age 2 lands a 5 on the Busy Gamer scale.
Body of review:
I’ve admitted to being a fan of puzzle games in past reviews and there’s something
about this game that makes you want to come back day after day to see how well you
can do on a particular puzzle. I’ll also admit that at first, this game made me feel a bit
stupid. I consider myself a fairly intelligent individual but when I first started playing
Brain Age 2, it was clear that I don’t use my brain effectively on a regular
basis.
It isn’t that the training is particularly hard. The “activities”, as the game calls them,
are pretty straight forward in their presentation and explained well by game creator
Doctor Ryuta Kawashima’s digital avatar. There’s no guess work to how an activity
plays out but the work within the activity can force a mental stumble out of most
people. From memory work to spelling to simple arithmetic, Doctor Kawashima’s
creation will keep you on your mental toes.
Initially, not all of the activities are available. You have to do the daily exercises to gain
stamps for a particular day. The stamp is placed on a digital calendar which allows
you to track what days you’ve performed your activities and as you gain more stamps,
more activities are unlocked. And if you continually excel at a given activity, a harder
version of it will become available.
There’s a Brain Age test available that will allow you to track just how much you’re
benefiting from the training. The scale is based on how old you are in “Brain Years”
versus your actual age. Many people might be put off when they take the test for the
first time and discover their Brain Age is considerably older than their actual age but
continued play will quickly change all that.
This isn’t the sort of game you purchase for quick thrills. While there are Sudoku
puzzles available within Brain Age 2, it’s the mental activities that should be the real
draw here. If you’re persistent, playing through the activities several days a week, you’
ll notice a marked improvement in your memory and mental acuity. It isn’t just a
gimmick to sell the game, the activities actually do seem to give your brain a work
out… They did for me at least.
The bottom line is that this is a thinking game. If you’re not into that sort of thing or
have an unnatural fear of Sudoku puzzles, pass this one up. But if you’re looking for
something to keep you on your mental toes, the activities can be completed in just
minutes a day so the Busy Gamer will benefit from picking up Brain Age 2.
Grits - End of Line
BusyGamer Rating
BRAIN AGE 2
PLATFORM : DS
COMPANY: TOUCH GENERATIONS
REVIEWER: Grits Review Main
