Head Drill- Brain Exercise Reviewed

For the past three years, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima has assisted gamers in strengthening their cerebral processing. By performing a daily routine of mathematical and reading drills, the Japanese neurologist believes that a person can deter the inherent atrophy of a brain that results from aging. Although I haven’t noticed in increase in my mental power from avidly playing Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day and the sequel, Brain Age 2, I had an enjoyable time with each game’s intellectually-based challenges.

Since the purchase of my iPhone, I have abandoned carrying the DS around; my pockets just aren’t spacious enough for two devices. While the myriad of diversions available through iTunes allows for contentment, the lack of a good Brain Age-like game has been a notable omission. Luckily, Dr. Kawashima loyalties have transcended beyond Nintendo, to the competent developers at Namco.

The recently released Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima app successfully captures the enjoyment and sprit of Nintendo’s erudite title. Each of the title’s mini-games requires players to solve increasingly difficult math and logic puzzles. As players progress, more of the game’s fifteen tasks are unlocked, driving players to create a training routine. Within a few days, cerebral calisthenics were a regular part of my daily commute.

One activity asks players to identify inverted numbers, while another requests participants to add three to the numbers shown on pool balls. Each of the tasks are uncomplicated enough to be easy understood, yet scale in challenge to prevent tedium.  Unlike Nintendo’s title which had players write numbers with the stylus, or speak the name of colors into the DS’s microphone, Brain Exercise relies on the touch-screen for its input method. Fortunately, this system eliminates the errant entries that frustrated Brain Age players.

The two main modes- Brain Training and Brain Age, can only be attempted once a day, and require an uninterrupted session. Phone calls, text messages, and pauses negate the day’s exercise, which is inexplicable for an iPhone app. Luckily, players may practice any of the tasks as much as they wish, although the pursuit is fruitless, when it comes to the Brain Exercise’s unlockables. Additionally, the game tracks player progress through six different charts, and allows players to download top scores from around the world- a humbling experience.

The graphical presentation is exceptionally sharp looking; menus display digits that gently glide across a backdrop, while mini-games are clean and clutter-free. Like the DS title, a caricature of Dr. Kawashima guides players through the game’s activities. I noticed a slight lag while navigating through Brain Exercise‘s menu system, which is thankfully absent in the title’s activities.