KMGR of "Brain Exercise"

The "original" brain exercise game from Dr. Kawashima of Japan finally comes to the US, behind all the other "brain games". How does it stack up under Namco's direction?

First appeared on the Nintendo DS, the mobile version is NOT a complete adaptation, but rather a combination/compilation of the best parts of the two "Brain Age" games available for the Nintendo DS.

The theory is simple: your brain has its own 'age', which can be measured by a test. Specific parts of the brain can be stimulated by specific questions that engages logic, math, memory, or combination of those centers. Through repeated questions, you can "exercise" your brain into better shape than before.

The mobile version has ten different games, and three modes: brain test, brain training, and practice. Brain test randomly chooses a game and tests your score on that game, and calculates your "brain age". You are doing well if your brain age is below your actual age. Brain training involves three randomly picked games that stimulates the three primary centers of the brain: logic, math, and memory. Tests are timed and fast but accurate answers are best. Finally, practice lets you get familiar with any of the ten tests available, so you understand how the tests work, and what to expect.

The graphics are simple, but then you don't need great graphics to test your brain. Sound is negligible, but then you don't expect fancy sound effects in a brain test, do you?

The actual tests are intriguing, but nothing really we haven't seen before. The interesting part is this game keeps track of your progress, day to day, month to month, and charts your "gains" your brain has made. I have to say, with about two weeks into this game, my brain score has increased about 5-10%.

If you haven't tried this on the Nintendo DS, consider giving it a try on the mobile, and do an exercise or two in your spare time. Who knows, you may feel some improvements, and if a game can do that, it's really worth it, right?

Overall rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: simple games to learn once you "get" it, tracks progress
Cons: a bit TOO simple, only one user tracked, actual gains dubious?