Train your brain! (More Brain Training (DS))

Member Name: bluejules

Product:	More Brain Training (DS)
Date:	16/02/08 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, good for brain

Disadvantages: Time consuming

For Christmas, my dad and I each got a Nintendo DS (Dual Screen) Lite and we each got a Brain Training game for Christmas. I got the first one and my dad got this one. You can save up to four data files on the DS game so I have been using it most days. I prefer this one to the Brain Training, as the features are more interesting.

== Dr Kawashima ==

Dr Ryuta Kawashima was born in 1959 in Japan, and is a neuroscientist. In 2003, he wrote "Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain" which was a huge success in Japan and was later released worldwide. In 2005, it was turned in to the first brain training game for the DS and this sequel was later released. Instead of accepting the royalties from the games for himself, he has built two laboratories.

There is a cartoon image of Dr Kawashima and it has a speech bubble from his mouth which tells you the instructions etc. Also, he sometimes says something silly like "What will happen if you say glasses, glasses, glasses when you are on the title screen" So as strange as I am I tried it out lol to find his glasses go onto his head and he laughs. I'm not sure what the point of this is but it did amuse me for a little while!

== How to Use ==

The Nintendo DS is controlled by using the stylus, which is a little pen like object. Only one of the screens is touch screen so this is the one you use with the stylus. The other screen displays the instructions or the calendar etc. The DS is also voice activated for some of the training activities and there is a little mic that picks up the sound of your voice.

The game comes with an instruction booklet which details information about the different training exercises as well as giving a health warning - e.g. if your eyes hurt or you get a headache etc, stop using the device.

== Daily Training ==

There are various training exercises, which can be completed everyday. You get a stamp on your on-screen calendar when you complete a daily training exercise. Each time a certain number of stamps are collected you get access to more training exercises and settings etc. If you do at least 3 training sessions per day you get a larger stamp on your calendar. This does not affect the number of stamps you get though as you can only gain one per day. I have now opened all the training exercises, and so has my dad.

Sometimes when you turn the DS on and go into Daily training, there is a little activity for you to do before you start the training. For example, it asks you to think of three acrostics for the words it gives you. The example they provide is EAR and you could write Everyone's Audio Receiver. The words have to be linked to the starting word, but I find this is often quite hard and I'm not particularly interested in doing them. However, I don't think you can miss them out and still get into the training. There is also a join the dots, where you have to look at the dots and join them to make a picture. The DS then shows you what you could have done. All users of the program are asked to do the same thing and once everyone has completed it you see the results. I think this makes it more interesting. Sometimes it asks you to draw three pictures, which have a similar theme. The next user is then asked to say what the pictures are and the results are shown once everyone has completed them. I quite like these but my dad doesn't.

Each day Dr Kawashima gives you a tip and after you have gained a certain number of stamps you can view them in the settings. Also you can change the design of the daily stamp and compare graphs in the settings.

== Training Games ==

Here are some of the training exercises on the game, in no particular order. I'm not going to talk through them all as that might get boring (for us all), but this will give you an idea of the types of exercises available on this game.

Missing Symbols

This involves filling in the symbols to complete the sum. They are just simple addition, subtraction, multiplication or division sums and you have to write the missing symbol on the screen.

For example, 5 ? 4 = 9

You would insert a plus sign (+) to complete the sum.

I like this training exercise and I have become quite quick at it, however after a while it is less interesting than some of the other activities so I only do this one every now and again although I did it everyday at first (I probably sickened myself).

Masterpiece Recital

This involves playing a tune on the keys displayed on the screen. On normal mode it tells you the letter of the note and these are displayed on the keys but on hard mode you have to read the music (which I can't do so I have to play on normal mode).

I quite like this exercise and it's relaxing when listening to it as I play. You get marks on which notes you hit correctly, it is not timed.

Word Blend

This involves the DS saying some words aloud and you have to write them down on the screen. The first one is just one word but as you progress through it increases to three words spoken simultaneously.

This is quite hard but I really like it and I do it most times when I use the DS.

Correct Change

This involves selecting the correct change, the DS gives you an amount you have and the amount you spent and you select the change.

This is quite addictive and I really enjoy it, when I first started using it, it used to make ages to complete the exercise but I can now do it in less than 30seconds. This is my dad's favourite exercise and the only one he uses all the time.

Germ Buster

This is not a training exercise but it is available on the same selection screen. It is designed to relax your brain after training and it is very addictive! You can only play the game after completing at least one training exercise that day. The game involves getting rid of coloured 'germs' by placing coloured tablets on top of them to make lines. It is hard to describe but it is a very simple, but addictive game. As the levels increase it gets more difficult as there are more germs you have to get rid of. You can select to play on easy, normal or hard mode.

== Brain Age Check ==

It is recommended that you check your brain age every so often to see if the training is working. When I did my first brain check, it told me I had a brain age of 80 (it also told my dad this too) then as I have kept checking it, it has decreased. I think it starts off high to show that the training is working as your brain age is coming down. However, I don't think after a month of using, my brain has become 40-50 years younger although I am getting better at the exercises so I must be making some form of improvement.

The best possible brain age is 20 and it tells me that because I am younger than 20 I should take the results with a pinch of salt. So far I have only been able to get my brain age down to 30 but it is 20 on my own DS game - How old is your Brain?

There are various exercises that test you and then the results are used to calculate your brain age.

== Other Features ==

Quick demo

You can play on quick demo, which just gives access to a small part of the game. It means that family and friends can try it out without entering all of their data. My nephew has used this but he now has his own data file even though he has only used it once.

Suduko

There are Suduko puzzles to complete, which I really enjoy doing, although I haven't completed many of them yet.

Wireless Download

This is a single card game, which means that up to 16 people (each with a DS) can play the demo as a multiplayer game. As my dad and I each have a DS we have used this a couple of times. One of the exercises available on this is the correct change.

== Overall ==

I really like this game; it is addictive and fun and although I don't know if my brain has become any younger I have certainly improved at the exercises. I would recommend this to any one who fancies training their brain or has the first ones and feels like a change. I prefer this to the first one but they are both very good. It costs around £15-£20 depending on where you purchase it from. It is available both on and off line.

Thanks for reading!

Summary: A fun sequel to How old is your brain?