If you weren't a smart ass after brain training - there's more brain training (More Brain Training (DS))

Member Name: sandra101

Product:	More Brain Training (DS)
Date:	05/09/08 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Might keep you mentally viable for a few extra years

Disadvantages: Does get boring after a while - apart from germbuster

I eventually grew a little tired of brain training for the DS and having seen all the adverts for the more braining training game with Patrick and Nicole, I thought it looked better than the original.

This is similar to the idea of brain training where the whole thought of keeping your mind alert and possibly warding of alzheimers is the main theme. There was a piece in the paper lately about the high increase in a group of primary school childrens test results after they were encouraged to play brain training games on the DS for 10 minutes every morning.

On TV where it shows Nicole playing on the keyboard and Julie Walters counting out it looks like fun. I had also found that my sister-in-law and niece were both completely addicted to germbuster the little tetris type game which is the final unlock of the game.

As with the original brain training you can only record one result in each category per day, I realise this is probably to stop people like me sitting playing the same thing all day trying to better their personal best as its more of a slow training tool but I prefer having targets to beat. The games are designed to be played for a few minutes a day, and as you keep playing you will unlock all the games.

When you first start more brain training you will be asked to take a brain age test. The first one I got was a game of rock, paper, scissors. It flashes up a picture of scissors and paper, and tells you whether to win or lose. You have to quickly shout whether scissors or paper wins or loses depending on the question. I could manage this very well when I needed to choose the winner but I couldn't get my head around shouting out the losing answer when required, as you are trained while playing the game for real to shout out the winner.

Again I ran into problems with the microphone on the DS with this game as it couldn't differentiate between me shouting rock, scissors or paper. It sounds so easy but it is really quite hard, practice does improve your score though.

If you choose the option that you are unable to speak, you are given a maths test. The DS shows you a number asks you to add or subtract another number and write in the answer. One of the numbers is then erased and moved down to the next calculation and you need to remember each erased number the whole way down the list while writing in the new answer.

Games

Missing Symbol - Instead of writing down the answers to simple maths problems, you have the answer and have to work out which mathematical sign was used.

Masterpiece Recital - As played by Nicole Kidman in the Television adverts. You have to hit the marked piano keys according to the music sheet and in rhythm.

Word Blend - The DS reads out two or more words together and you are required to differentiate between the words writing each one down. When this gets to three words at once it is really quite difficult.

Word Scramble - On the left hand screen there is a circle of letters going around you have to make a word from them. A bit like getting the conundrum correct on countdown.

Memory Addition - Numbers from a sum are erased and then used in the next sum still erased you need to remember each erased number the whole way down the list while writing in the new answer.

Days and Dates Will ask you questions such as if today is Friday the 12th what. Date was four days ago.
Correct Change - Another well known one from the TV advertisement. You are given a price and how much has been given over for payment, you need to quickly sort out the change in 1p,2p, 5p, 10p, 50p, £1.00. This is a really fun one but quite addictive.

Calculate the Height -Blocks fall down randomly but go behind a screen and you have to remember how many blocks fell in each column. Starts of easy gets faster and much more difficult.
Finishing Position - You have to watch the black figure as he weaves his way back and forward in a race and then decide which position he ended up in.

Germbuster - An updated version of tetris. Very addictive I have to do one piece of braintraining everyday just to unlock this - brilliant fun. Only complaint again is that you can only record one score per day.

Brain Training Tests

Rock Paper Scissors - As above

Continuous Countdown - Keep subtracting a specific number from the previous number which erased after a second or so. Very easy to get lost in this, but once you have got into a rhythm its not too bad.

Speedy Symbols - Symbols are shown for each number between 0 and 9 and when the DS shows you a number you have to write down the corresponding symbol as fast as possible.

Memory Addition - As above

Memorise 5 X 5 - You get 2 minutes to memorise 25 numbers in a grid. Then a further 2 minutes to write the numbers out in the empty squares. This is so difficult don't think I've ever remembered more than about 5.

Highest Number - Touch the highest number on screen. This is a fun test but does get a little more difficult with the more numbers floating about.

There are also new sudoku puzzles

I would recommend this game to all, great fun, educational and doesn't really date, you'll always go back to it. This game can also be played in competitive mode against another player with only one person required to have the actual game cartridge.

Summary: Worth getting if you enjoy these types of games