Having recently bought a Nintendo DS and enjoyed the Brain Training I was intrigued when I saw the new Sight Training for DS on sale in my local supermarket. Ever curious (and being keen to retain as many of my faculties as possible) I decided to buy it and see what it offered.

Intially this product seemed quite similar in format to the Brain Training package I already had however I was pleased to see that it didn't have the rather irritating Dr Kawashima but seemed to offer something slightly more serious. The aim of the package is to offer the opportunity to train your 'vision' and alongside that there is the facility to test your eyesight and work out your 'Eye Age'.

Rather interestingly the tests you get to perform are actually based on your 'Eye Age' so it is suggested that you check this something like three times a week - the best eye age you can achieve is 20 but I am quite happy to be performing somewhere around the high 20s to low 30s as that is considerably better than my real age!

So what are the test like and do they really improve your vision? Each day you are set a series of daily training tasks based on your eye age. These are presented to you so you can't just pick the ones you like and ignore the ones you don't enjoy which I think is a useful discipline and it does stop you getting bored as they do change each day. Some days you might be asked to 'Challenge your weaknesses' otehr days you might be working on your strengths and some days you get to do 'sports' related exercises using simulated sports tests.

Sports Training
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I actually find all of these exercises are fun, some are quite taxing but nevertheless a challenge and as you work your way through the various exercises you get given the option to take either the 'hard' version or the 'normal' version. The sports tests are quite fun and personally I especially like the table tennis as the sounds are very realistic and you can hear when your opponent has put spin on the ball in much the same way as you can in a real game. Rather surprisingly I am even enjoying the football where you get to pass to your team and shoot at goal. Boxing is a challenge where you use the stylus to tap the training mitt and dodge your opponent and even American football and Basketball have managed to hold my attention. I am far less skilled at Volleyball and Baseball but with practice I find my scores are improving!

Core Training
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Moving away from the sports tests there is quite a wide range of 'core training' - tests like 'box track' where you have to follow three boxes as they move around the screen and say which one contains the ball - an old fairground trick I know, but very challenging which needs concentration as well as visual dexterity. I love 'number flash' where a series of numbers are flashed briefly on the screen which you then have to recreate using a keypad but I find 'box tap' where you use the stylus to tap moving boxes a little tedious (probably because I don't do very well with that one!)

'Middle match' requires you to match a symbol in the centre of the screen with one on a number of symbols surrounding it - as the symbols only briefly flash on to the screen you have to be quick to do this one much the same as you do with 'symbol order' where you have to remember the order of three symbols briefly flashed before you. One intriguing little test is 'number tap' where the numbers 1 to 25 appear in random order in a grid on the screen and you have to tap them in order - sounds simple? - yes well it would be if some of them weren't back to front and upside down! Great fun once you get into it.

What do I think?
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I have had Sight Training for about a month now and I still haven't got fed up of playing with it every day. I am certainly doing better with the tests these days but whether that is because I am getting used to them or whether my eyesight really is improving I wouldn't like to comment. At the end of each days 'training' there is a nice little relaxation exercise if you wish to do it.

Would I recommend it?
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Yes I would if you have the Brain Training and want something a little different. I reserve judgement whether it actually improves your sight but I do think it helps things like peripheral vision and hand eye co-ordination. It is however fun to do and does while away the time on a boring train journey so is perhaps worth a look for that alone.