This is something of a quickie for a game that probably suits the more casual player than the usual gaming crowd. In fact, I have to say that this was my first DS game (mostly because it was the pack-in game at the time) and for the most part, I actually got a bit of gameplay out of it every day even when I started getting other games for the system. This is actually quite surprising since I’m not the kind of person who would normally play these kinds of games… although I think Brain Age 2 has one of the better Sudoku games out there, as it’s easy to get into and the game will even help you out with some hints to determine whether you’re doing good or not.
Despite the title, Brain Age 2 isn’t necessarily a sequel to Brain Age, but rather an updated version of the game, with revamped mini-games along with some new ones, a new set of Sudoku puzzles, and the hidden Virus Buster game, which is essentially Dr. Mario with a stylus. All of these games, for the most part, are pretty fun activities that make good use of the stylus and microphone features on the DS. However, there are times when recognition is rather wonky, as I would clearly draw a cross sign (multiplication) and somehow get a plus sign. Also, I’ve heard that microphone recognition is fairly hit-or-miss, but I never really used those.
Being that the game comprises simple skill tests and math problems, the graphic and sound capabilities of Brain Age 2 are minimal, with occasional lounge music and sound effects playing every so often during intermissions and menus. The graphical representation of the good doctor – the floating head on the top screen of your DS – is nicely rendered, but still a little rough. It seems that no improvements have been made from the original Brain Age to enhance or smooth out the polygon edges of the doctor. It’s not a major issue, but it does give the game more of a rehashed feel than some would care for. Of course, if you’ve never played the original Brain Age (as was the case with me until recently), then this shouldn’t be an issue for you.
The only main issue I have with this game is its longevity. While Brain Age 2 expects you to play with it for the entirety of a calendar year (or so it seems), chances are you’ll be abandoning it within the span of a couple months, as the offering of games are short and limited in their play value. Yes, there are hard modes that can be unlocked, but these don’t help to enhance the replay value of the game. Yet what makes Brain Age 2 interesting is its “conscious” state – it’ll react accordingly when you’ve popped in the game several days in a row or after a several-month-long break. It’s a rather interesting (and creepy) feature that gives the game some charm. Too bad there’s not much else to keep you around.
For those who enjoyed the original Brain Age release or other similar titles, then Brain Age 2 should serve as a nice addition to your collection, as it’s more of the same you’ve come to expect from Brain Age and perform a little more. Fans of Sudoku or Sudoku-based video games will also enjoy the game’s 100+ puzzles included in the game. For the more “hardcore” crowd, though, I can only suggest you give it a shot to see if it suits your interests.
Either way, your brain will thank you for this game… but only for a couple months.
BREAKDOWN
Graphics: 5/10 (pretty minimal – although the head looks quite nice even if rough)
Sound: 8/10 (also minimal – crisp, clear, unannoying)
Gameplay: 8/10 (wide variety of activities, but sometimes stylus recognition is wonky – hidden Virus Buster is fun)
Challenge: 7/10 (a fair amount of challenge in the various skill tests – Sudoku is quite fun)
Replay Value: 4/10 (good enough for the casuals, but will last you a couple months at most)
dtm666 