Big Brain Academy

"You Think You're So Smart? No, Really, I'm Askin', Do You?"

OK, I'll say this once, and once only: video games do NOT make you stupid. Gamers' Exhibit A: Brain Age for the Nintendo DS, which was released less than two months ago. The game was truly unique, giving players a way to gauge the health of their brains, as well as give it a decent work-out through a series of exercises including rapid-fire math problems, speed reading, and concentration.

Now, Gamers' Exhibit B: Big Brain Academy, also for the Nintendo DS, and the fourth(?) game for the system to carry the Touch Generations label (retroactive to Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Tetris DS). It's also a game that can help players flex their gray matter, but in a slightly different manner than Brain Age, in ways I'll explain later.

The game features three modes. The main area is Test mode, which, as the name suggests, tests players in five of fifteen exercises stretching across five categories: Calculation, Thinking, Analysis, Memorization, and Identification. Once the test is all done, the game scores you in terms of the "estimated" mass of your brain, a letter grade, and a comparison to what kind of person's brain yours is most like. (For the record, my high score is "Investor.")

Next is Practice mode. This is where you can work it big time. You pick a category, a mini-game, and a difficulty level, and then you go to work, doing as best you can in 60 seconds. If you score high enough, you can earn Bronze, Silver, Gold, or even Platinum medals.

Finally, we have Versus mode. This is where the brainiacs butt heads to see who has the biggest brain of the bunch. Up to 8 players can go at it for academic supremacy. BTW, having the biggest brain is no reason to get a big head. Don't be a smart-aleck.

Like I said before, this is no Brain Age. Where Brain Age is a general kick-start for gamers' craniums, BBA is more of a specialized circuit training. Moreover, where Brain Age's means of tracking progress is self-explanatory, BBA shows progress in terms of "estimated" brain size, and even its accuracy is iffy at best. Still, both titles are worth picking up if you're worried about getting dumber. The presentation of this game is a little more animated than Brain Age, but still a little minimalist. Of course, the focus of this game isn't flash, but function, and this game hits the mark in that respect.

And with an affordable tuition of around twenty bucks, you won't exactly need a big honkin' scholarship to enroll.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/07/06