Gamertell Review: Brain Training for Dummies for PC
by at November 4, 2008 8:42 am
Sections: Casual, Developers, Educational, Exclusives, Game-Companies, Genres, Originals, PCs, Publishers, Reviews, Windows
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EA’s latest line of somewhat-casual games in the For Dummies series are designed to be educational, informative, lighthearted and most importantly fun. The only thing is, Brain Training for Dummies doesn’t quite hit all the points. It is a handy title, and has well designed exercises with simple controls to help build certain skills in players, but it isn’t really fun.
That doesn’t mean its bad. It just may not be for everyone. People accustomed to Nintendo’s Brain Age line may not be as crazy about Brain Training for Dummies because it doesn’t have the same zeal and appeal when it comes to the title’s presentation and tests.
Beginning Brain Training.
The goal in Brain Training for Dummies is to build six specific skill sets – math, language, spatial, reflexes, logic and memory through fifteen different exercises. In fact, every exercise works on two skills at the same time. The first section of the game, called How To, discusses what brain training does, the purpose of all the exercises included in the game, what each skill set covers, instructions for each exercise and how each exercise supposedly helps boost skills.
The following two sections, Practice and Play, let you actually play the games and see a brain gauge to determine how accomplished you are when it comes to certain skills. The Practice section lets you play all of the games at any skill level you wish. The Play mode has you actually playing at the skill level appropriate for you, and advances as you get better at each game.
Lots of variety and easy to play, but not much fun.
I’m torn when it comes to Brain Training for Dummies. On the one hand, it does everything it is supposed to, has a wide variety of games, is very informative and seems like it could honestly help improve players’ skills over time. On the other, I didn’t really have much fun playing it. There were a few exercises I did geniunely enjoy (“Shape Sense” and “Equation Quest” in particular), but it often felt like work. So players may not stick with the brain training program, as they make get tired of it.
One criticism I have is that you often have to actually read the instructions for the various exercises. I’m the kind of gamer who just likes to jump into a game and figure things out as I go. In the case of exercises like “Speedy Shapes,” “Memory Math” and “Math Matrix,” I had to go back and check the instructions to double check and find out what needed to be done.
Edutainment minus the -tainment.
Brain Training for Dummies does seem fairly educational. The tests and exercises will probably help your memory, basic math and language skill and reflexes if you spend a period of time each day with the program. The thing is, it feels like work. The 15 different “games” often require you to actually read instructions before jumping in, and most aren’t the kind of thing you’re normally play for fun in your free time.
While EA’s new For Dummies line of games does have a good premise, it really feels like Brain Training for Dummies is the weakest of the three. It does do what it promises, in it will help train the six different skill sets it advertises, but it just doesn’t have the same light-hearted and entertaining tone as Travel Games for Dummies or Poker for Dummies.
Site [Brain Training for Dummies]
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