Brain Training on Nintendo DS
Brain Training on Nintendo DS Review - by Hope Wynns
This review doesn't go into any of the science behind the program - just a review from a users point of view. I have only tried this game on Nintendo DS which I “share” with two children. This limits my access to the game which is one of the limitations I have with it.
Brain Training on Nintendo DS
Brain Training is fun and addictive! Brain Training on the Nintendo DS has three main areas:
- daily training
- brain age calculator
- sudoku
Daily Training
Daily training always
has me wanting more – I find it a bit compulsive.
I enjoy the different options and I like to
see how I am going. It does keep the score, but only your top 3 and
only once
for that day. You
can see graphically how
you are progressing on a daily basis.
Brain Age Test
The brain age calculation
you can try once a day. This
can be
depressing at times! Because
it is a
Nintendo game I don’t tend to lock myself away from the kids and take
it really
seriously, so if when I encounter a drama during the test I am stuck
with that
score or brain age for the rest of the day!
When taking the test itself
you can choose between a quiet environment or noisy environment. In the stroop or color
test you have to be
in a quiet environment so that you can say colors out loud for the DS
to interpret. This
test can be quite irritating even in a
supposedly quiet environment as the DS doesn’t necessarily pick up the
word you
say and you can get into a downward spiral quickly!
If you are not in a quiet environment it
picks a different test for you to do.
Sudoku
Sudoku is quite good and has levels of complexity that increase as you progress. You have the option to make notes in the corners of the squares so you can eliminate certain numbers. I found the use of the stylus on the screen can be irritating at times - perhaps just me.
General Notes about Usage
In most of the exercises and
during the test you use the stylus to write your answers or tap the
screen. You need to
be clear when writing numbers and
letters and accurate with the stylus.
When traveling it requires great skill!
You cannot use it in a bright
environment as the glare on the screen can make it hard to see and
therefore do the tests
quickly.
I get a frustrated when I
have the correct answer but it has been interpreted incorrectly by the
DS and
that puts me off.
Hardest Game in Brain Training on Nintendo DS
I find the 30
words memory game the hardest. Most of this is to do
with the frustration when I scribe on the screen and my
writing is not deciphered by the lovely DS!
I then find that puts me off and I seem to lose
my train of thought. You could argue that might be something
for me to work on! It is way too frustrating so I
don't persevere. I know I could work on improving how I
handle distractions and other pressures.
Multi-User
The disadvantage of having every family member on the game is that your kids can easily see your score! And this is really noticeable on an off day if you do a brain age test!
Overall Comments about Brain Training on Nintendo DS
New games are unlocked as
you improve and progress, but obviously that is limited.
I did feel that if I used
this regularly I would see some improvement in my brain – but
personally I find
it hard to make it a habit for two reasons:
I associate the Nintendo
with playing games and I become obsessive about the scores when I play
it –
please don’t call the shrink just yet!
Secondly it is not naturally
in my face every day to make me pick it up and do it.
Best used by people who have their own DS, use it daily anyway and can fit it into their routine.
If you are
a parent and use your kids NDS it becomes compulsive to get a better
brain
age than them – trust me I know! The
lower the brain age the better with 20 being optimal in this program.
Summary of Advantages of Brain Training on Nintendo DS
- Good games.
- Generally easy to use.
- Clear instructions, if you read
them.
- Portable.
Summary
of Disadvantages of
Brain Training on Nintendo DS
- Need clear writing – you will be
penalised in the tests that require numbers to be written
- Need clear voice – preferably
native English speaker otherwise the stroop test is meaningless.
- Easy to lose, drop or damage
either the game or the DS rendering it useless!
- Screen is small and needs to be
viewed in good lighting but not too bright.
- Cannot use when you are
traveling unless you are incredibly good with the stylus.
Alternatives to Brain Training on Nintendo DS
- Brain Age2 - More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima
- An
alternative on Nintendo DS is Big Brain Academy.
- A full function brain training program online is Lumosity Brain Games.
Sources to Purchase Brain Training on Nintendo DS
Nintendo
products can be bought at major retailers or online.
Online you may be able to source second hand units and games
from your local eBay. As with all second hand purchases be
careful and only deal with reputable sellers.
Useful Links
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