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With over 4.2 million copies of More Brain Training for the Nintendo DS sold in Japan, a Western release of the sequel to the original Brain Training was inevitable. The North American iteration, Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day doesn't divert too far from the brain game formula established by the original, but adds a few new tricks to keep it fresh.
There's still a focus on tricky math exercises, including Sign Finder, a spin on the original's Calculation. Sign Finder asks players to fill in the missing operator (÷, ×, + or -) instead of the final number. Math Recall takes a different angle on Calculation, giving you a sequence of math problems that scratch out a number carried over from the previous equation, forcing you to keep up while quickly computing.
Other creative exercise types include games like Word Scramble, a jumbled word that rotates on the left screen, and Word Blend, which will vocalize multiple words on top of each other and require great focus (and, sorry senior citizens, decent hearing). Memory Sprint sees the return of the Head Count man who races at varying speeds requiring you to remember in what position he's placed. Change Maker and Piano Player are aptly titled descriptions of their challenges, with the latter adding a welcome musical challenge.
While most of the mini-games seem harder at first blush, they're simply more difficult because they're less traditional than the first. Rock Paper Scissors, for example, forces you to rethink as it will randomly ask you for a winning or losing hand form. And you have to speak the answer.
For those looking for more traditional handheld gaming fun, Brain Age 2 includes an unlockable version of Dr. Mario (redubbed Virus Buster) and an additional 100 Sudoku puzzles. There's plenty to do for $20 and while it may look very familiar, the puzzle are less dry stuff when compared to the first Brain Age.
Brain Age 2 was a surprising amount of fun and, as a Brain Age sudoku junkie, an easy purchase. Check out 10 new shots in the gallery below.
