Brain Age Express: Math Review for Nintendo DSi

System: DSi	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Nintendo	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Nintendo	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Apr. 5, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Finally, the Voice Acting theme, as you might expect, involves your ability to emote though your voice. The game will give you a situation, and then you will have to read a line as the character from the story would. Although Brain Age does not score or judge you here, it does highlight some key things that you should have done with your voice for it to be effective.

Brain Age Express: Math screenshot

The one thing that I found disappointing about the Themes was that they don't change. While mini-games like Calculations x20 are different each time you boot them up, the Themes challenges are always the same, and therefore have little replay value. Still, they are a whole lot of fun the first time through, and they are a nice reprieve from the math-focused parts of the game.

Control, visuals, and sound are all about the same as previous Brain Age games. Dr. Kawashima's familiar floating head will still be around, and little friendly beeping noises and music still play in the background. Brain Age Express: Math also uses the touch screen exclusively, and since most mini-games involve writing or drawing, control is a breeze.

Although Brain Age Express: Math certainly does not have all the functionality of its DS-based big brothers, this DSi exclusive sure comes close. With eight different math-focused training modes, and several special Theme modes, there is plenty to do in Brain Age Express: Math for the DSi. And at 800 points, this is a great way to get back into training, or start it up for the first time! The game even tells you on the DSi's main menu how many stamps you have earned, so there really is no excuse this time. Whip that brain into shape!

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

Graphics
Standard Brain Age visuals get the job done and feel very familiar for veterans of the series.

4.0

Control
Controls are exclusively touch screen-based, and it is very easy to draw shapes, characters, and numbers with the stylus.

3.1

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Recognizable background music and friendly sound effects make this title comfortable to listen to.

3.3

Play Value
Although many of the math-based brain training elements are borrowed from previous Brain Age games, the new Themes mode makes it worth the 800 points to download, especially for those who have never played Brain Age before.

3.6

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

In this math-focused edition of the popular Brain Age series, players can enjoy a mix of new and familiar exercises, including Change Maker, Triangle Math, Sum Totaled, and Multi Tasker.

A new Themes mode challenges you in drawing, photography, and voice acting and lets you share your creativity with your friends and family.

And if you need a break from things, the always-enjoyable Virus Buster makes its return. Prepare for another round of training your brain in minutes a day!