Left Brain Right Brain 2 Review for Nintendo DS

System: DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Kokolo Entertainment	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Majesco	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Dec. 9, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

On the whole, the mini-games themselves are more enjoyable this time around. The objectives are still painfully simple, but the challenges are better put together.

Left Brain Right Brain 2 screenshot

Balloon Attack has you swiping away at crows before they pop the many balloons holding your basket afloat, Color Match has you tapping a series of color orbs rotating and undulating around a central piece that shifts in color, and Pachinko has you collecting falling pucks as they work their way down the pegboard. Other games like Block Buster, Cosmic Seesaw, Dark Dungeon, and UFO attack are equally enjoyable. Still, there are some crummy mini-games in the bunch, and most players will come to discover which they enjoy and which they hate pretty quickly.

The visual presentation is possibly the most improved aspect of LBRB 2. Rather than the sparse, mostly black and white backgrounds populated with basic shapes, the sequel sports colorful mini-games featuring a variety of graphical styles. The hand character that serves as your host and cheerleader is slightly improved, but the games are a far cry from the lame offerings in the previous version.

By most accounts, the original Left Brain Right Brain certainly didn't warrant a sequel, but a number of changes from the first failure have made LBRB 2 the definitive version to own - at least for anyone convinced it's worth the meager price of admission. There's still some question over whether prolonged use of the game really has any substantive impact on your abilities to use both hands with equal skill, though similar arguments can be made for most entries in the latest brain training gaming craze. Anyone hell-bent on training their weaker limb might find some amusement here. More seasoned gamers will find greater pleasures elsewhere.

By Nathan Meunier
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.3

Graphics
A vast improvement over the first title but still nothing amazing to be found here.

3.5

Control
The stylus controls work alright most of the time. There are a few instances where they falter.

3.4

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
While not memorable, the audio is relatively upbeat and pleasant.

3.4

Play Value
The games are more fun this time around, but it's still more of the same.

3.4

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

Game Features:

Book-style play challenges you to flip the DS over and around to develop your hand-eye coordination with both left and right hands.

All new graphics improve the presentation.

Train your brain and non-dominant hand in Exercises and Ambidexterity Check.

Ambidexterity Check allows you to play three games at random with your Good Hand and Weak Hand. Afterwards, compare your results from each hand to see just how ambidextrous you are!

All-new Exercises mode lets you play any game you want with both hands. Then, check on the frequency of exercises and how much the brain was stimulated or activated from the exercise.

Challenge a friend in Single and Multi Card Multiplayer.

Monitor personal progress and assess improvement with development percentages for each hand that appear after play.