Nintendo is kicking off 2020 with the release of Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch. Back in 2006, during the Nintendo DS era, Kawashima’s Brain Training was a massive hit among casual gamers, so it’s no surprise to see a Nintendo Switch version of it. This one combines the joy of the past with the innovation of modern technologies. Is it as good as the original? Let’s find out!
Daily training
When you first start playing Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, you’ll be advised to hold your Nintendo Switch vertically. This is a throwback to the way you held your Nintendo DS like a book, but it also genuinely makes it easier to control the game. At the core of Brain Training is its Daily Training section where you’ll have to solve a set of different puzzles involving self-control, short-term memory, and processing speed. After completing these daily randomized tests, the game will estimate your brain age, motivating you to keep training on a daily basis. Just like in 2006, this brain age calculation is a bit stressful as you want to perform as good as possible. This stress factor is also the charm of the game. Thanks to the pressure, you’ll really want to become better at the tests, the only way to do so is by practicing as often as you can.
As proven in the past, the game can really help you to train your brain by exercising on a daily basis. If you keep up your daily routine, you’ll become better and better at the game and you’ll eventually unlock all 12 minigames. The Daily Training is a fun part of the game and the more you play it, the better it actually becomes. At first, it plays very similar to the older version of Kawashima’s Brain Training but the more you’ll unlock, the more the past and present get merged. The available minigames really are a step up and offer some fun challenges.
Keep training
The Daily Training is just one of the things you can do in Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch. As the purpose of the game is to train your brain, the emphasis lies on exercises. If you played a Brain Training game before, you’ll see some of the classic exercises making a return, such as quick-fire Calculations x25, Head Count, and the immensely popular Sudoku. But, along with the old came the new. The Nintendo Switch version houses a couple of new challenging exercises that will keep you on top of your game. Some of these new exercises really give you a true challenge where you have to perform double tasks or remember previous images of what’s shown on the screen. When it comes to the actual exercises, it’s clear to see that the team found the perfect balance between fan-favorite classic exercises and challenging new ones. There’s something for everyone here and the more you’ll train, the quicker and better you’ll get at it, which is the game’s major appeal.
On top of that, there are also a couple of new minigames that use the Nintendo Switch’s unique properties like the IR Sensor of the Joy-Con. By making hand gestures in front of the camera, you can exercise in Finger Drills or Hand, Paper, Scissors challenges. It’s a fun new way to play and especially fun in Quick Play where you challenge another player. The Quick Play mode is the perfect mode for the more competitive player who wants to test his/her skills against another human player. By taking turns and handing over the Joy-Con, both players are tasked to perform as good as possible in certain exercises. It’s a fun way to challenge your friends while keeping track of your progress.
Can I play it on my Nintendo Switch Lite?
The physical version of the game comes packed with an actual stylus to make it easier to play. It must be said, compared to the original release, the game had far fewer problems recognizing my hand-writing. Aside from a couple of nines, the game always knew what number I wrote down, which is a huge leap forward compared to the original. The same goes for the IR Sensor, most of the times, it works perfectly fine but occasionally, it won’t recognize your hand gestures as fast as it should or it will validate a gesture before you completed it. It’s not perfect and there’s a possibility you’ll lose a couple of seconds due to technical problems but all in all, it’s a way better experience than the original one was. But what about Nintendo Switch Lite owners? Can they play this game as well?
The answer is yes, although it might come with an additional cost. Since the Switch Lite doesn’t have an IR Sensor, you’ll need to buy an extra set of Joy-Con to be able to play all exercises. This means the game is a little more expensive on Switch Lite if you want to play it as it’s meant to. This issue could have been solved by programming recognition of a Switch and Switch Lite console. Sadly, the game doesn’t recognize the system it’s in, so all minigames are accessible from the start, even if you can’t play them on the Switch Lite without an extra pair of Joy-Con. That being said, it plays extremely well on the Lite console thanks to its smaller size. The Switch Lite fits perfectly in your hand, making it a bit easier to write down your answers. This is by far the biggest advantage over Nintendo Switch players but of course, still comes at the cost of the extra Joy-Con.
A fun game to train your brain
In conclusion, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch offers a fun way to train your brain on a daily basis. It’s most enjoyable in short daily sessions but thanks to the Quick Play mode, you’re also able to challenge your friends at any time. The combination of old and new minigames works like a charm and offers something for everybody, using some of the Switch’s uniques features. It’s a bit of a shame that Nintendo Switch Lite owners have to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con but that doesn’t take away the fun and challenges of the game. If you’re looking for a more serious, educational game; this certainly is the one you need.
