This is probably one of the most well known/recognised and advertised Nintendo DS 'games' released so far, although I'm not sure if I'd strictly describe it as being a game. I had been pretty curious to see if it could improve my brain (and memory) after seeing the TV ads for it, I finally got around to buying myself it back in March.

Some of the training exercises you may be given or can select to do yourself (as your not just restricted to your 'daily training' exercise, which is activated by pressing the 'Brain age check' button, you can also select which training exercise(s) you want to do whenever you like by pressing the 'Training' button) include:- Calculations x 20 and Calculations x 100 (basic maths questions, 10 -2, 4 x 5, 7 - 6 and so on, you use the stylus pen to draw the answer in a square next to the equals sign at the end of the maths question and if you get it right the answer is replaced by a tick, or if you get it wrong its replaced with a cross. The main focus is on how quickly you can answer these questions, as mentioned already thats measured to calculate your brain 'age'), reading aloud (you can read out excerpts from books into the Nintendo DS's onboard microphone), low to high (where your briefly shown 4 numbers and they then disappear behind squares and its up to you to remember which numbers are behind which squares, you then have to press on each square containing the numbers in the right order, from the one hiding the lowest value number to the one hiding the highest value number.), Syllable Count (a sentence is shown and you have to write with the stylus pen how many syllables you believe it contains) and finally Head Count (in which your shown people coming in and out of a house and at certain intervals your asked how many people are still inside).

Sometimes Dr. Kawashima will ask a seemingly random question, such as 'what did you do when you first got up today?' or he may ask you to draw a few pictures, using the stylus pen. The picture task is all about using your brain to picture things and then use that to draw the item and the random questions I've discovered are asked so that he can then ask you the same question but much later on, for example a month or so later, so a month later you put the cartridge back in and he asks 'what did you do when you first got up in June 23rd 2007?', so again thats to do with memory.

However, the good thing is that its pretty cheap to buy and if you want to have an excuse for why, if your older than in your teens, you have a DS and want to prove to younger people that its not just for them, I think this 'game' very much applies. It may be a bit dry but it does have an addictive nature to itself, if you have the time for it. It also offers interactive features, for instance you can play against members of your family or friends using the wireless DS communication function, working with between 2 to 16 people.

It may be a bit gimmicky but its still pretty unique, there are similar games out there but to the best of my knowledge, they were all inspired by this game. This was and is the original and also to the best of my knowledge, the best. The other main similar game for the DS being Brain Age Academy, though judging by the current TV advertising for that game, its being aimed at more for younger people (with a little child about 9 or 10 shown playing it with her family I believe in the advert).

The other difference that this 'game' has is that you don't play it like most DS games are played, with the touch screen at the bottom and the other screen at the top. This 'game' you play by putting the console on its side, so its held and 'read' kind of like a book. When you originally input your personal information to set up your profile, your asked if your left or right handed and thats what decides which side you hold it, which is kind of clever I guess.

I think that pretty much covers everything, the basics at least. If I make this review much longer I might as well release a book about it! (which it wouldn't surprise me if there is a book about this game already). The manual you get with the game provides information about the background to the game if your interested in that but hopefully I've provided enough information here for you to make your mind up as to whether this is really something you'd be interested in or not. Hope I helped!