DS gets Brainy in spring

The Nintendo DS wants its users to touch, rub, and shout with its unique touch-sensitive screen and integrated microphone. With two edutainment games scheduled for release later this year, the DS now wants gamers to learn.

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day and Big Brain Academy are bringing their brainteasing ways to the US. Brain Age (known as Brain Training in Japan) will be released in North America on April 17, and Big Brain Academy (known as Brain Flex in Japan), hits stores May 30. In Japan, both games have received a cultish following and have been top sellers for the handheld.

Based on the works of neuroscientist Professor Ryuta Kawashima, both games emphasize brain over brawn by presenting the user with a series of puzzles based on mathematics, analysis, and memorization, as well as ever-popular sudoku puzzles. The entire game is controlled via the touch screen and stylus, and a multiplayer mode allows would-be Einsteins to compete brain-to-brain.

Both Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day and Big Brain Academy are rated E for Everyone. For more details on the games, check out a video of Big Brain Academy being demonstrated late last year.