The best brain-training game for the DS, BBA excels with having great multiplayer, replay value, all at a great price.
The different aspects you can train in are: Identify, Think, Memorize, Analyze, and Compute. In each of these sections, there are three training exercises. In the Practice section of Big Brain Academy, you’re able to perform these exercises at the three different difficulties; easy, normal, and hard. Based on your performance, you are awarded different medals, and the game keeps track of you best score. Your score is measured in grams. This is meant to be the mass of your brain, in that if you are smarter, you have a bigger, more massive brain.
For those of you who insist on getting perfect scores on every section of a game, this is perfect for you. You may be doing really good, and getting gold medals on each game and feeling really proud of yourself, but then all of the sudden you do extremely good on a section, and you get a platinum medal. It hits you that you have to go back and get platinum medals on every section that you only got a gold medal on before. This can keep you busy for hours, days, and even weeks.
A second section of the game is Test. The game goes through each of the categories, randomly selecting one game from each. At the end, the scores (masses) from each section are added up, you’re given a total, and you’re given a letter based on that mass. Then you are shown a chart in the shape of a pentagon which shows you the breakdown of which sections you did better or worse in. It then compares your brain to an occupation based on the breakdown. For example, I apparently have the brain of an investor. The multiplayer aspect of this game is very fun. Up to 8 players can play with a single cartridge. The host of the game selects the first game to be played out of the fifteen available games, and everyone plays the same question at the same time. You’re given mass based on who submits the correct answers the fastest, and you’re penalized for wrong answers. You continue playing to a target mass, say 50g. Once someone reaches that point, whoever got last place in that game chooses the next game. The game keeps track of your total weight, and then when someone has reached 300g they win.
Considering its bargain price at $20, this game is well worth the purchase. It has lot of replay value, and is great for multiplayer.