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Brain Challenge

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Brain Challenge
Developer(s)Gameloft Beijing
Publisher(s)Gameloft
Ubisoft
Platform(s)Mobile phones, iOS, iPod, Mac OS X, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, N-Gage 2.0, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Zeebo
ReleaseMobile, iPod:
September 5, 2007
Nintendo DS:
January 8, 2008
PlayStation 3:
November 27, 2008
PlayStation Portable:
December 3, 2008
Xbox 360:
March 12, 2008
N-Gage 2.0:
April 3, 2008
iOS:
July 9, 2008
Wii:
  • JP: October 14, 2008
  • EU: November 7, 2008
  • NA: November 10, 2008
Nintendo DS
  • JP: March 10, 2010
  • PAL: July 3, 2009
  • NA: July 13, 2009[1]
OnLive:
July 17, 2010
Mac OS X:
January 20, 2011
Genre(s)Puzzle game
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, DS)

Brain Challenge is a mental exercise video game similar to Big Brain Academy, featuring "brain exercise puzzles". The game was developed by Gameloft Beijing for mobile phones and iPods and released on September 5, 2007. It was followed by a Nintendo DS version on January 8, 2008, an Xbox Live Arcade release on March 12, 2008, and a PlayStation 3 launch on November 27, 2008. The N-Gage 2.0 version was released on the day of the service's launch, April 3, 2008.[2][3] A version for WiiWare was released in Japan on October 14, 2008,[4] in Europe on November 7, 2008[5] and in North America on November 10, 2008.[6] The Wii version also uses Miis for the players profile. OnLive also had launched their new streaming game platform with Brain Challenge on July 27, 2010.[7] On January 20, 2011, the game was released for Mac OS X.

Gameplay

The game is also structured like Big Brain Academy in that puzzles are divided into four separate categories: Logic, Math, Visual, and Focus; the Xbox Live Arcade version, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC add a fifth category, Memory. The puzzles can be played at three difficulty levels and more complex puzzles are unlocked through a player's progression through the game.

Many of the puzzles are similar to those from both Big Brain Academy and Brain Age. For example, Balance shows different objects on scales, and the player must determine from the relationships on the scales which is the heaviest object. In the Trout Route test, the player must follow a path based on the progressive numerical relationship given (i.e. +2, -3, etc.) Travelling requires the player to memorize a route of arrows, while Ascending has the player determining the order of a group of objects from least to most in amount. Bouncing Ball has the player determining as quick as possible which ball bounces highest.

Game modes

The game features two modes:

  • Test: The difficulty level automatically adjusts throughout the game based on performance.
  • Free Training (Training Room on the XBLA version): Allows the player to select exercises of their choice at three available levels (Easy, Medium, Hard).

The XBLA, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo DS versions also feature additional modes:

  • Creative (available on PS3 with an add-on pack): A relaxing mode in which the player can doodle drawings or shoot fireworks.
  • Stress: A more stressful test mode than the basic Test mode, which adds distracting noises and visuals, such as forcing the player to do two disparate actions at once, or dealing with distracting images or insects on the screen.*Also on the PlayStation 3.*
  • Kid mode (available on PS3 with an add-on pack): A multiplayer mode that allows younger players to play.
  • Personal coach: A user-selected AI coach that accompanies the player through various modes.
  • Brain charts: Detailed stats and graphs tracking past gameplay.

Multiplayer

The Nintendo DS version supports up to three player multiplayer via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, while the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and OnLive versions features up to four player offline and online Xbox Live multiplayer, as well as online leaderboards. The mobile phone version also features an online leaderboard.

Reception

Review scores
Publication Score
DS Fanboy (DS)
8 of 10
Eurogamer (DS)
5 of 10
Extreme Gamer (DS)
7.8 of 10
IGN (DS)
7.5 of 10
GameSpot (XBLA)
5.5 of 10
IGN (mobile)
8.3 of 10
IGN (XBLA)
7.2 of 10
iLounge (iPod)
A-
Inside Mac games (iPod)
8 of 10
Mobile Gamer FAQ (mobile)
8.5 of 10
Pocket Gamer (iPod)
8 of 10
Pocket Gamer (mobile)
8 of 10
Pocket Gamer (N-Gage)
6 of 10
IGN (PSP)
7.2 of 10
Team Xbox (XBLA)
4 of 10

The mobile phone and iPod versions were very well received, including an 8.3/10 from IGN for the wireless version, which praised, "[the] majority of the puzzles are good and the production values are strong."[8] Pocket Gamer raved about the iPod version in its 8 of 10 review, glowing, "It's almost a no-brainer to recommend Brain Challenge. It's enjoyable, invigorating and there's a remarkable amount [of gameplay] in it."[9] iLounge's A- review of the iPod version also applauded, "It's just as smart of an offering for this platform as Brain Age was for Nintendo's."[10]

IGN's review for the Nintendo DS version was less enthusiastic (7.5/10), but still singled out the Stress Test as an innovative twist to the brain exercise game formula,[11] as was its review of the Xbox Live Arcade version (7.2/10), though it did mention, "There's quite a bit of depth to Brain Challenge...Making your way through Brain Challenge could take a very, very long time."[12] DS Fanboy's review was more generous with an 8/10 review, and while calling it "an odd little game", it praised, "Lots of replay value, interesting unlockables, and loads of content make up for the title's flaws."[13]

Team Xbox panned the Xbox Live Arcade version, saying, "It doesn't take a whole lot of brain power to figure out that this is one title best left on the shelf," in its 4/10 review.[14] GameSpot's negative review (5.5/10) stated, "...Only a handful of these stand-alone minigames resemble anything of interest."[15]

Sequels

A sequel, Brain Challenge Vol. 2: Stress Management, was released by Gameloft for mobile phones in 2008.[16] Another sequel, "Brain Challenge 3: Think Again!", was released by Gameloft for mobile, iPod Touch, iPhone in September 2009. In 2012, "Brain Challenge 4: Breaking Limits" was released for mobile phones (http://www.gameloft.com/mobile-games/brain-challenge-4/). 2015 - Brain Challenge 5 for Android and feature phones.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bit Boy's Incoming Secret Pulse Commands Pose a Brain Challenge for the Ant Nation". Nintendo of America. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  2. ^ "Brain Challenge game page". Nokia. Archived from the original on 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Get Out and Play!". Nokia. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  4. ^ Nintendo Japan Brain Challenge WiiWare page
  5. ^ "New on WiiWare: Play pinball, boost your brain and invade earth!". Nintendo of Europe. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2009-08-26.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Two WiiWare Games and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo of America. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  7. ^ Onlive America Brain Challenge page Archived November 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Levi Buchanan. "IGN Brain Challenge (wireless) review". IGN.
  9. ^ Kath Brice. "Pocket Gamer Brain Challenge (iPod) review". Pocketgamer.
  10. ^ Jeremy Horwitz. "iLounge Brain Challenge (iPod) review". iLounge.
  11. ^ Jack DeVries. "IGN Brain Challenge (DS) review". IGN.
  12. ^ Ryan Geddes. "IGN Brain Challenge (XBLA) review". IGN. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Alisha Karabinus. "DS Fanboy Brain Challenge (DS) review". Joystiq.
  14. ^ David Chapman. "Team Xbox Brain Challenge (XBLA) review". TeamXbox. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Don Francis. "GameSpot Brain Challenge (XBLA) review". GameSpot.
  16. ^ "Official mobile Brain Challenge Vol 2. site". GameLoft.
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