Brain Assist offers 10 mini-games that focus on strengthening the right hemisphere of the brain by challenging the player's memory, concentration, reflexes, deduction, and analytical abilities. Each game quickly ramps up in difficulty and demands that players think fast to truly maximize their memorization and response times. Players will be put to the test again in the "Lightning Round" where the pace and difficulty of gameplay becomes more challenging. Brain Assist features four nurses that players can choose from who act as guides to help players through the game. Each mini-game takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen technology and allows for an addictive interactive gameplay experience in either two-player co-op mode or fast-paced competitions for up to four players via the Nintendo DS Wireless Connection.
Q: What is Brain Assist?
KD: Brain Assist is a very cool little DS title derived from the Japanese arcade touch game “Touch de Uno!” The games are designed to challenge players in various areas of memory, deduction, concentration, and reflexes. When gamers complete each game, they’ll learn about how well they performed as well as how to fine-tune their reflexes.
Q: What makes Brain Assist different from other “brain training” games?
KD: Brain Assist takes a little different take on “brain training” games where we focus on the right brain functions. Right brain functions can be summarized as more of the “creative and artistic” side of the brain that demonstrates more intuitive and reflexive thinking. More importantly, Brain Assist is a nice mix of “brain training” with a lot of fun. Just watch out for the evil nurses.
Q: What are some of the most challenging games in Brain Assist?
KD: Personally, the absolutely most challenging game is Touch of Brilliance where you have to follow the flashing dots and pick their last location – in the later stages, the dots flash so quickly the eye can barely follow them. Match Game can become very difficult in later stages as the images become more visually complex. Speeding Numbers can also be difficult once players get to the point where they have to recognize numbers going at Mach 2 speeds across the screen!
Q: Will there be a version other than the Nintendo DS version?
KD: There are currently no plans to bring Brain Assist to any other platform other than the DS and quite frankly, because of the touch nature of the game, the DS is the ultimate platform for this title.
Q: Does the game support multiplayer?
KD: Brain Assist supports numerous multiplayer options including head-to-head competitive play for the highest score - it’s definitely a lot more fun to play with more people.
A rather unique feature tied to multiplayer is the “Compatibility Check”; when playing a 2-player game, Brain Assist can compare/contrast the different “right brain” aptitudes of each player in a rather humorous manner. And by no means does this “Compatibility Check” make speed dating any faster.
Brain Assist will be available for the Nintendo DS portable handheld system in spring 2008.