The game “Brain Age,” a treasure from the DS era, is coming to the Switch on Dec. 27 for Japan and on Jan. 3 internationally.
The time has come for people to remember exactly what “Brain Age” was for Nintendo. For the longest time, “Brain Age” has had staying power as a precious game to the Nintendo library. However, as of late, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that the game series was abandoned for more ordinary games. However, “Brain Age” is back and, according to the trailers, follows the same trends from its DS counterparts.
During the DS era, “Brain Age” was already a bizarre game because of the way that one plays. A player had to hold the console sideways for some of the games to even function, like the equation game where you speed through simplistic mathematics on a timer. The same is true for this new switch version. It is shown in the video that you have to awkwardly hold the entire switch sideways when doing the same mathematics speed mini-game from the previous installments.
Speaking of awkward gameplay placement, the “Brain Age” series has always seemed to take advantage of the tools given by the DS: using the touch screen to write numbers, or lines to complete a maze and holding the console sideways to take advantage of the DS’ dual screens.
This new “Brain Age” seems to follow the footsteps of its older games in that light quite well. In the trailer it shows us how “Brain Age” has evolved with its consoles. The video shows us that the “Brain Age” for the Switch will utilize the IR motion camera that is at the bottom of every right joycon. It showcases its usage by playing games such as rock-paper-scissors, and using your fingers to represent numbers for that math speed test from before.
Another product has come out during this time alongside the reveal of “Brain Age” for the Switch: a sort of pen that you’d typically see being used to write on tablet or phone screens that are marketed as a device for the switch. This is an inevitable sell because of the numerous games that have historically been a part of “Brain Age,” which require a stylus to play effectively.
While it is quite exciting to see a game from so long ago resurface, one concern that a customer may have while looking at this trailer is the skeletal display of unique mini-games. Games such as the mathematic speed test have been in every “Brain Age” game since the beginning. While new games were indeed shown, like the new multiplayer object counting game, it wouldn’t be a far thrown idea to say that this may be a very skeletal experience. Numerous times, the same game is brought up for different shots of the trailer.
However, the game is yet to be released for a couple months. It would be ignorant to say that these will be the only mini-games “Brain Age” for the Switch will have to offer. Until the Japanese release date of Dec. 27, we will have to hold our breath and see.
Edward Park is a second-year student majoring in English education. EP909756@wcupa.edu