Big Brain Academy (DS)

Big Brain Academy (BBA) offers 15 activities that test the participant's brain power in areas including maths, logic, memory and analysis (you don't really play this game, so we will not refer to you as players - BBA isn't a game as such). Upon starting the game, new Academicals(!) will enter Test mode and take a five-part quiz that reveals the 'weight' of their brains, a letter grade and a profession, or a famous name from history which may have a similar 'weight'. The results of the initial quiz are based on how many correct answers players get in a set period of time, and the goal is to gradually increase the power of the brain. Academicals can also take part in the activities in Practice mode. If they do well in this, they'll earn a selection of bronze, silver, gold and platinum medals.

All 15 activities involve the DS touch screen in one way or another, so it's not purely about the power of the mind. Testees(!!) will require a good grip on the slender DS stylus, but the touchy-feely nature of the BBA activities is a real delight, while the quick thinking required in a short space of time gives the whole thing a feeling of urgency. Up to eight people can take part using just one game card, and with each activity taking no more than a minute to complete, the ante is upped considerably when more people are involved.

Big Brain Academy is a perfect complement to the 'similar-but-different-enough-to-make-this-worthwhile' Prof. Kawashima's Brain Training. Either game will keep you occupied for a good while, and you never know - you might blow someone's mind with the sheer power of your brain (hopefully not your own).