Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, also known as Nintendo Switch Brain Training for AdultsJPN in Japan, is the 5th entry in the Brain Age series and is an entertainment puzzle game. It was co-developed and published by Nintendo EPD and indieszero for Nintendo Switch. It was first released on December 27, 2019 in Japan, then on January 3, 2020 in Europe and Australia.[2]

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch
European cover art
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
indieszero
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Kenta Kubo[1]
Producer(s)Kouichi Kawamoto
Shinya Takahashi
Artist(s)Kunihiro Hasuoka
Yosuke Fujino
Composer(s)Minako Hamano
Akito Nakatsuka
Soshi Abe
SeriesBrain Age
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
Release
  • JP: December 27, 2019
  • EU/AU: January 3, 2020
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch builds upon previous instalments by adding more puzzles and mini games to strength the players memory and concentration skills while also containing previous puzzles, all of which are taught by Dr Kawashima. This game also takes advantages of some of the switch's functionalities such as the gyroscope and IR sensors. This game also came packaged with a free Nintendo Switch Stylus to help with certain puzzles.[3]

Gameplay
This is the stylus bundled with game.

When booting up the game, you are given two different modes: Quick Play and Daily Training. This game is played mostly in handheld mode with barely any usage of TV mode with the switch also being held vertically for easier adaptability to draw and tap. This game utilises the touchscreen, shoulder buttons and IR sensor in the right joy-con to perform the training and puzzles.

In Quick Play, you can play mini-games at your own pace, with each mini-game being unlocked daily. This mode also allows for multiplayer, a new feature to the series. In Daily Training, you go into Training Mode where you can go through a variety of puzzles daily. Once finished, you can get your Brain Age Check, to see how engaged your brain is. Once a day you get a stamp which allows you to play more mini-games.

This game also has a championship mode, where once a Saturday you compete with others around the world to get the highest score on a leader board. This game allows you to send messages to other people to show play records once per day. This feature uses Nintendo Switch Online.

In total this game has 24 different mini-games, all of which have utilise the switch's technology such as the IR sensor in the right joy-con, the joy-con shoulder buttons and the touchscreen which is aided by the stylus which packaged with the physical version.

Development

This game was presented as an idea to Dr Kawashima who was interested by the concept. He was an active Nintendo Switch user and was open to the idea of a Switch version.[4] The game was first revealed via a stealth dropped trailer on the Nintendo Japan YouTube account on September 30, 2019.[5] Two weeks later, it was announced it would come to the West (besides America) on January 3 the following year.[6] On December 27, 2019, the game was released in Japan. Exactly one week later, the game was released in Europe and Australia.

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
IGN7/10[8]
Nintendo Life[9]

The game gained mixed reviews, praising the puzzles quality and repeatability as well as the game making good use of the switch's technology. However, the game was criticised for being the same as previous installments and a lack of variety. Another problem brought up by IGN was that this game was not well suitable for the recently released Nintendo Switch Lite as it didn't have detachable joy-cons and IR sensors.[8]

Trusted Reviews felt overall that while the game was quick and fun, the game didn't feel like up to the same quality of other Nintendo games with an awkward handwriting recognition and limited amount of puzzles.[10] Nintendo World Report gave a very positive review, praising the gameplay and gimmicks of the game with the only criticisms given is a need for more puzzles and mini-games.[11]

In the UK, week one sales charts showed that the game was number 14 on the chart in physical sales, barely missing the top 10. However this is the highest it has ever been in the series.[12] [13]

Notes
^ In Japan, the game is known as Supervised by Professor Ryuta Kawashima, Institute of Aging Medicine, Tohoku University

Nintendo Switch training for adults to train their brain (東北大学加齢医学研究所 川島隆太教授監修脳を鍛える大人の Nintendo Switchトレーニング, Tōhokudaigaku kareiigakukenkyūjo kawashima ryūta kyōju kanshū nō o kitaeru otona no Nintendo Switch torēningu).

References
  1. "Interview with Professor Kawashima and development staff about "Brain Training" of Switch". Nintendo. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  2. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  3. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training For Nintendo Switch review – return of the non-game". Metro. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  4. "川島教授と開発スタッフに聞く、Switchの「脳トレ」。". Nintendo Japan. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  5. "Switchで新しい脳トレ [脳を鍛える大人のNintendo Switchトレーニング]". YouTube. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch - Announcement Trailer (Nintendo Switch)". YouTube. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  7. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. "Brain Training by Dr. Kawashima for Nintendo Switch - Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  9. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  10. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Review". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  12. "UK Charts: Call of Duty retains No.1 as Brain Training Switch makes Top 20". Game Industry. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  13. "Brain Training is the only new entry in this week's UK Charts". Destructoid. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
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