This series saw it’s debut on the Nintendo DS, back when the DS would also play GBA games. (Remember that?) The Switch variant comes in at about £25 on the eShop – half the average cost for main first-party titles. But is it worth your time and money?
You have the whole game in your hands
The entire game plays in portrait orientation when handheld. When it’s docked, it only lets you play the “Quick Training” levels. All of daily training is done in handheld, and portrait orientation. The only time the switch goes landscape in handheld mode is when you’re playing the games that need the IR camera.
Personally, switching across to using a stylus (or finger) and holding the screen vertically isn’t much of an issue. With a Switch (not Switch lite) this can feel a bit unwieldy, just from the pure size of the unit. Especially if you leave both the Joy-Con together. I don’t see it as an issue, but it’s something to consider.
Brain Training! Now with camera!
Did you remember that the Switch has an IR camera? This game certainly does. Brain Training uses it to see your hand for Finger Calculations and Rock Paper Scissors. Playing these games means having to remove the right Joy-Con, which in handheld mode is a bit annoying. The only other uses I remember are the Nintendo Labo kits, and Resident Evil Revelations for reloading.
Technically, you’re meant to put the Joy-Con onto a table, but you can just hold it and it still “works.” It’s just that you have to focus on where it’s pointing. Otherwise, you can skip these games if they come up in daily training. On the Switch Lite, I’d assume these games just don’t show up, or that you’d need external Joy-Con to play them.
The rest of the games are what you’d come to expect from the series. Tasks like Calculations x25, Reading Aloud, and Highest Number return alongside our favourite Dr Ma…..Germ Buster, for “relaxation.” All of them are entertaining but, of course, I have no idea if they’re helping my brain at all. I haven’t had many day to day run-ins with wild math problems yet.
At the end of every game, you’re given your score on a scale, and the “vehicle speed” to give you an idea of how well you did. The highest I’ve gotten is Train Speed, which has a really cute animation!
Multiplayer?
When does Brain Training work the best? When it’s an eSport of course! (OK, maybe I’m going a bit over the top) Multiplayer exists in the game in two flavours – Local party play, and online “Championships” where you can see how you stack up against the world.
Local multiplayer (on a big switch) has each player use a single Joy-Con per player most times. Where it needs the IR camera, you share the right Joy-Con. The Championships happen every Saturday within your training dashboard. There’s a selection of 4 games, and you get 2 attempts per game to try and get the best score.
Should I buy it?
Fan of the Brain Training games? Buy it. I’m enjoying playing it for the 10 minutes or so a day it recommends.
I think this game fits the standard Switch a lot more than the Switch Lite, mainly due to the use of the Joy-Con camera. Unless you’re fine with getting a separate set, or going without the finger-based gameplay.
However, playing this on Switch Lite will likely make it easier for you to play in more places. The Switch feels bit when it’s held vertically. Very big. On a console that’s already large for standard gameplay.
