Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, also known as Nintendo Switch Brain Training for Adults in Japan,[lower-alpha 1] is the fifth entry in the Brain Age puzzle video game series, based on the research of neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima, whose avatar guides the player through the game. It was co-developed by Nintendo EPD and indieszero, and published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch. It was released on December 27, 2019, in Japan, and January 3, 2020, in Europe and Australia.[2]

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch
Dr Kawashima's Brain Training icon as displayed on the Nintendo Switch interface
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
indieszero
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Kenta Kubo[1]
Producer(s)Kouichi Kawamoto
Takayuki Shimamura
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 installments by adding puzzles and mini-games to strengthen the player's memory and concentration skills. The game contains previous puzzles in the series, all of which are taught by Dr. Kawashima. Puzzles in the game take advantage of some of the Nintendo Switch's functionalities such as the gyroscope and IR sensors. Physical editions of the game include a stylus to aid its touchscreen puzzles as an alternative to using the fingers.[3]

Gameplay
This displays the player's hand is detected by the right Joy-con's IR sensor to make a specific shape for Roshambo.

The player is presented with two modes: Quick Play and Daily Training. This game is played mostly in handheld mode with barely any usage of the TV mode. The Nintendo Switch console is mostly held vertically during play for easier drawing and tapping on the touchscreen. In total, the game contains 24 unique puzzles, all of which utilize the console's technology such as the IR sensor in the right Joy-Con, the Joy-Con shoulder buttons, and the touchscreen.

In Quick Play, mini-games can be played at the player's own pace, with each mini-game being unlocked daily. This mode allows for multiplayer, a new feature to the series. In Daily Training, the player has full access to a selection of puzzles, unlocking more puzzles the more days they play. The player can perform a "Brain Age Check", where the player performs three standard puzzles and their performance determines the "age" of the brain. Solving the puzzles speedily will result in a younger Brain Age. Once a day the player receives a stamp which allows playing more mini-games.

This game features a championship mode, where players connect online to compete with players worldwide. This feature uses Nintendo Switch Online. The championship mode takes place every Saturday, where players have up to two attempts per Daily Training puzzle to solve as fast as they can. The fastest attempt is submitted to the championship, where players are read their results instantly after finishing. Players receive access to online players' performances every Monday. The championship mode also allows the user to send messages to other players and compare their results once a day. In July 2020, the mode was used for an event where players can compete with Dr. Ryuta Kawashima.[4]

Development

The Nintendo Switch version was developed by most of the original developers of previous Brain Age games, lead by producer Kouichi Kawamoto, who directed most of the series. Additional development was provided by indieszero.[5]

The game was announced on the Nintendo Japan YouTube account on September 30, 2019.[6] Two weeks later, it was announced that the game would come to Europe and Australia on January 3, 2020.[7] On December 27, 2019, the game was released in Japan. It has yet to receive a North American release.

Reception

The game received mixed reviews. Many praised the puzzles' quality and repeatability as well as the game making good use of Nintendo Switch technology.[13] However, the game was criticized for being too similar to previous installments and a lack of variety. Some noted that the game was not suitable for the recently released Nintendo Switch Lite since the system does not have detachable Joy-Cons or IR sensors.[10] The game had also performed to the same quality of other Nintendo games with awkward handwriting recognition and a limited amount of puzzles.[14]

In the UK, sales charts showed that the game was number 14 in physical sales within its first week, the highest it has been in the series.[15] [16] As of November 2020, the game has sold over 26,000 copies in Japan according to Famitsu.[17]

Awards
Award Date of ceremony Category Result Ref.
Golden Joystick 2020 November 24, 2020 Nintendo Game of the Year Nominated [18]

In November 2020, the game was nominated for Nintendo Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards, however, it lost to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.[19]

Notes
  1. 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. Lada, Jenna (July 2, 2020). "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Will Let People Compete With the Doctor". Siliconera. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    5. "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.
    6. "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.
    7. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch - Announcement Trailer (Nintendo Switch)". YouTube. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
    8. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    9. "Test: Dr. Kawashima's Brain Jogging for Nintendo Switch". 4Players.de. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
    10. "Brain Training by Dr. Kawashima for Nintendo Switch - Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    11. "Test : Programme d'Entraînement Cérébral du Dr Kawashima : Que vaut cet épisode sur Nintendo Switch ?". Jeuxvideo.com. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
    12. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
    13. "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    14. "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Review". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    15. "UK Charts: Call of Duty retains No.1 as Brain Training Switch makes Top 20". Game Industry. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    16. "Brain Training is the only new entry in this week's UK Charts". Destructoid. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
    17. Romano, Sal (November 26, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 11/16/20 – 11/22/20 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    18. Craddock, Ryan (October 1, 2020). "Animal Crossing, Pokémon, Mario And More Nominated In Golden Joystick Awards 2020". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    19. Wald, Heather (November 24, 2020). "Animal Crossing: New Horizons is your Nintendo Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
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