Brain Boost: Gamma Wave - Nintendo DS

by Majesco

• Two game modes:Training & Challenge

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000JFJHQY
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 16, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,802 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Edition: Gamma

This game is designed to improve memory, concentration and judgement by utilizing Makoto Schichida's "right brain development theory".

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice idea, but poor implementation December 18, 2006

By Lisa Shea HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

Where Brain Boost Gamma Wave helps with memory, Brain Boost Beta Wave helps with your concentration. I think pretty much ANY video game should help with that! Every video game has you focussing on the task at hand, whether it's defeating the current boss or solving a puzzle.

Still, I'm a sucker for brain boosting games. I play and enjoy Brain Age, Big Brain Academy, and several others. Studies have certainly shown that your brain is a "use it or lose it" part of your body.

So just how does this game help with your concentration? First, the plot. It involves scientist, robots, and silliness. I really don't see why any brain game should have a plot. The other Brain Age style games don't bother. To have to page through screens here to get to the actual game is a bit silly. Hopefully their future releases will dispense with those meaningless screens you have to page past.

So, the actual game itself. There are five minigames. These are:

Find a Match - they show you a grid of images, and you click on the two that match.

Shape Recognition - they show you a tetris-like image, and you have to choose which of the four images shown match it.

Addition - they show you a bunch of numbers, and you have to sum them up.

Remember Sequence - they show you a series of images, and then you have to click on which one was the "3rd shown" or "5th shown" or whatever they choose.

Moving Dots - I actually like this one. They put a random number of dots on the screen, in motion. You have to count them up while they're moving and click on the total.

I really have to question how some of these have anything to do with concentration. Adding up numbers isn't a matter of concentration. It's a matter of math skill. Finding a match would seem more like memory to me. I suppose since they titled the other brain game "memory" they had to name this *something* to convince you to buy both of them, but I'm just not seeing the concentration angle.

Also, you have four levels for each of these mini-games, and then all you do is move on to the challenges. The challenges come in four levels and ... yes, it's the exact same 5 minigames. So you're playing the exact same games, it's just that they are now "challenges" instead of "training".

There isn't any charting of your progress. You have no idea if you did better yesterday than you did today. In the training area, you just max each level out to 100% and then it's done. You're only doing 20 of each puzzle so it's not THAT hard.

Maybe I'm spoiled by Brain Age and Big Brain Academy. Those games test your brain, but they are really *fun*, they track your progress, they make you want to come back and play again tomorrow. They show you how well you're doing. With this game, it feels like homework, and you don't even get a sense of accomplishment or progress.

A nice idea, but poor implementation. Read more ›

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as much fun as Brain Age or Brain Academy March 4, 2007

By Graphic Novel / Manga Reader

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

As an adult gamer, I didn't care for this game. I have tried Brain Age and I think it's so much better than Brain Boost: Gemma Wave. Brain Boost is just a memory game, period. There is nothing else to do on it except just to test your memory. 3 ways to test your memory, numbers, pictures and colors. Each test was pretty long. After awhile I got bored with it quickly. For variety, get Brain Age or Brain Academy.

Even my nephews ages, 7 and 8 didn't care for it either. They liked Brain Age better.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Worst of all the brain games January 14, 2007

By T. Baumann

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 1.0 out of 5 stars   

We own the Big Brain Academy, the Brain Age and this one. Big Brain Ac. is far the best one. For Kids and Adults, as it has different difficulties. You cannot put it away! The Brain Age is ok but my son (7) doesn't like it. I like it for the Sudoku. Gamma Wave is not a hit. At the beginning is a story, you dont need and then you just turn it off again because it is boring. Dont waste your money on that one!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It really had so much potential! January 27, 2007

By A.D.

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

I skip the goofy story. It was totally not needed! The games are okay. I do wish you could get a record of how you've been doing and how much better you are getting. I am glad I found this and Beta Wave on sale for 9.99. I would have been really disapointed if I had spent 20.00 each! But for 20.00 for both was not so bad. I still play it because the games themselves are good. Maybe the next version will be better...because I would definately give them a try. I think the creators were in too much of a hurry to get this one out while the trend of "brain games" was still hot. A couple more months of research and trials would have been a benefit! So watch this item for sales...or used. Worth 9.00...not 19.00!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Try Big Brain Academy and Brain Age first. March 16, 2007

By M. Staley

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

If you have already played out Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, you might find this is a pleasant little diversion to play with. The story might as well not be there, I've never bothered with it, because I don't need some silly story to work on my memory.

I wouldn't pay more than $10 for this, but at that rate, it was worth it to have an extra diversion when I have to sit around and wait for something.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Get Big Brain Academy or Brain Age instead July 14, 2007

By Booksbunny

Edition:Gamma

Fun: 2.0 out of 5 stars   

Don't waste your money. The Brain Age and Big Brain Academy are SO much better and so much more fun. The countdown between "problems" in the games gets old really fast. The pictures all have the same color palette, so sometimes it's incredibly difficult to differentiate between them, which I suppose might be helpful for memory recall, but the way they are laid out in this game just makes them annoying and frustrating. To me, the story is actually the best thing about the game, but you have to play the stupid games in order for it to advance, and the characters' reactions when you don't complete the game are patronizing and irritating. But at least the story breaks up the motonoty of the games themselves. I absolutely would not recommend this game, especially since Brain Age and Big Brain Academy are so far superior!