Review: Resco Brain Games – Like Crunches For The Brain

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Most of you know that I am a pretty big fan of playing games on my Windows Mobile device.  Heck, probably half of my reviews are game-related.  While a lot of these games are fantastic, it is pretty rare to find a game that can actually make you a better person.  Then, about a year and a half ago, a new genre of game starting making its way onto our devices.  Games that promised to make you faster, smarter, and sometimes even more quick witted.  These brain training games were more than just exciting puzzles on your device, they are games which are actually designed to target specific areas of your brain.  I have reviewed two of these brain training packages in the past: Spb Brain Evolution and Mastersoft Brain School.  The third installment of this trilogy, however, is Resco’s Brain Games.  I did not have a chance to review Brain Games when it was initially released, but I am glad I waited because the latest version is fantastic.  I have only been playing it for a few weeks and I already feel smarter.  Stick with us and we will take a closer look.

Like all brain training games, Resco’s Brain Games is not a single game, but an entire suite of games, designed to assault your brain from all sides.  With 36 different games, I am pretty sure that this is the most robust brain training pack available for Windows Mobile.  I was surprised, however, to find that only three major areas (calculations, memory, and analysis) are covered.  Mastersoft Brain School, on the other hand, offered fewer games (20) , but challenged seven differed aspects of your brain.  While some may argue that various categories in Brain School may have been compressed together into the three offered by Brain Games, I think it is clear that while Brain Games may hit each area harder (with 12 games in each of the three areas) it simply does not offer as wide of a scope as Mastersoft did.   I would have liked more variety from Brain Games, which also would have allowed it to target a wider array of skills.

Of course, none of this means that the 36 games offered by Resco Brain Games are not challenging.  With 12 games in each of the three categories, you are certainly in for a mental workout every time you play the game.

Just scroll through the games until you find the one you want.  They are arranged by category (calculations, memory, and analysis) with each category bearing a different color.  One thing you will notice here is that Resco Brain Games, like a number of other Resco programs has been made over to satisfy the latest trend in finger friendly interfaces.  Just flick the menu to scroll through the games.

Unlike many games, there is no central location where you can go to look up the rules of the games, no user manual, or similar screen.  Instead, when you select a game, your blonde haired, blue eyed, hottie of an instructor will appear with instructions and an example of the game.  Once you have digested this overview, it is 3…2…1… and you are off.

I was really impressed by the controls in the games.  Each game is designed as a multiple choice question.  The bottom third of the screen consists of a digital D-pad, with each directional arrow representing a different answer.  Again, maintaining the finger friendly design, simply tap the arrow corresponding to the correct answer.  You will also receive instant feedback with the top of the screen turning green for a correct answer and red for incorrect.

In each game, you will be scored on the combination of time and accuracy.  If you look on the top of the screen, you will notice five yellow stars.  These stars will slowly drain their color as the game continues.  Answer all 10 questions correctly before the first star drains and you will earn all five stars and move on to the next level.  Note that if even the tiniest sliver of the star is still colored, then you will receive credit for that star.  If you answer a question incorrectly, then you will lose a large portion of a star.

At the end of ten questions, that instructor will return to tell you how you did.  If you were quick and accurate, then you may expect 4 or a perfect 5 stars.  A slow time with mistakes will earn you considerably fewer.  Earn at least three stars to unlock the next level of play.  Each game has a different number of levels in it (typically between 5 and 10).   I did think that once you completed a game, it should automatically move you to the next level of the game, rather than this intermediate step.  But this was a fairly minor detail.

Once you have unlocked all of the levels in a particular game, you will receive the Unlock Award.  Earn at least three stars on each level to receive the Half Complete Award.  The coveted All Complete Award is only granted, however, if you have earned every available star, meaning five stars on each level of the game. I was a bit disappointed to find that these awards amounted to no more than a small graphic on the screen.  It would be nice if you could earn some sort of certificate or graphic, which could be accessed in an awards room somewhere in the game.

Of course, a game like this would not be much good without an easy way to track your progress.  For that, just hit the statistic button. From here, you can see your results over the last seven or last 30 days in each category, how many games you have unlocked, how many games you have completed, and how much time you have spent playing.  You’ll also be able to see your percentage of correct answers.  I was a bit disappointed that you could not view more specific statistics for each game.  But the information provided was more than enough.

Like I said at the beginning, I am glad I waited until version 2 of Brain Games to check it out.  I really loved the finger friendly scrolling and in-game controls.  In fcat, i found everything in the game flowed extremely fluidly from one screen to the next.  I was impressed by the whopping assortment of 36 games, which was considerably more than any other offering in the genre.  However, by dividing these games into only three areas, I felt Brain Games really did itself a significant disservice.  I would have much preferred to see fewer games in each category, but a broader range of categories in order to target every area of your brain.  Nonetheless, I thought Brain Games was an incredible game.  The 36 games are all easy to learn and progress with an appropriate level of difficulty.  This is not one of those games that you are going to purchase, play for a week, and never look at again.  This one is going to stay on my device for a long time, and I am feeling smarter for it already.

What I Liked:

• Finger friendly controls
• 36 games
• Well designed screens

What Needs Improvement:

• Only 3 different categories
• Statistics could have been more comprehensive
• No trophy room or even separate graphics for awards

Vital Stats:

Name: Resco Brain Games

Version: 2.02

Developer: Resco

Test Platform: Sprint Mogul with Windows Mobile 6

Also Available: Windows Mobile Smartphone, previous versions of Windows Mobile

Trial: Time Limited

Where to Buy: Resco

Price: $19.95

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