The Nintendo DS proves Math is fun

My brain is huge. It is massive. It makes all other brains seem puny in comparison… at least that is what the gelatinous professor blob has told me after a little bit of practice at "Big Brain Academy," the long awaited (by which I mean two months) sequel to "Brain Age."\n"Big Brain Academy" is a collection of mini games that center on five supposed parts of the brain. The mini games include math problems, spatial puzzles and even a hectic game of connect the dots. Once you have had time to practice these mini games, you can take a test which will give you a grade and brain type, as well as an estimated brain weight (I am a music composer with a 1693g brain and scored an A-).\nThe idea is that by playing these brainy games, you will actually increase your intelligence. Well I am not sure if that is true, but I do know that if you play it long enough you will get a massive headache. Yet still, through that debilitating migraine you will want to continue playing.\nThat is the most surprising thing about this game, it is remarkably addictive. Within a half an hour you will go from slight interest, to dancing around the room in celebration of your math prowess. Once I uttered the words "In your face times tables," I knew it was time for a little break.\nI think the reason that it is able to so completely keep your attention, despite being about math, is because it is so damn hard. I always thought of myself as a smart guy, at least I did before I realized how bad I was at rudimentary addition. For some reason when I try to figure out what "eighteen plus seventeen equals" my brain turns to mush and I start drooling all over my DS. \nThere is also a multiplayer mode. As I understand it, it is supposed to be pretty great. Unfortunately, I was unable to convince any of my friends that getting drunk and playing connect the dots on a touch screen would be a fun way to spend a night. Bottom line: Big Brain Academy is a very fun game, and for under $20 it is well worth the money.