Remember when video games grew up? Our virtual adventures got violent, sophisticated and decidedly more adult. Game weren't just for kids any more. Then something nutty happened. Those young adults who games were for grew even older and some of them reproduced. Now, wouldn't you know it, games are for kids again. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree is the next generation of family friendly games – for aging gamers and their school aged kids. Like its DS predecessor, it's an educational game that actually fun to play. As for the rest of the gaming public, ability to enjoy this mostly new exercise in edutainment will hinge largely on their degree of mini-game burn out.

Mind Over Grey Matter

The curriculum remains the same. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree tests players in five categories, collating the speed and accuracy of answers into a metric weight. The smarter you are the fatter your brain. There are three different mini-games in every category and each of them can be brushed up on individually. Good performance earns medals, which eventually unlock the super-hard “expert” difficulty. Those with casual gaming phobias should take note: there are California Bar-levels of challenge here if you're open-minded enough. The game's look has only improved since it graduated from the Nintendo DS. The puzzles are filled with stylish illustrations, each with their own distinct character. “Face Case”, a memorization game that asks you to pick creepy kids out of a line up, features some of the most strikingly bizarre characters to hit games in ages.

Party Politics

Like Wii Sports, Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree uses all those crazy Mii characters you spent the last year creating. It's kinda fun to see the hallways of this virtual academy teeming with the likes of Admiral Ackbar, Orson Wells, and Don Knotts. There's also limited online functionality connected to Mii save files. Student scores can be sent to friends. The feature is more viral advertising than leader board, but it's just enough to fuel competition. There are three multi-player party games that bridge the gap between the more strenuous tests and the more freewheeling vibes of Wario Ware and Mario Party. But the best way to bone up on these skills is to play solo.

Tune In Or Drop Out

There's no question that Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree will be divisive among gamers. The hardcore will balk at its lightweight mini-games and family-friendly vibe. Less persnickety gamers will find twitch-oriented challenge and the kind of mental heavy lifting that genuinely tones thinking muscles. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree is a must-own for Wii owners with friends or family below the age of consent. It's easily one of the most entertaining good-for-you games in ages, and it mops the floor with dull-as-dirt old-school junk like Donkey Kong Jr. Math. Those who don't give two shakes about book learning, child-rearing or anything remotely G-rated will probably want to ditch this class. It's their loss.

Article by: Gus Mastrapa
Video produced by: Tim Jennings