Ever since Brain Age and Big Brain Academy hit the Nintendo DS there have been many companies wanting to bring their own similar but different titles to the DS. However none of them can actually match or compete with Nintendo’s own Brain age or Big Brain Academy. Hot Brain is the latest Brain game for the PSP, for some apparent reason they thought that this would be a great game for PSP. And it is for the most port.

            There are 5 different modes that challenge every part of your brain such as: logic, memory, math, language and concentration. Each of these modes has their very own mini games. There are a total of 15 games that each test your skills, knowledge and fire up your brain. You are guided by Dr. Ed Warmer played by Fred Willard through the game; he is your host as well as your guide through every single mini game.

            Each mini game is design to work a part of your brain and every time you finish it will keep track of your record similar to Brain Age you will need to come back every day and practice your skills. The point of the game is to heat up your brain in the necessary part, you will know you’re smart when you hit 120 degrees however in real life if that was true then you would probably be dead. The most a body can heat up is at 108 degrees and then you’re dead at 107 degrees you’re already seeing the light. 120 degrees is 12 degrees hotter than that required of you to die, your body will probably catch on fire.

            Because the game lacks any interactivity like Brain Age or Big brain academy all games are very dependant of the PSP buttons. It is time limited and you need to get as many answers right before time runs out so all you need to do is watch, calculate or memorize and press any button with the correct answer. You are given 4 options similar to multiple choice questions, however when in a hurry many people to tend to press the wrong buttons. For example only 5 seconds remain and once certain people have figured it out they will be too excited to know what button they’re pressing. However given that it is the PSP the controls are not bad. They choose what would be the best way to make this game work and they actually did a good job, heck they could have done a lot worse.

            Graphically the game is not bad, because most of the tests are done by 3D images on 2D layout they actually look sharp than other games. Dr. Ed Warmer is nicely rendered as well as his lab. You can see the counter and the on screen buttons clearly without having to waste precious seconds on trying to figure out what the hell that smudge is.

            Like stated before Dr. Warmer is nicely done and rendered as well as his voice over and with a voice like Fed Willard behind him, it gives him a goofy and comical persona that comical and enjoyable. The rest of the game however is devastated by the only soundtrack you will ever hear while playing this game. The tick tock music is all that is played when you’re playing mini games, as well as the dings or rights and buzzes of wrongs.

            The game is limited in replay value, there’s nothing to unlock and once you have a hot brain assuming that you’re head hasn’t exploded there’s very little reason to go back. Multiplayer lacks the entertainment that it is suppose to provide you and with only 15 games it won’t be long before you go through all of them. Not to mention master them in only a couple of hours if you’re real smart.

Hot brain is Midway's attempt at a Brain Age type of game that has sold millions of copies everywhere and it is not a bad attempt. All they need to do is add more mini games a better multiplayer mode maybe some online play and a system that actually works and makes sense. Also maybe give you the option to listen to your MP3 sound tracks off your PSP’s memory instead of just listening to that tick tock sound all day long.

Game Play: Challenging yet easy to understand and play. Practice mode also gives you a head start for all those tests. 8/10

Graphics: Nice, Clean and Sharp graphics. 8/10

Controls: Easy to understand, no 5 button press combination of any kind. 7/10

Sound: Great Voice over however very limited soundtrack and sound effects. 4/10

Life Span: Few mini games and lousy multiplayer mode will be very hard to come back once you pass it once. 3/10