Well surprise, surprise! Another puzzle/learning game for the Nintendo DS. I have certainly done my fair share of puzzle-style games and I would imagine that most game reviewers have as well considering how many of these types of games actually exist. But, like any other genre that has been inundated with excessive amounts of titles (FPS genre anyone?) there is always a sea of fodder to wade through in order to get to the good stuff. Whether Left Brain Right Brain 2 is a success really depends on what you are expecting.

Now I will start off by saying that LBRB2 does something I have never seen before in a DS title. And that is the ability to actually flip the DS so that you must use your right and left hands in competition. Yup, that's the big draw to this game, pitting your right hand against your left. This, of course, is a game designed to improve your ambidexterity. Using both hands in series of tests is supposed to improve your weaker hand, the idea is a solid one, its just too bad the final product doesn't fully take advantage of the idea.

The problem is that the game is somewhat lopsided in its development to begin with. Playing with your dominant hand first, you set a benchmark for your not-dominant hand to try and match or beat. But during initial gameplay, you learn the mini-game when using your better hand and usually don't set a real high goal. Follow that up with a even, decent showing with your weak hand and the game will put you in the category of being completely ambidextrous - which clearly is not the case. And that is the problem that haunts you throughout the game.

 

Mom isn't going to be happy with that game you are playing there Mr. Hamburger Helper hand.

And here in lies the rub, the challenges aren't very challenging. I mean, drawing scratches back and forth and plucking feathers out of the air does nothing to make you more skilled at using your weak hand. I would have preferred a more escalating game where you are being taught to become more skilled with your weak hand. For a self improvement game that advertises that you will become ambidextrous there is really no true improvement. I still can't write my name legibly with my left hand.

Now the game has a certain charm to its looks and you do feel that the developers put some effort into making a game that had the fun look of a quirky little game. And sure enough, the game looks fine, clean lines, bright happy colors, but its also not a graphically demanding game either. You can't get too excited simply because there is nothing in the game to make you stand up and cheer.

The same could be said about the audio featured in the game - it's full of upbeat, cutesy little melodies that move the game along but also fade into the background and provide no real substance to the game. I know, that is sort of a cop out when explaining the game's audio, but it really is accurate - a passable, yet instantly forgetable audio experience.

The game has about 20 different mini-games to play spread out over five different difficulty levels that may lure you into thinking that there is much to be had here. And, maybe there is, the problem is that I don't know too many gamers who are going to put in the effort it would take to genuinely improve your weaker hand. I think the game has a few bells and whistles, and an improved visual style over the previous entry, but I don't see the legitimate effects of this game on my weaker hand.

Gameplay: 6.0
Not what I was expecting or hoping for. Simple tasks with the stylus don't legitimately work your weaker hand into a more useful appendage.

Graphics: 7.1
Better the the last go round, the little Hamburger Helper hand provides some chuckles and the color scheme is greatly improved.

Sound: 6.0
It blends in with the background so as not to distract,  but then it doesn't add anything either.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Concept: 5.8
It's a self-help game that doesn't really provide any useful help.

Overall: 6.2
I can't say it was terrible, and I liked the idea behind the game, but it never properly executes on its promise to make you ambidextrous.