The Castle of Dr. Brain is a stimulating edutainment title that was released by Sierra Online in the early nineties. Programmed by Sierra Online, as well, The Castle of Dr. Brain was one of a long line of entertaining puzzle games featuring the mad scientist Dr. Brain. The direct sequel to this installment is the Island of Dr. Brain. All of the titles challenge children and adults to complete a variety of puzzles to reach some goal. In this particular installment, the user is responding to a classified advertisement in the local paper, with high hopes of becoming the mad scientist’s worthy assistant.
Before even entering the castle, the user has to begin solving puzzles. There is an intriguing game of memory outside the castle gates. Once inside the castle, there is a series of three mazes where the user has to navigate an elevator up and down several levels. The two basic skills used in many puzzles are logic and mathematics, but they certainly are not the only skill the user will have to demonstrate in order to complete the game. There are a wide variety of puzzles. The user will have to complete cryptograms, which are part word skills and part logic. There is also a jigsaw puzzle that will have to be completed. This world created of the puzzle will become the next world
that the user will have to negotiate. There is even an entire puzzle, and a large one at that, that deals entirely with astronomy and understanding the solar system and the stars. Some of the puzzles are very traditional, while others are as nouveau as programming.
Having been written by Corey Cole of the Quest for Glory series, the Castle of Dr. Brain features a great story, super graphics, very stimulating and intriguing puzzles and overall wonderful game play. There are three levels of difficulty available, so that the game can be tailored for adults or younger gamers. The user is also able to earn Hint Coins so that he can get some help if he gets stuck on a particularly frustrating puzzle. This keeps the tempo up and moving, and encourages the user to keep playing, even after encountering a subject that is perhaps not his best.
In summary, this is a good game, and a highly effective learning tool. It can stimulate some logical thought processes, even though the learning is disguised in a great plot to net the user a job as a wicked scientist’s assistant. This is a very satisfying play, and the user should not let the educational factor deter him from some entertainment.
