Dr. Brain

Dr. Brain is a series of educational games made by Sierra On-Line in the '90s. The aim of each game is to solve a series of puzzles in order to proceed further into the game. The series was later picked up by Knoweldge Adventure who turned it into a more action orrientated game.

Dr. Brain is a somewhat scatterbrained scientist in old age. He may be described as a mad scientist stereotype. Dr. Brain was 'reincarnated' as Dr. Cranium in Quest for Glory IV (both Dr. Brain and Quest for Glory series are designed by Corey Cole).

Sierra Games

• Castle of Dr. Brain - The first game placed the player trying to solve puzzles relating to Logic and Math in order to win a job at Dr. Brain's Castle.
• The Island of Dr. Brain - The second hosts a variety of problems, including language, math, and art, to restore power on Dr. Brain's Island.
• The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain - The third game is based on the theory of multiple intellegances, where the player must restore Dr. Brain's mind with the help of his niece Eliza and a rat who has gained all of the Doctor's knowledge.
• The Time Warp of Dr. Brain - The fourth and final Sierra game places players with puzzles similar to the first, trying to bring Dr. Brain out of a time loop.

Other Sequels

Knowledge Adventure later released three games based on the original series:

• IQ Adventure
• Puzzleopolis
• Action Reaction - The final game is a first person perspective where the player and Dr. Brain are kidnapped by S.P.O.R.E, an evil organization bent on world domination. Using the three laws of physics, switch flipping, rocket turrets, and the "helping hand" to knock out guards, the player battles through 45 levels to capture the evil Dr. Craven.

The new series recast Dr. Brain as a twenty-something guiness instead of an old mad scientist. In the newer games, there are generally less academicly and more problem solving puzzles, although most are an excuse to create a third or first person game involving throwing switches and stunning guards (IQ Adventure and Action Reaction).

The first game is a third-person adventure where the player has to find and use objects to restore a trans-dimensional device that has trapped him in a strange dimension. The second pits the player as Dr. Brain's, now a brain in a jar, clone Pro, fighting against the evil Con. The player plays mini-games which are logic orientated to gain devices to duel Con and his flunkies with.