Brain Warp facts for kids
Brain Warp is a cool electronic game that came out on June 16, 1996. It was made by Tiger Electronics and designed by Big Monster Toys. In this game, you listen to spoken instructions from the game unit. Then, you quickly choose the right number or color. The game's famous saying before you start is: "If you don't keep up with me, you're finished!" There was even a special Star Wars version called Death Star Escape released in 1997.
The Brain Warp game unit looks like a ball with six colorful knobs. These knobs are purple, red, green, white, orange, and yellow, and they have numbers on them. The base of the unit is blue. A newer version came out in 2002 with a clear black base. The game's voice tells you a color, a number, or both. You then flip the unit so the correct knob faces up. The game gets faster after every four points you score. If you make a mistake, the round ends, and the unit makes a funny sound. There are six different games to play. Three games test how fast you can follow commands. One game tests your memory with colors and numbers. There's also a code-breaking game and a game where players create their own patterns. When the game is over, the unit says, "This game is finished!" After a short break, it asks, "Wanna warp again?"
The Star Wars version of Brain Warp is grey and shaped like the Death Star. Each knob has the same color as the original Brain Warp, but it also features a Star Wars character:
In 2007, Hasbro released a game called Hyperslide. It was a follow-up to Brain Warp. Hyperslide includes the Code Buster game from Brain Warp and has four colorful discs.
Games
| Game number | Game name | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colors | The voice calls out colors. You must flip the unit to show the correct color before time runs out. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Meltdown. You have 30 seconds to repeat a sequence. There are three rounds, and each round adds another Star Wars character. |
| 2 | Numbers | This game is like Colors, but you use the numbers on the unit instead. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Prove Yourself. Each player gets a Star Wars character. A random player is chosen to complete the sequence. |
| 3 | Combo | The unit can ask for either colors or numbers. It's similar to the Colors game. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Blow Up. It's like the Code Buster game in Brain Warp. You earn points for each code you find. For example, Round 1 is worth 5 points for a 5-number code. |
| 4 | Memory Match | The unit calls out a series of colors and/or numbers. You have to do them all in the correct order. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Chain Reaction. It's the same as the Pass Attack game in Brain Warp. |
| 5 | Code Buster | You try to find a secret code of 5 or more colors. You have 60 seconds. The unit always tells you the first part of the code. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Names. It's like the Colors game but without rounds. You can score up to 99 points. |
| 6 | Pass Attack | Players create their own sequence of colors, up to 30 long. Each player must complete the whole sequence. Then, they add a new color. If you make a mistake or don't add a new color, you're out. In the Star Wars version, this game is called Names and Numbers. It's like the Combo game but without rounds. You can score up to 99 points. |
History
Brain Warp was very popular! It was the most liked game in Duracell's Kids' Choice National Toy Survey in 1996. Some early versions of the game were made a bit differently. These older versions could handle faster speeds in the Colors, Numbers, and Combo games. They also had some different sounds and music.
Brain Shift
On September 6, 1998, Tiger Electronics released Brain Shift. This was another electronic audio game, similar to Brain Warp, but it was a tabletop game. Players move a 'stick shift' to match voice commands. They complete color and sound patterns. The game gets faster and faster. It helps kids pay close attention and learn to copy patterns. Brain Shift came in second place in the 1998 Duracell Kids' Choice National Toy Survey. It also got a "Seal of Approval" from the National Parenting Center in the US.
Brain Shift has two different ways it starts. It either says "Ok, listen up" or "Alright!" Then it says its catchphrase: "Get your brain in gear and let's play Brain Shift." The game has six colors: red, green, yellow, blue, orange, and white. After that, the game asks, "Now choose your game." Some units might glitch on low batteries and say "you shift" instead of "your game." There are six different games to pick from. After you choose a game, the voice asks, "Now how many shifters do we have?" You select the number of players. Then, the game explains how to play and starts.
| Game number | Game name | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stick Shift | Music plays in the background. The unit announces whose turn it is. For example, "One shift." Then, colors are called out randomly. You score points by shifting to the correct color. The music gets faster as you complete rounds. The game can become very fast. |
| 2 | Memory Shift | This game is like Memory Match in Brain Warp. But only 2-4 players can play. The game starts with three colors and adds more as you complete rounds. If all players make a mistake, the round is repeated. |
| 3 | Who Shift's It? | This is similar to Memory Shift. However, a random player is chosen to play each turn. |
| 4 | Ear Shift | This game is for 1-4 players. The unit plays a random sequence of vehicle sounds. You have to shift all six sounds in the correct order to win. |
| 5 | Secret Shift | You try to find a secret code of 5 or more colors. You have 60 seconds. The unit always tells you the first part of the code. It's very similar to Code Buster in Brain Warp. At the end, the secret pattern is shown. |
| 6 | Shift Around | This game is for 2-4 players. You create your own sequence of colors, up to 20 shifts long. Each player must complete the whole sequence. Then, they add a new color. If you make a mistake or don't add a new color, you're out. If all players are out, the round is repeated. |
Some Brain Shift units had a sticker that said "Tiger recommends Duracell" near where the batteries go. This was because Tiger was allowed to promote Duracell batteries on their games back then. You can even enter a special "test mode" on Brain Shift. If you press 'on' and 'pause' buttons, and then insert one of the top right, bottom left, or bottom right batteries while three are already in, the game will play Happy Birthday To You! Each color in test mode checks different parts of the game. If you press 'pause' in test mode, you can test the stick shift, and the game will say the number followed by the color.
Brain Bash
The very first game in the "Brain Family" was Brain Bash, released by Tiger in 1994. This game has four purple buttons and four yellow buttons. It has five games that play one after another. All of them involve math. The main game is called Touch Command. The game's voice gives commands like "One touch one." Then, Player one touches the yellow one button and then the purple one button.
Catchphrases
Each Tiger Electronics brain game has its own special sayings:
Standard Brain Warp
- "Get ready to play Brain Warp. Select game."
- "Follow my commands."
- "If you don't keep up with me, you're finished!"
- "This game is finished!"
- "Wanna warp again?"
- "Player N wins with N points."
- "You broke the code!" (when you finish a "Code Buster" round)
Star Wars Version
- "If your ready to be tested by the Death Star, select your challenge."
- "You must be paced with my commands."
- "You have survived and destroyed the Death Star. You win!"
- "One of you will be chosen to prove yourself."
- "May the force be with you."
- "Challenger N wins with N points."
- "This battle is done."
Brain Shift
- "Alright! Get your brain in gear and let's play Brain Shift!"
- "Ok, listen up. Get your brain in gear and let's play Brain Shift!"
- "Now chose your game."
- "Now how many shifters do we have?"
- "Sorry Player N you're out!"
- "Sorry Player N should've been (color)."
- "You all crashed. Ok. Repeat that round again."
- "You shift what I call."
- "Remember the pattern, then shift it."
- "Find the secret shift pattern. You have sixty seconds to shift it or you crash."
- "Remember the location of the six sounds. Shift all six and win."
- "Sorry player one, you crash. You have N shifts."
- "You completed N shifts in N seconds."
- "Now find the pattern of N shifts. Start on (color)!"
- "This game is over."
Brain Bash
- "Let's Player Brain Bash."
- "Player N is winning with N points."
- "Nice going player N."
- "Player N is last with, N points."
- "You goofed player N!"
- "Come on player N."
- "Let's play next game."
Images for kids
-
Brain Warp v3.0 (Released: 2002)
-
The Brain Shift toy
