Dr. Brain
Encyclopedia
Dr. Brain is a series of educational games made by Sierra On-Line
in the 1990s. The objective of each game is solving a series of puzzle
s in order to proceed further into the game. The series was later picked up by Knowledge Adventure
who turned it into a more action-oriented game.
The original two games, Castle of Dr. Brain
(1991) and The Island of Dr. Brain
, are hybrid puzzle adventure games created by an in-house team at Sierra. After the second game was released, Sierra acquired another company, Bright Star Technology, known for its educational games. The series was turned over to a Bright Star team, explaining the change in direction from the second game to the third.http://thecan.org/in/mathgarden.html The third and fourth are The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain
(1995) and The Time Warp of Dr. Brain
(1996).
Dr. Brain is an elderly absentminded professor. The first two Sierra games follow the Dr. Thaddeus Egghead Brain, and the last two follow Dr. Thaddeaus Puzzle Brain the Third. 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, though Dr. Cranium mentions once that one of his descendant
s would get "his very own game".). The background information for Dr. Cranium in the Shadows of Darkness Hintbook written by Lori and Corey Cole states that Dr. T. Egghead Brain is Dr. Cranium's great-great grandson.
The new series recast Dr. Brain as a twenty-something genius instead of an old mad scientist (though this may be explained by identifying the young man with Pro). In the newer games, there are generally less education-oriented and more problem-solving puzzles, although most are third or first person games involving throwing switches and stunning guards (IQ Adventure and Action Reaction).
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
in the 1990s. The objective of each game is solving a series of puzzle
Puzzle
A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution...
s in order to proceed further into the game. The series was later picked up by Knowledge Adventure
Knowledge Adventure
Knowledge Adventure, Inc. is a maker of educational software including the Adiboo and JumpStart series of grade-based and subject-based titles, such as My First Encyclopedia. It was established in the late 1980s in Los Angeles, then later merged with another large education software firm, Davidson...
who turned it into a more action-oriented game.
The original two games, Castle of Dr. Brain
Castle of Dr. Brain
Castle of Dr. Brain is a video game of the educational genre released in 1991 by Sierra Online. It is a puzzle adventure game.-Gameplay:The object of the game is to successfully navigate the puzzles Dr. Brain has set up in order to become the mad scientist's assistant...
(1991) and The Island of Dr. Brain
The Island of Dr. Brain
The Island of Dr. Brain is the second game in the Dr. Brain series by Sierra Online. It was released in 1992 and was only available to play in DOS.-Summary:...
, are hybrid puzzle adventure games created by an in-house team at Sierra. After the second game was released, Sierra acquired another company, Bright Star Technology, known for its educational games. The series was turned over to a Bright Star team, explaining the change in direction from the second game to the third.http://thecan.org/in/mathgarden.html The third and fourth are The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain
The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain
The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain is the third installment of the educational Dr. Brain series, created and published by Sierra Entertainment.As in the first two games, Lost Mind features science related puzzles. Where the previous installments featured a large, semi-free-roaming environment, however,...
(1995) and The Time Warp of Dr. Brain
The Time Warp of Dr. Brain
The Time Warp of Dr. Brain is the fourth installment of the educational game series Dr. Brain by Sierra Entertainment. The game's structure is similar to its predecessor, The Lost Mind of Dr...
(1996).
Dr. Brain is an elderly absentminded professor. The first two Sierra games follow the Dr. Thaddeus Egghead Brain, and the last two follow Dr. Thaddeaus Puzzle Brain the Third. Dr. Brain was 'reincarnated' as Dr. Cranium in Quest for Glory IV (both Dr. Brain and Quest for Glory
Quest for Glory
Quest for Glory is a series of hybrid role-playing/adventure computer games designed by Corey and Lori Ann Cole. The series combined humor, puzzle elements, themes and characters borrowed from various legends, puns, and memorable characters, creating a 5-part series of the Sierra stable.Although...
series are designed by Corey Cole, though Dr. Cranium mentions once that one of his descendant
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
s would get "his very own game".). The background information for Dr. Cranium in the Shadows of Darkness Hintbook written by Lori and Corey Cole states that Dr. T. Egghead Brain is Dr. Cranium's great-great grandson.
Other sequels
Knowledge Adventure later released three games based on the original series:- IQ Adventure (1999) or Mind Venture - 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 filled with plant people & mole-men.
- Dr. Brain Thinking Games: Puzzle Madness (1998) or Puzzleopolis - The second game turns Dr. Brain into a brain sitting in a jar, and casts the player as Dr. Brain's 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.
- Dr. Brain: Action ReactionDr. Brain: Action ReactionDr. Brain: Action Reaction is the third installment of the Dr. Brain series by Knowledge Adventure, based on the series by Sierra Entertainment....
- The final game is played in a first-person perspective, and the player and Dr. Brain have been 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 genius instead of an old mad scientist (though this may be explained by identifying the young man with Pro). In the newer games, there are generally less education-oriented and more problem-solving puzzles, although most are third or first person games involving throwing switches and stunning guards (IQ Adventure and Action Reaction).