Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

12/11/2012

Psychonauts Review

Psychonauts
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*NOTE: I have the Xbox version of this game but wanted to take the time to help people decide if they want to purchase this game or not.From what I've read, they managed to keep the game about equal to the Xbox version so my review should be pretty accurate.The only differences will be that the Xbox has 5.1 surround in game not just cutscenes and the graphics will probably be a bit better.If you own an Xbox I would recommend that version over the PS2 but honestly the game is great, and if you own a PS2 I would doubly recommend picking this up.On to my review:

Everytime Tim Schafer creates a game, I know it will be a blast. Having been on a roll starting with The Day of the Tentacle up through The Grim Fandango, each game has been delightfully intelligent, creative and an overall wonderful experience. Psychonauts is no different. In fact, it is one of the best games I have played not only this year but in a long time.

The setup is that there is a camp for psychic children who feel different in the outside world. At the camp, the counselors teach children how to harness their power to become Psychonauts, psychics who actually enter people's minds and sort out their problems. Because of this setup, each and every world is completely different from the others. Connected to a hub world of the camp, each real "level" is a person's mind. And each mind reflects the person's personality, fears, phobias etc. For instance, the beginning level is that of your drill instructor. His level is a warzone complete with mines, air plane drops, explosions, barbed wire etc.

Tim Schafer's touch is also evident in the characters who are actually characters. They all have a personality and are very emotive. I haven't laughed at a video game so hard since Conker's Bad Fur Day. This game is hillarious. From the kid who practices looking through a peep hole in the day to get practice for when it's filled with girls to trashing a town Godzilla style, the game has it in spades. However, there are some surprisingly disturbing moments in the game that are also darkly humorous. Because you have psychic powers, you also can do some pretty cool stuff from pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, invisibility, etc. These moves help you progress through the levels and pick up hidden items throughout the game.

Graphically, the game is awesome on the Xbox. The levels are done in vivid colors and with a wonderful cartoon style. The campground seems alive as there are creatures walking your path. From squirrels, crows, pigeons, lizards, bears, etc, the world seems populated and just feels real. You can tell a lot of time and effort was put in to make this game come alive and it works. The game is presented in 480p, for those interested.

Aurally, the characters are voiced to perfection. Some great voice actors have been employed and it really helps create characters that are lovable. The biggest audio glitch I've noticed is that sometimes my speakers will "click" as voices come in or as the sound changes sometimes. For some reason, the sound gets funkier as the game progresses. By the last level, it was as if every time a new sound was introduced or the sound changed, the game would stutter. Definitely some bugs that could have been worked out before the game was released. But, honestly, these aren't game stopping problems and are only vaguely annoying considering how awesome the game is. The game is also presented in 5.1 surround in game.

Since the game is a platformer, all of the standards apply. In the real world and in each person's mind, there are a ton of things to collect. In the real world, there are arrowheads that can be pulled from the ground that represent cash. There is a scavenger hunt also going on that will earn you rank (which gives you new powers) and there are cards that can be formed as more rank. In each person's mind, there are also different things to collect such as emotional baggage, mental cobwebs, figments of the imagination and safes which you much punch open to reveal some of the person's past. Some of these slide shows are funny and some are actually kind of sad as you see how these people came to be who they are. I list these items to collect just as a note that the game definitely exhibits all of the charms of a platformer. But there actually is a reason to collecting everything and they fit together in this humorous world.

The game moves quickly and besides one or two intstances of panning that had the game do a wave type pattern, it is perfect. My recommendation if you play the game is to take your time talking to everyone. It helps flesh out the story and if you listen and keep making rounds after each world you will see minor breakups, makeups, humorous instances involving squirrels who tell one kid to kill everyone, and plain funny dialogue. Take your time with this one and you will definitely be rewarded.

This game is great, it's just what I was looking for. It helped remind me why I play video games. When a person can create such wonderful worlds and allow you to play in them, you realize why you play games. It is so creative. Where else can you be chased by a giant fish, rage across town as a Godzilla-like creature, be in a disco world where you must race, pin-ball style, wage war against a Napolean complex and set fire to squirrels? If you want a creative and fun video game that will take approximately 10-15 hours of your time, then this is definitely a must buy. I absolutely cannot recommend this game enough. And unfortunately, it's one of those games that will end up like Ico or Beyond Good and Evil where no one hears of it and no one plays it. Don't let that happen. Play this game because its games like this that the industry needs to keep creating.

A must buy. Creative and excellent.

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Product Description:
Psychonauts are special psychic operatives with powers they use in service to the world's governments. When students begin disappearing from Psychonaut boot camp, a young recruit begins tracking down the mad scientist responsible. Face inner demons and wrestle with other people's nightmares, while accomplishing your mission -- all without going insane. Immersive story injected with lots of humor and lots of imaginative environments Challenging puzzles with alternate solutions that self-tailor to your strategies & abilities

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8/10/2012

Cosmic Blobs: Lab Rat Edition - Deluxe Version (Win/Mac) Review

Cosmic Blobs: Lab Rat Edition - Deluxe Version
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My 8-year-old granddaughters love creating and animating animals with this software.They combine animals at will (frog+gorilla=frogilla.)They have only skimmed the possibilities available in this program, so suspect this will be a computer activity that they won't outgrow.There is a tutorial and they needed it.It was kid friendly and very helpful.

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Product Description:
Cosmic Blobs® lets boys and girls from 7 to 14 years old create amazing 3D computer graphics that look like today's coolest computer generated cartoons and video games. It works like modeling clay on the computer for building fantastic 3D models with easy-to-use mouse controls and colorful decorating activities. Bend, pull, poke and flatten basic shapes into animals, vehicles, characters or anything else that can be imagined. Decorate any Blobs surface with paints, decals, patterns or your own photographs. Real computer animations such as hopping, slithering, and running bring the 3D creations to life in a world created by you.

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2/05/2012

The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics Review

The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics
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I was excited when I first learned about this book coming out because it's difficult for me to set up a normal artist's station in my house. Not knowing who this Freddie Williams guy was, I ended up going to his website and checking him out. It was here that I first became dismayed.

His website has a section labeled "DigiArt Quick Tools," in which one can find several Photoshop tools Freddie has available. These include several variations of his MasterPage file, which tend to cost a little bit of money (the bundle pack that gives you all the Master Pages runs I think about $125). I also noticed a blurb in which Freddie mentions that an entire section of the upcoming book is devoted to the Master Page. I immediately started thinking that the book was going to end up being a $15 commercial for the various tools he has to offer.

Never have I been so glad to be so dead wrong.

The section on Master Pages walks you through the process of making your own Master Page, and while he mentions his website, he never tells the reader to go buy anything. Instead, he teaches you how to do it yourself. In fact, there's only one thing that Freddie tells the reader to download, and that's the perspective tool that he created... and its free (as is a generic version of the Master Page, if you don't want to make your own or pay money for a company-specific Page).

As far as the rest of the book goes, it was a massive wake-up call in regards to realizing how powerful and how fast creating sequential artwork on the computer is. In fact, it seems that Freddie's main goal is to get the reader to create better artwork, faster, and he constantly discusses ways to make your work faster and more streamlined.

Be warned, though... this is NOT a "how to draw" book. If you don't know how to draw, this book won't be that helpful to you. This book is more accurately described as a "how to use the computer to draw" book. Additionally, if you don't know how to do any basic drawing in Photoshop, you might want to learn, quick. I have a very basic understanding of how to draw and paint with Photoshop, and this book has my mind racing with all the possibilities I have available to me now. Be prepared to think and imagine when you read the book.

Not every aspect of Freddie's work method will work for everyone, and he acknowledges fact. He describes his methods to the reader, and for key areas offers alternative paths for the reader to take that may be more comfortable for the reader.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, I did. Did I learn anything from this book? Almost every step of the way. Would I recommend this book to the serious hobbyist or the artist getting into the comics field? Without a doubt and with no reservations, yes!!!!

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Product Description:
Artists! Gain incredible superpowers...with the help of your computer! The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics shows how to give up pencil, pen, and paper and start drawing dynamic, exciting comics art entirely on the computer. Author Freddie E Williams IIis one of DC Comics' hottest artists and a leader in digital penciling and inking-and here, in clear, step-by-step directions, he guides readers through every part of the digital process, from turning on the computer to finishing a digital file of fully inked comic art, ready for print. Creating a template, sketching on the computer, pencilling, and finally inking digitally are all covered in depth, along with bold, timesaving shortcuts created by Williams, tested by years of trial and error. Step into the digital age, streamline the drawing process, and leap over the limitations of mere physical drawing materials with The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics.

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1/30/2012

Barbie of Swan Lake Review

Barbie of Swan Lake
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I bought this game for my daughters for Christmas in 2003 and they still play with it at least once a week now (dec. 2004).There are matching games, problem solving excercises and they have to find hidden objects.They love the music, the games - all of it.This is a great gift for any girl from age 3 - 8!

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In Barbie Swan Lake, Barbie becomes the princess Odette, from the classic fairytale "Swan Lake". Help her return beauty to the Enchanted Forest in 6 charming locations!

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12/26/2011

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Review

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
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This game is soooo cool. You have three days and nights, to find Majora's Mask and save Termina from being destroyed by the falling moon. In this game, all of the minor characters in Orcarina are better explored and newcharacter's are also introduced. As well as Majora's mask, you have to find24 other masks.Another cool thing about this game is that Young Link canuse some of the weapons that were previosly only available to Adult Link.But the neatest thing of all about Majora's mask is the ability to turn into different things depending on which mask you are wearing. The Deku maskallows you turn turn in to a Deku , the Zora mask in to a Zora and theGoron in to a Goron etc..One of the questions you might have about thisgame is whether Link can grow up as in Orcarina. Well, I don't want tospoil it for you but I'll tell you this....The final battle is worthplaying the game for.

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Product Description:
Made in Japan. For this game pak to operate, you must have an N64 expansion pak(sold separately installed in Your N64).

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12/06/2011

Killer 7 Review

Killer 7
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Games have been described as art in the past.A game that comes immediately to mind is Ico, which oozed personality and landscapes that were both etheral and were just like a painting.Not until this game have I ever played a game that was almost like interactive art.

As far as I can see, if there was ever a game that was pretending to be an art house film, Killer 7 would be it.From the stylized, psuedo-noir/comic book/anime inspired graphics to the dark, brooding, and sex-laden story and the weird gameplay, you have the makings of an art house video game, as strange as that sounds.But does it work?In a word, mostly.

Going back to the art comment, each level in this game and each presentation of idea screams art.It's like passing surreal paintings in a museum.You pass one and go "whoa, that's weird."And you might pass another one that makes you want to tilt your head so you can maybe understand it better.And yet, you come up with a hint but nothing concrete.This game is like that, except that each level, each character each piece of dialogue is connected in a way a wall full of paintings usually isn't.

Normally, when a game puts style and story over gameplay, bad juju occurs.For instance, Xenosaga II was a great movie, but as a game it was horrible.In this case, I've known from the beginning that the gameplay would be as equally weird as the storyline.Suda 51, the game's creator, had been asked when Killer 7 was first introduced via some strange cut scenes how it would play.His answer was he didn't know.They had spent so much time and effort getting the feel and story of the game down, that they had no clue how it would ultimately play like.

Truthfully, I shouldn't like this game.And yet, somehow I do.So, how does it play?In a move that is a throw back to some of the early Sega CD games I played, you push the A button to move forward.If you want to turn around, you push B to do a 180.When you get to a specific junction that allows you do something other than move (i.e. an object or different hallways or rooms), you tilt the controller in the direction you want to go and push A.When you hear the satanic laughter of the Heaven's Smiles, you pull the R trigger and enter a FPS mode when you aim and shoot at the approaching time bombs.Hitting them in a yellow weak area is an instant kill that gives you the most blood.

Yes, blood.In fact, an interesting strategy system for leveling up involves collecting blood from fallen enemies.As you kill enemies, you collect blood which can be used to level up each of your personalities in areas of power, aim control, speed, criticals etc.So, you want to hit the yellow areas for an instant kill and for the most blood.

Basically, that's the gameplay in a nutshell. You move around incredibly linear levels, on a rail, set path and blast any and all enemies you find.Along the way, you'll come across various puzzles that require you to use your brain and sometimes a lot of luck to figure out.Since this is a Capcom game, expect some Resident Evil (the earlier ones, not the new one) type puzzles.

The game can be difficult in places both for your brain and for your trigger finger.There are some enemies, the giant Heaven Smiles for one, who are difficult to kill.Other enemies have to be shot in specific places or its exploding time.Remembering the various enemy types and how to confront them adds an exciting and sometimes difficult strategy to the game.When one of the personalities die, their head is left at the scene.You then have to play as Garcian Smith to collect the head to bring it back to life.This makes the game pretty "easy" in that it's hard to truly have a game over.However, this adds to the backtracking/repetitiveness as you have to watch a cutscene of your character's head, then you're back in Harman's Room, you choose Garcian, run back to the body, another cutscene, then you're back at Harman's room again to choose your personality and then you're free to go play again.

Honestly, though, the gameplay is just there to differentiate this from being a movie.The best part is the incredibly bizarre and truly disturbing story.In a (dis?)Utopian society where the world has reached peace and missles are shot off into the sky at each other in a sort of celebration that missles are no longer shot at each other, a new terrorist organization has taken hold.The Heaven's Smile has members who seem perfectly normal until they explode.Only the group Killer 7 can truly see them for the evil they are and annihilate them.

What is the Killer 7?They are the personalities of a Mr. Harman Smith, a wheelchair bound guy who seems to enjoy rough sex.Each of the 7 personalities have their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities that make them absolutely invaluable to the missions.For instance, Kaede (the sole female) slits her wrists and baths barracades in blood in order to destroy them.Mask De Smith performs wrestling moves on plywood blocking a door.Kevin Smith can become invisible and invincible.Coyote Smith can jump to high areas and open any lock.Did I mention Kaede who slits her wrists?

If the last paragraph didn't clue you in, this is a rated M game.Which means it was created for those over 17.Unlike games like Conker (a game I love by the way) that use their M rating for South Park style humor, Killer 7 has many disturbing moments.Running into talking heads in dryers and other assorted places is just the beginning.As the game progresses, you will see and hear many weird things, from the nurse/sex slave? Samantha and her sexcapades with Harman to a blinded kid to the head that tells of its former, death filled life involving the cutting off of certain body parts to a rainstorm of blood.And then there's the cursing, the countless uses of the F word and various other four letter words.This is not a game for children.

There are some genuine problems with the game, however.Yet again, Nintendo hasn't supported those of us who have High Def, a wide screen or surround sound.The game isn't presented in HD or in Wide Screen format.It isn't even Dobly Pro Logic II like some Nintendo games released.And it shows.If you have a receiver, it will be odd hearing sounds coming out of far spaced left and right speakers.The quality of the sound isn't too great.The voice acting is genuinely good, but sometimes it's set at a tone that is much quieter than the music.Add to the fact that there aren't any subtitle options (except the scene specific ones where the characters speak in semi-gibberish) and you have a problem; especially since it's such a story heavy game.Speaking of dialogue, another sore spot is the fact that some of the characters constantly repeat things.There are three main characters you see in every mission, a red dressed thing (can't remember it's name), Travis and the information seller.Each time you talk to them, they start off with the same dialogue.For instance, the red dressed thing always says "Master.We're in Trouble.Big Trouble." or "Master.We're in a tight spot.A very tight spot.I don't want to say what type of tight spot."Dialogue like that.The first few times, it's okay but when you're done with the 15 hour game you will really wish you could hit A or something to skip through some of the dialogue.As is, you can hit start and skip ALL of the dialogue but since puzzle pieces, story and boss strategies are given, it's not recommended.

There are only 3 options in the Options menu, rumble, invert aiming and stereo/mono (do people even play games in Mono any more??).The problem is, everytime I continue the game, I have to change the invert aiming for some reason.Mighty annoying.

Overall, I'm having a hard time explaining this game.I hope I gave enough to give readers an idea of what to expect if they decide to rent/purchase this unique game.It's hard to qualify it as anything but an artistic expression.One does not play art usually.One views it, tries to gather some meaning from it, and moves on either changed or unchanged.This game is like that.It's very difficult (impossible?) to fully explain in any lucid way what this is.Besides what I've written above, my best recommendation is to play it.You can't get a feeling for it without trying it.This isn't Halo nor Final Fantasy where I can say it's this or it's that.This is something completely and utterly different, comprehensible and yet totally the opposite.

This is a game that will go down as a love it or hate it experiment.If the mainstream video game audience even hear about the game, I will be surprised.The Electronics Boutique I got mine from only ordered two copies, both preordered.And, those who actually do play it will either love it for the chances it takes, or will hate it for having the stiff gameplay.I happen to love it and I can't tell you exactly why.The story is interesting and very post-modern which is partly why I like it.And, for some reason, the gameplay that is so stiff is also an addictive situation.Either way you look at it, though, Kudos to Capcom for taking the chance and creating this dark masterpiece and experiment.In an environment filled with sequels and movie to game licenses, I have to applaud Capcom for releasing such a different, yet enthralling piece of art.Yes, art.

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Product Description:
Killer7 is the action adventure game of a hard-boiled taste. A player makes full use of small arms or special capability, making the character of seven "the professional killers with seven character" whom become hero Harman Smith and he has change, and confronts "man with hand of God" Kun Laon which aims at a national overthrow. They are the man who plans the world into fear of indiscriminate terrorism, the man who is going to stop the wave, and the revenge tragedy with which the life of two persons becomes entangled intricately. A view of the world thrilling at DAKU which the visual and individual character of art by cell shading performs, and the game style which was not until now are the new games of charm.

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12/05/2011

Okami Review

Okami
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Today's video game market is a stagnant one for the most part.Publishers rely on franchises and proven formulas to make their money.Meanwhile when something creative and original comes along publishers don't want to take a chance on it in fear of lousy returns on their investment.While this does make for a great business decision, it makes for poor gaming experiences.Thankfully Okami made it to fruition.

This game is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda.The cell shaded graphics harken back to The Wind Waker, and inevitably any third person adventure game is going to merit a Zelda comparison.However, this is definitely not a Zelda clone.It merely takes the genre and builds on it to produce something extraordinary.

The gameplay is relatively simple.You can run around, fight baddies, talk to villagers, etc.The real innovation here is the use of a "paintbrush" that you activate with R1 to alter your environment.If you run up on a bridge that's broken down?No problem, activate your paintbrush and paint another one onto the landscape.Bad guy getting you down?Simple, just activate the paintbrush, draw a slash through the enemy, and he's down for the count.I've only progressed through the first hour of the game, so I have not collected all of the paintbrush techniques.But there is no doubt that the paintbrush is a big part of the game.

The graphics are nothing short of beautiful.You do a good bit of running around in this game.Fortunately it never gets old because the scenery around you is just so awesome to look at.I never thought a Ps2 game could look so good.

The story takes on the guise of Japanese folklore (I've read that the basis of this game is an actual legend, but I would assume some liberties have been taken with the story to fit the game).The story is interesting, although nothing groundbreaking (at least as far as I have progressed).Still, it is enough to keep you interested.

There are some small things that annoy me.The text comes with a gibberish voiceover (like Animal Crossing).Its bearable at first, but tends to grate on your nerves the farther along you go.The intro is about ten minutes too long, and I never found a way to skip past it or make it go faster.The big gripe I have is that there is no widescreen support, which would have made this game really shine on TVs that supported it.

This game might be the last great game on the Playstation 2. I'm happy that Capcom decided to break the industry mold and publish a title that displays a lot of creativity and beauty without it being a proven franchise.I consider this game to be in the same mold as Psychonauts, Shadow of the Colossus, Katamari Damacy, etc.Games that displayed a ton of creativity and were fun.Unfortunately games like this often go unnoticed by the majority of gamers and they don't sell well.Hopefully Okami will be an exception, and it needs to be if we ever want developers and publishers to release more original and "unproven" content to us.

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Product Description:
In Okami, the legendary monster Orochi has come back to life and turned the world into a veritable wasteland. Players become a wolf, an embodiment of the sun god Amaterasu -- the world lies in gamer's hands as they fight ominous beings and reclaim the earth from a curse that plagues it. It is crucial to help Amaterasu make the world a place where all living creatures can dwell once again.

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9/01/2011

Drawn to Life Review

Drawn to Life
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What you draw simply fills in templates already in the world.You don't draw enough to really set the flavor of the setting, and all the drawing is simply filling in blanks in the background.

It's fun to draw your hero, and the drawing app is great (I sometimes put in the game just to doodle), but the gameplay itself is a disappointingly linear jump and smash, and your works of art do nothing to affect the game world.

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Product Description:
Drawn to Life is a unique adventure game for DS and DSi in which the events of the game are truly in your hands. Utilizing the DS or DSi's touch technology, players literally create everything used in the game by simply drawing what they need. This includes everything from items, weapons and the game hero himself or herself. The result is a level of customization rarely seen and a level of creative family-friendly adventure unmatched on Nintendo's handheld gaming platforms.




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3/29/2011

Art Academy Review

Art Academy
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This is a repackage (with changes) of a product that was originally available as two separate titles in the downloadable DSiWare line. I didn't play those titles but from what I've read this is very similar, so much so that most others online don't recommend the purchase of both the retail and downloadable versions. The downloadables are still available as "Art Academy First Semester" and "Art Academy Second Semester", but both are among the higher priced titles at 800 points each ($8.00/ea.), particularly since this title is now on shelves for a few dollars more as a cart and offers a bit more content.

First off, I'm not an artist - in fact I can hardly draw which is part of what drew me to this originally. The lessons start off fairly simply and from the beginning I felt like I was creating images that were much better than I expected. While I've really enjoyed the title, the lessons section is fairly short and clearly not meant to be the game's breadth or replay value. The replay is in the Free Paint mode- which somehow manages to include a nice array of tools and options while staying fun and easy to use. Players can get inspiration either from a small library of stock images or those with DSi units can take photos and use them in game.

The lessons that are there are excellent and easy to follow. Basic technique is included with helpful images and references to both historically important artists and techniques. The overall effect of most paintings is more impressionistic, which is actually more forgiving for the beginner. Those wishing to create more realistic images will probably not be satistified with the level of detail possible, though a zoom mode does help with control and small areas. I'm guessing however that those capable of realistic drawings are probably already using more sophisticated tools.

A surprising element is the sound in the game. The quiet sound effects and soft music add to the relaxed mood of the title. For once I've found myself leaving the sound up rather than turning it off as I do with many DS games.

The biggest problem with this title is that there is no way to get the images you create, in either the lessons or in the free draw mode, off of the DS. They can be saved to the DS itself, but not to an SD card so there's no way to move the images to a PC for instance, or to print them. This is a huge frustration and a bewildering exclusion since apparently the first downloadable version of this title had this feature. This alone could kill the replay value of the title since who wants to spend a lot of time creating images in Free Play and then not be able to do anything with them? If this one feature had been added this game would likely be getting better reviews in the game press- I would certainly have rated it at least one star higher.

Other more minor issues-
- The early mini lessons limit the tools available to the player to the same ones that were available in the original lessons. So if you've moved on and are used to using, for example, the controls for the amount of paint or water on the brush, and you try to do a mini lesson where that's not available it's not only frustrating but it feels like the game is actually keeping the user from continuing to learn by building skills through experience.

- The images in the lessons and mini-lessons are not available in the reference gallery. This is a silly exclusion, as it would have taken next to no space on the cart to include them and it would have offered the player the complete toolset to try to repaint images without either the aforementioned tool limitations or the instruction. It would have been an incentive to try to repaint the lessons on a player's own and compare results, increasing educational and replay value.

- All lessons would have benefited from including a listing of the steps taken for each type of drawing or painting that could be referred to later. This would have helped learning to draw/paint in general and in getting through the mini-lessons to cement the process of sketching, shading, etc. The game provides some short instruction reminders in the mini-lessons but they're often not as helpful to the really inexperienced artist.Because I didn't play the mini-lessons right after the main lessons I found myself forgetting the steps for layering color to create depth.

- There's no way to trace an image. While a grid system teaches proportion control, it would have been nice to be able to move the reference image to the touch screen for undersketching.

- You can't go back and forth between the sketching and the painting tools. Once you choose to move into painting, you no longer have access to the pencils which is limiting.

While it seems like I have a lot of problems with the product, it's actually been really enjoyable and surprisingly relaxing. If only there were a way to move images off the DS I could see myself using this as a portable mini sketching and painting tool, but sadly I find myself wondering if I should have opted for the online versions with less features overall, but the ability to export. I would love to see another version of this product with a greater number of lessons and the issues above fixed. Either way I would recommend some version of this product to friends, as to which one, I'd suggest they go online and weigh the options.

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Product Description:

Art Academy is an educational art game for Nintendo DS and DSi thatis designed to teach the basics of painting, drawing, sketching, colortheory and beyond. An extension of the Art Academy game series,previously available only to DSi users via Nintendo's wireless downloadDSiWare functionality, this cartridge based software for DS and DSiincorporates all 20 lessons from the previous two releases as wellas 10 new lessons. The game features multiple modes, including oneled by an in-game art tutor, as well as Free Paint mode that allowsyou to let your creativity flow freely. Additional features include:a wide variety of pencil and brush types, an in-game painter's colorpalette, the ability to save and frame finished work, a demo lessonthat can be wirelessly shared with other DS or DSi owners and specialDSi camera functionality.



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2/14/2011

Let's Draw! Review

Let's Draw
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Great Game!!!I bought my 5 year old dev. delayed daughter this game, and she loves it!!!so easy to use!!!!She loves to draw, there is even some great games on there!!!I even play with it!!! Highly recommend this game.I have been looking for a game that is easy for her to do, and not much "reading" to move on to the next level, well this is it!!!Very easy for her to navigate thru, she has not put it down!!!

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Product Description:
Let's Draw! is a simulation/edutainment game for DS and DSi designed to introduce children to the creative process by making drawing easy, accessible and fun. Built around game functionality that allows children to envision objects and animate them with shape, color and sound, Let's Draw! takes things even further by allowing kids to save their creations and easily import them into a variety of mini-games, quite literally bringing imaginations to life as never before.




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