With a plethora of mediums and subjects available, a thoughtful approach to teaching art and perfect touchpad controls, Art Academy is a must-have for any Pokemon doodler.
Where the title lacks the ability to teach you real art skills, it’ll provide dozens of hours of entertainment for a gamer aware of what they’re getting into.
Fantastic game, it convinced me that I can draw! Still cannot believe how great looking pokemon I made... Really recommend not only for pokemon fans, but also people who want to practice drawing!
This is a game for artists and/or Pokemon fans. Is it really a game? I don't know. I bought this for my son and he had a blast drawing the first 5 Pokemon he tried. It did get a bit harder for him when he started getting more freedom (he is 6 yrs old) but with a little parental help, he was able to complete successfully his drawings.
PAA takes you step by step with the first few drawings. It tells you what you should be doing and shows you how to accomplish each step. For my son, it really helped him when he needed to push a button that the button would light up.
I am not much of an artist but I don't mind dabbling in the arts from time to time. I am hoping my wife will give it a shot since she is the painter/drawer in the family. This could be a game that could unite the family in a fun activity... imagine family competitions?
Pros
+Easy to pick up and follow
+Great drawing lessons
+Plenty of tools for creative types
+Great replay-ability
Cons
- Not a traditional Pokemon game
- May not be suitable for young artists
Bottom Line: If you know someone that is into Pokemon AND loves to draw, this is a no-brainer. If the person you want to get this game does not enjoy drawing, then stay clear away from it because even if they are a Pokemon fan, they may hate you for not getting them an actually Pokemon game.
Pokémon Art Academy is a well presented software that manages to teach the players about drawing within a Pokémon-esque context, providing a vital and compelling framework for would-be artists to learn some skills while exploring one of Nintendo's biggest series. Sharing one's creations is also a high point here, even though the overall experience can be rather short and a 3DS screen does not go as far as a real canvas.
Pokémon Art Academy is exactly what you would expect from it. It’s Art Academy with Pokémons and, while the premises seem promising, the game lacks the depth of Art Academy. Dedicate to children and fanatic Pokémon lovers.
Other than the fleeting moments of marveling at your finished renderings of numerous Ken Sugimori-designed creatures, the game offers little long-term rewards for your time invested in its whimsical workshops.
This game definitely is targeted to little kids and dedicated Pokemon fans, if you're merely trying to expand you artistry skills, I recommend the original Art Academy. Also, it felt weird to draw with the 3DS. And, just to test this, I tried it on the 3DS XL, and it just feels awkward. I think it would have been so much better on the Wii U, with the GamePad. There's a lot of untapped potential here. The are tons of options, but only so many templates. Once you get through halfway of the lessons, it feels as though the game is over-estimating your skills (this never bothered me, because I'm a decent artist, but I understand how it could be a problem for other people).
However, the game is a ton of fun to play. The music is relaxing, and the game never makes you continue before you've fully learned a skill. The game slowly reveals new tools, which prevents the player from ever feeling overwhelmed.
Overall, I'd recommend the game if
A) You show legitimate interest in artistry
B) You actively enjoy Pokemon
This game has a happy spot in my 3DS library.
Surely this isn't a game we suggest for everyone, Are you an hard Pokémon fan ? you may love it, otherwise this is just another Pokémon title world could live without