Art Academy: Second Semester

Genre: Art Application

Players: 1

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Review:

Art Academy: Second Semester is an Art Application originally released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2009, and later grandfathered into the Nintendo 3DS eShop when the Nintendo 3DS released. This game was also compiled together with Art Academy: First Semester along with some additional content in a Nintendo DS physical release, simply called Art Academy. This game provides players with multiple interactive tutorials intended to teach players how to draw and paint.

The presentation in this game is pretty appealing. Everything is couched in a casual-friendly atmosphere, with players guided through their lessons by Vince, a sketchy-looking (as in, he looks like he was sketched) animated 2D character who appears to be more of a simple caricature of Leonardo Da Vinci than the Van Gogh that one might expect given his name. Menus are clean and sensibly-designed, tutorials are backed by relaxed music, and when drawing, players will make fairly realistic sounds based on the tool they’re using.

The tutorials in this game cover some of the slightly more advanced elements of art and design, with this Application intended to be used after completing the Art Academy: First Semester beforehand. Would-be artists once again shouldn’t expect too much out of these tutorials, however, as they can be completed in just a few hours. If you want to truly hone your artistic skills, you’ll likely do better in an actual art class.

Players can also simply draw art using the game’s interface, free from the structure of lessons. And while this is a decent art interface, its intent on simulating actual art tools limits it somewhat, with simple functions of other art applications, such as copy-paste, nowhere to be found. What’s more, there is no way for players to transfer their works off of this game, if they wanted to continue their work on computer or print out their project.

However, probably the biggest reason not to buy this software now is one I already mentioned in the opening – you can already get all of this software’s contents, plus the contents of Art Academy: First Semester, plus more, in the Nintendo DS release of the game, which can still easily be found on eBay for under $5. Contrast that against the $8 cost for each of the DSiWare releases in this series and you’ll be looking to spend over three times the amount if you get these versions of the games.

And yes, I paid full price for these to review them. I feel like a damn idiot.

In conclusion… don’t be like me. Don’t be an idiot. Don’t buy Art Academy: First Semester or Art Academy: Second Semester. Even if you believe you’ll get your money’s worth out of the tutorials this software offers, you’ll save a lot of money just getting the Nintendo DS game instead, or possibly one of the later games in the series. By comparison, buying this release just feels like throwing money in the trash.

tl;dr – Art Academy: Second Semester is an Art Application that aims to teach players basic art skills. While this application has an inviting presentation and interface, players may find the few hours’ worth of lessons here to be limited, the lack of modern Art Application tools to be disappointing, and the fact that you get a far superior deal buying the Nintendo DS release in the series means that buying the DSiWare entries in the franchise are just a waste of money.

Grade: D

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