Coloring Book

Genre: Art Application

Players: 1-4 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Coloring Book isn’t a game, but rather an art application that’s free to download for the Nintendo Switch. While the title itself is free, there are a limited number of pictures to color in, as well as one single blank “whiteboard” to freely doodle on, and players can purchase more on the eShop, with the “Creative Edition” selling for $7.99. As such, the free version of the app basically acts like a demo for the Creative Edition, although you’re free to just make use of the limited features of the free edition or buy the individual expansions piecemeal as you see fit.

Anyway, with all of that out of the way, the application itself has a surprisingly robust setup for an app that seems pretty squarely aimed at young kids. Players can control the app using a combination of the control stick and motion control using Joycons, which works pretty well, or of course use the touchscreen in handheld mode, which seems like the ideal way to use this software, though I will note that playing in docked mode with Joycons allows up to four players to join in at once, which is nice.

For the various pictures to color in, the application allows you to opt to keep your coloring in the lines, not registering anything outside of where you start doodling until you let up. This is optional though, and can be turned off be selecting a different brush. The app actually has some nice-looking brush effects, and the app even gives you a nice-looking 3D cursor for each brush. You also have a nice selection of colors, with a dozen or so selectable through a quick menu, but a total of 89 overall available to choose from.

Of course, not being a small child, I found myself more interested in the blank canvas, and the app’s tools definitely allow for some decent art to be made using the Switch (well, decent for me, anyway). It’s no Adobe Photoshop, and the app doesn’t have even the rudimentary options of MS Paint, but for a free app on the Switch, it’s not bad.

Outside of more editing features, the one thing this app is really missing is an ability to save your works in a format that can be appreciated outside the app. I understand that the folks behind this app want you to buy more of their “whiteboards” because they don’t make more money on free downloads, but I really wish that getting the Creative Edition unlocked the ability to save images to a file or post them on Twitter or Facebook or something.

Still, for what it’s worth, Coloring Book does far more than it needed to as a coloring app for kids on the Switch. There’s a good selection of tools here and a decent amount of value for a free title. It’s not going to replace the software you already have on your PC or tablet, but if your kids want something on their Switch to doodle with, this does a great job of giving them their first early shot at being an artist.

tl;dr – Coloring Book is, well, a coloring book Application, although you can also create art on a blank canvas as well. The free app acts like a demo for the $7.99 “Creative Edition”, and both versions of the app have a pretty decent selection of tools to make art, even offering support for 4 players at once. However, this application isn’t going to be replacing what’s on your PC or tablet any time soon, and the lack of any way to transfer your art outside the application is disappointing. Still, as a fun toy for kids, Coloring Book does far more than it needed to.

Grade: B-

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