Art Academy

 DS
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. NintendoWorldReport
    Jan 10, 2011
    90
    Art Academy is great piece of software that is well worth your time and money, provided you don't have access to cheaper and basically identical DSiWare apps.. My only gripe about the game is that you cannot export your photos, which may be enough to turn some people off from enrolling.
  2. Cubed3
    90
    Nintendo has taken what were two already extremely impressive DSiWare download collections and pieced them together perfectly, with the help of Headstrong Games, into one absolutely stunning package.
  3. NZGamer
    89
    It's the perfect start to what I can only hope is a series, with all of the fundamental components executed very well indeed. With a few additions (most importantly, some way to share your work) this could even become a tool for teachers to leverage or the basis of a new online community.
  5. Worth Playing
    Jan 8, 2011
    80
    Fundamentally, Art Academy isn't a game. You are not rated for your actions in any way, shape or form, as one would expect from a game.
  6. Eurogamer Italy
    80
    Art Academy was a great DsiWare title, and now it's a greater cardige for all DS owners. Every lesson is a nice way to learn and understand drawing and painting, and the combination between the stylus and the touch screen is well implemented into the experience.
  7. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    80
    A great art package for anyone who wants to learn about basic painting techniques.
  8. 3DJuegos
    79
    Art Academy is a fantastic program for creating art. It's not a game.
  9. Nintendo Gamer
    74
    A pleasant diversion. [Oct 2010, p.56]
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  10. Universo Nintendo
    Nov 14, 2010
    70
    An interesting game and has an audience that would be interested in it, but consider this as an application evolved.
  11. Eurogamer
    70
    Art Academy's potential to encourage latent talent or simply inspire a new hobby shouldn't go unnoticed.
  12. Gamer.nl
    70
    While it won't make you the next Van Gogh or Cézanne, Art Academy certainly provides you with the basic toolset to develop your dormant talent. However, it doesn't come close to replacing the real thing.
  13. Metro GameCentral
    70
    It might not be a game, but this is as entertaining a slice of edutainment as you'll ever find. Even if it's not quite the bargain it first appears.
  14. Nintendo Life
    70
    For those of you who purchased both of the original DSiWare titles, Art Academy does not offer enough new content to justify a third purchase. However, the retail release fixes several issues that Second Semester suffers from by combining both lessons, offering an improved product overall.
  15. Game Revolution
    Nov 2, 2010
    67
    Bottom line is, if you want to learn some of the finer points of how painters do what they do, or are really devoted to improving your visual art, you could likely find some help in this.
  16. IGN
    Nov 12, 2010
    65
    Would-be artists can check it out for a decent introduction to drawing and painting, but those truly interested in building a solid art foundation will need to seek a more robust course load elsewhere.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best DS Game of 2010
34
#34 Most Discussed DS Game of 2010

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Sr_PuXiToPuiG
    Jan 3, 2021
    6
    Piola. . .
  2. 0xFFFE
    May 30, 2020
    8
    Art Academy is a very unique type of game. There really is no goal or objective but painting and the resources that Art Academy providesArt Academy is a very unique type of game. There really is no goal or objective but painting and the resources that Art Academy provides suffice. The ten lessons in the game are all well designed and do a good job of teaching you how to use the painting tools to create your own masterpieces. One thing to touch on is how nice the game sounds, Every thing from the brief interludes between steps in a lesson to the sound of your paintbrush are a pleasure to hear.

    The only real issue is a lack of content in the game, After the 10 lessons there are a few more that are pretty much the same lesson but with a new object to paint. The lessons never visit feature abstract paintings, portraits, or anything beyond landscape paintings and still life. Art Academy could have been greatly improved from extra modes or more lessons.

    Overall I think Art Academy is worth your time and the price of entry. It serves as a decent teaching tool and a welcome oddity in the DS library that players of any age can find enjoyment and relaxation despite it's relatively low amount of content.    … Full Review »
  3. SaltyNoodles
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    I think this is a pretty good way to learn some art skills if your style of art you want to learn is mostly still life and painting withI think this is a pretty good way to learn some art skills if your style of art you want to learn is mostly still life and painting with references. Although even if you are solely into, say, cartoon art or portrait art, I still feel like there is some stuff to be learned from here. I had a lot of fun doing the lessons, and feel like I learned some stuff. My only real problem was how it would sometimes make me break from the instructions just to do something small like mix my paints when I could do that after the instructions, but since it may be helpful to people who have memory problems, I'm all for possible accessibility.… Full Review »
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