As someone who adored the previous Drawn to Life titles, I was initially mixed on Two Realms. This is going to be a lengthy review, but I hope it helps anyone who also loved this series as a kid.
The first noticeable change is... definitely the gameplay. Instead of it being an action platformer where you draw your hero, draw your weapons, and draw items to help you with your adventures,As someone who adored the previous Drawn to Life titles, I was initially mixed on Two Realms. This is going to be a lengthy review, but I hope it helps anyone who also loved this series as a kid.
The first noticeable change is... definitely the gameplay. Instead of it being an action platformer where you draw your hero, draw your weapons, and draw items to help you with your adventures, Two Realms is more of a puzzle platformer with minimal drawing involved. You still draw your hero and other minor items in the Raposa World, but the scope of how much you actually draw is minimized.
The lack of drawing was disappointing, but ultimately understandable. Seeing as the original Drawn to Life entries were optimized to play on the Nintendo DS, right down to its touch screen gimmick, I never really expected the same experience with Two Realms - a game not only developed for the Switch, but for PC and different mobile devices as well.
It is worth noting that despite having a touch screen, the Switch version of Two Realms is not touch screen compatible. I'm assuming they had issues getting it to work, as the Switch's touch screen isn't too fine tuned, especially in comparison to the Nintendo DS. But, I hear Digital Continue is looking into touch screen support (for those wondering, this was stated in the Drawn to Life Discord Server)... Which is great! But I'm not sure when it will come out or if it will be good.
As for the levels, I personally found them frustrating, but it's important to note I have never been a fan of puzzle games. The puzzles in Two Realms are clever, but not impossible, and I am sure puzzle fans will have a lot of fun figuring them out.
This is honestly where my major issues end. I have always prioritized story, characters, music, and art over gameplay, so that is important to note with my final rating.
Despite issues with gameplay and minor glitches, Drawn to Life: Two Realms feels like it was made with great respect for the plot of its predecessors. When I first found out there would be a new Drawn to Life game after 11 years, I assumed the worst. I assumed this would be a cheap cash grab with a team of developers who would toss the previous entries' stories and characters out the window. Considering how it's been 11 years, and considering the shocking, definite ending of The Next Chapter, I honestly assumed Two Realms would be a soulless reboot of the whole series.
Well, I was wrong.
Two Realms continues right off of The Next Chapter's ending, and does not shy away from the consequences such an event had on the characters. Two Realms' story definitely has a smaller scope... this seems to be a common complaint, but it is one I disagree with. I feel like the smaller scope fits what it was trying to address: a more personal story focusing on Mike coping with the accident. A large, dramatic tale with high stakes and awesome adventure would have felt inappropriate, in my opinion.
Two Realms, in typical Drawn to Life fashion, leaves a LOT vague and can act as either a closing point for the series or a brand new start. Despite minor retcons, characters and important plot points are left intact and treated with a surprising amount of respect.
As for the art and music, they're both wonderful. The original artist and composer are back, and they do a fantastic job. I know some people are not fond of the music, but just because it's different doesn't mean it's bad. I feel like the music matured with the story, and with us. I liked it. I feel like it's down to personal preference, though.
My final thoughts...?
At first I was mixed, but the more I thought about Two Realms and everything the developers had working against them, I have definitely come to appreciate it a lot more.
Drawn to Life was a niche, gimmick game made specifically for the Nintendo DS in 2007. The series' last entry came out 11 years ago and ended on a shocking twist. It was never as popular as Scribblenauts, and it wasn't too well known, even in its prime. THQ went bankrupt, Drawn to Life was sold to 505 Games, and it seemed like it was the end.
But, "[it was] not The End".... For Drawn to Life to come back as it did was AMAZING. This thing had everything going against it: a gimmick game for an outdated handheld device with a VERY niche fandom. Developers interested in continuing the series had proposals shot down all throughout the 2010s. I'm not surprised Two Realms had a smaller budget and was forced to play on mobile - it was a risk and acted as an interest gauge for bigger and better entries.
Ultimately, Two Realms was an enjoyable experience that rekindled my love for the series. It is not the same as older entries, and felt disappointing at first, but considering the circumstances of its release, I came to appreciate it. Old fans should approach this game with an open mind. The game is different, and has a smaller budget, but is not bad by any means.… Expand
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