Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter Review

THQ released a platformer two years ago by the name of Drawn to Life. While it didn’t gather a lot of attention, it was an innovative attempt at using the Nintendo DS touch screen in ways that had not been tried before in a platformer. Aside from drawing the protagonist, players had to solve problems in their world by using their artistic skills. It guaranteed a unique experience that one could call their own. Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter hopes to pick up where the original left off.

You’re known as “the creator” and the characters will frequently ask for help with problems by creating items for them or restoring color. You have to collect these little jars of ink to restore color to the world. They did a good job trying to make the story interesting, with a main villain taking color away from the world and side characters that add to the plot. Yet I feel that the many conversations that take place drag on for too long, taking time away from actual gameplay.

Some parts of the level will require you to create ledges for your character to stand on. You will basic have a starting point and an ending point with the goal of reaching the other end using only five lines drawn. Of course there are obstacles to avoid like spikes, as well as areas where you are prohibited from drawing on, making it slightly more challenging. Still, I never had any real problems solving these in a few seconds.

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is a fairly basic platformer. It’s a no thrills adventure that is great for younger gamers and creative types alike. The main draw, of course (no pun intended), is that you can actually draw the main character and items in the world. It’s not a robust drawing system, but it does give you the option to make basic designs similar to Paint with Windows. Fans of the original should definitely check out this sequel.