Review: Paint by DS (DS)
Score: 60
It's so, so tempting to declare that this title is 'as exciting as watching paint dry'. In fact, it's a little bit more exciting that this. But not much.
You see, Paint by DS is (surprisingly) aimed at teenagers and adults - I'd have expected a somewhat more accessible title aimed at the DS core market of 6 to 12 year olds, with perhaps pictures that could be done in 10 to 15 minutes tops.
Instead, we've got a much more grown up painting simulator, in which you can use realistic brushes and effects to paint 'in' colour and texture onto line art replicas of a dozen or so famous real life paintings. A zoom facility works well to let you colour in fine detail and there are no complaints whatsoever about the core painting engine.
However, the mini-games included, unusually, detract from the main title rather than add to it. They're too simple and banal, aimed seemingly at a different market to the core painting simulator. Doing well at the games does unlock some more paintings, but, honestly, you'll be past caring by this point and will loan your DS out to the nearest kid to have fun on the games and then pass it back to you for more painting.
There's some cheesy background music that can be turned off, thankfully, and Paint by DS is generally well programmed. But, and it's a big but, at the end of the day it's still painting and it takes just as long as the real thing.
If you're 12+ and into art and fancy something to while away long train journeys, then this is still worth going for if you can find it at a good price. Just don't get done for plaguarism!