Pokémon Art Academy
© 2014 Nintendo of America
Forty drawing lessons are delivered on your Nintendo DS, providing step-by-step instructions for drawing Pokémon characters like Pikachu, Oshawott, Charizard, Torchic, Fletchling and Fennekin. Note that the well designed Art Academy series for Nintendo DS is not new. This is the second we've reviewed, the first in CTR Nov 2010 (4.6 stars). In the first title, you use your DS stylus as a pencil or paint brush to work through a series of ten step-by-step tutorials, or freely draw using the selection of pencils and/or paint tools. There are two parts: Art Academy First Semester and Art Academy Second Semester, both of which were previously available as Nintendo DSiWare downloads. Other features include the ability to snap a photo using the DS camera to use as a model. The model is shown on the top screen and the bottom serves as your creativity surface. While the graphics don't compare in quality to the iPod Touch, the stylus-based touch screen is much better for replicating the drawing process. Finished projects can be framed and saved in the Gallery, but (unfortunately) can't be exported. All in all, this is an excellent addition to any Nintendo DS software library. Librarians note that a child's projects will remain on the cartridge. Release date: "Fall 2014."
Nintendo 3DS
Teaches: art, drawing, visual creativity, sketching