Pixel Paint (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Pixel Paint is a bare bones application if there ever was one. The user will pick out a size for their drawing, and then jump right in. At this point, it's about using your own artistic skills to create an 8 or 16-bit masterpiece. This is no video game, but an art application, and the learning curve is steep.

You'll find no simplified controls, easy to use interface, or drag and drop components. There are various palettes, and each canvas size provides more precision. This is kind of concerning, as making a smaller character on a smaller canvas is easier than making an entire scene on a bigger one. This isn't due to anything other than the ability to colour individual pixels.

Really, Pixel Paint is just MS Paint for your Wii U or 3DS. It has some extra perks like being able to upload the fruits of your labour to the Miiverse, but that's really it. This would be great for an experienced pixel artist who wants to hone their skills with a tool that is lacking in a lot of the amenities modern pixel artists are used to - this is that tool. But learning how to create pixel art with this would result in a handicap on your skills.

The palettes are the clear winner in this package. They range from a four tone monochrome palette, similar to Game Boy games, to a slew of colours that would feel right at home in the Mana series. Selecting the right colour, however, is cumbersome, as you must click and hold on the palette, and wait for it to zoom in and drag to the colour you want. While the selection of colours is beautiful, picking the right crayon is simply too awkward for any real ease.

The sad part is that, obviously, on the Wii U this would probably all be mitigated, and Pixel Paint would just be a weird little paint app that wasn't particularly deep. However, on the 3DS, most of the functions that are available are just too clumsy. If people are going to pick up a paint app anymore, it should feel almost like drawing to the canvas in hand. On the 3DS, it feels like telling a program where to draw, and the immersion is broken.