The process of digitally drawing a picture has been around since some of the first computers were around years ago, though it was in a simple yet fun package that users could access software such as Microsoft Paint. Over the years, the process has been taken to new levels and new platforms, with even Smartphones having fun drawing diversions available for free. Eariler the Wii U eShop was graced by Art Academy Sketchpad, a cheap yet detailed tool for budding artists to use with ease. Why then SDK Paint exists is a good question, as it doesn't even come close to the level of already available drawing games on the system.


To say SDK Paint is a simple drawing app would be an understatement. When you get to the actual painting itself, the game presents you off with a decent range of options, but fails to describe what any buttons actually do. There aren't any descriptors to be found, resulting in randomly testing out every button to see what it does. Some are simple- changing layers provides a nice method to paint and flipping the image is useful for some, but others like the color inverter can completely mess up the drawing, and you only get one undo.

The actual painting itself is somewhat pixely as well, and doesn't offer any detailed drawing features at the moment. There is no zoom button, a shame considering you're drawing on the gamepad, and you cannot change just one color or shape at a time, the whole layer is always effected. The painting section is, in a word, rough, and needs some serious tweaking.


While the developers promise occasional updates based on user feedback, they did throw in a small selection of extras in the original version. You can try out some stencils, which we honestly did not see any practical use for as they were all complex machine diagrams or simple graph paper you could draw over.

There is also a built in art viewing feature, where you walk through one of four museum type buildings with your art on display of one of four wall textures. While this feels nice and works well, the textures are mostly out of place and there aren't any real celings or floors in place either, which looks very lazy and unappealing.


You can also share your art to Miiverse, so long as you aren't playing offscreen. In fact, this is the only part of the game requiring you to turn your TV on, and makes no indication to you to do so. The lack of tutorials in game or descriptors is astounding, and playing SDK Paint makes you feel like something is always missing.

If you can look past the basic drawing, lack of detail and explanations, SDK Paint offers the most basic drawing experience you can get on your Wii U. While being the only painting game on the system to offer layered drawing, the rest of the game's inadequacies bring down the experience too much to be enjoyed by most. If you need a drawing app and are opposed to what else is available, then SDK Paint will satisfy your need. But with games like Art Academy Sketchpad available for just a few dollars more, it becomes difficult to recommend such a bare bones game.


Review copy provided by: Hullbreach Studios