REVIEW / Please Touch the Artwork 2 (PC)

I have a bit of a soft spot for the hidden object genre. I played a ton of these games over about ten years and some of them really stuck with me. The Mystery Case Files series was one that I think I played almost every game in and I got to see how they became more complex as the devs embraced new technology. I think these titles were the benchmark for other games of the time and there were plenty of them, and I have to say, many of these were excellent. I got pangs of nostalgia when I began playing Please Touch the Artwork 2 on PC and although this is an entirely new animal all of its own breed, there are elements here that conjure up some really fond memories. Let’s get into the nitty gritty and let you know what we think, shall we?

In Please Touch the Artwork 2 you will be guiding a skeleton as it wanders around various paintings. As you go you will interact with the characters in the pieces of art who will ask you to find various items. The concept is as simple as that, but it’s the execution that I’m a massive fan of. This is part art appreciation, part game, and I really love this mix of mediums.

Each of the levels is broken down into various connected scenes and you won’t be able to find all the items in a scene in one sitting. For example, you meet a character in a pub who wants you to find beer bottles for him. At the same time, you’re also looking for wooden planks for a painter you’ve met. Once you find the bottles the drunk’s wife appears and startles him. The table he’s sitting at gets broken and reveals the remaining wood that you need to complete the other task. This gives you an idea of the flow. That is a fairly simple one but they definitely get more complicated as you go.

I love the way that the pictures in Please Touch the Artwork 2 animate as you move around them. We’re taking classically painted art and adding something new, and it’s really appealing. The best way I can describe the animation is to say that it’s similar to the animated parts of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. These have a charm that can’t quite be put into words so if you don’t know what I mean go and have a Google. There’s just a certain silliness about it that I really enjoy.

Amongst the general gameplay loop that I mentioned earlier, you’ll find some minigames for you to participate in. These break up the pace of the game nicely and give you something else to do. These little intermissions include a rather tricky spot the difference style puzzle and a Simon Says piano-based task. It’s nice to be able to do something other than just finding items but you never feel like you’re being pulled out of the game to complete these puzzles which is important to note.

Speaking of puzzles, as you wander around the pictures you’ll encounter areas where the canvas has been torn. You’ll need to repair these broken pieces of the image because the tear may be blocking your path to the next scene or hiding an item that you need. To remedy the problem you’ll need to complete a puzzle that sees you tracing a pattern. You’ll have to do this in one clean movement from point A to B. If you find yourself having to stop and try from a different part of the pattern you’ll lose and have to try again. These are fun little brain teasers and certainly become trickier as you progress.

As a fan of the genre and a lover of these sorts of puzzles, I’m really having a lot of fun with Please Touch the Artwork 2. The aesthetics are gorgeous, the gameplay is addictively simple and the audio fits the bill perfectly. There’s even a useful quick-travel mechanic that allows you to shoot back to the task giver without wasting time wandering around. You never have to go far but this is still a welcome addition. Last, but very importantly not least, Please Touch the Artwork 2 is free on Steam. This being said you’ve got absolutely no reason not to go and give this little gem a try. If you’re a fan of the Hidden Object genre you’ve got no excuses and I’m going to be playing through the first installment as soon as I’m done with this one. Really well done all around!