How often have you been at an art exhibition, and the staff were adamant that you didn’t finger the paintings? Actually, how many times have you been to one? I have. Lots of times, so there. In Please, Touch The Artwork 2, you can smudge your dirty digits across works of art all you like.
That’s encouraging bad behaviour, but Studio Waterzooi’s hidden object game doesn’t affect the original works whatsoever. Don’t replicate it in real life, or you’ll get told off. Worse, you’ll never be able to step inside a gallery. EVER.
So what’s the point of Please, Touch The Artwork 2? Don’t overthink it; it’s precisely that. You play a skull in a suit that trolls around the various layers of the works of modern artist James Ensor in a hunt to find missing objects. Think of it as a Joe Richardson-type experience without the humour. That’s not a bad thing, as it’s a very chill, a teeny bit demanding in some scenes.
Please, Touch The Artwork 2 Review (PC via Steam)
As the images in Please, Touch The Artwork 2 are scanned oil paintings, there are lots of textures to work with, so the actual items can be hit or miss. Sometimes, they stand out and are a breeze to locate; others merge with the painting to the point of pixel hunting. Let’s stress that it isn’t point and click adventure pixel hunting, more so experimentation.
Please, Touch The Artwork 2 has a hint system, so there are no worries about being put off and packing in your art journey at any stage. In fact, after playing this game, I was encouraged to seek out the works of Ensor. It’s not what I typically am drawn to, but when you interact with these animated masterpieces, there’s an element of curiosity for those with the gene, so it’s a win for the developer and a win for art.
The supporting documentation for the game states that completion can take about an hour. I went at a leisurely pace – neither rushed nor like a grandad strolling through a thrift sale, and it was more than an hour. Art appreciators (leaving that there unedited) will likely spend more time walking through, and as said, this is a chill experience – what with the classical soundtrack that’s somewhat empowering, too.
This review was conducted entirely on the Steam Deck and it was brill, but it’s also available on iOS and Android. Now, here’s the money shot: it’s totally free, so go get this immediately (released on the 19th February 2024), then check out Thomas’ previous game.
