Art Sqool Review

Can a video game make you more creative? Art Sqool poses the question without making any promises. The title is a mixture of an art game and an adventure game but that doesn’t quite do it justice.

The premise of the game is simple. You take on the role of Froshmin, a new student at an art school. The school is run entirely by artificial intelligence. This A.I. professor — who acts as a mentor, judge, and quest-giver all in one — is the only other “person” you see.

The professor takes form as a living letter Q and hands out your assignments. After taking on an assignment, you are given a random prompt and asked to draw it. You are left to your own devices to find extra materials and inspiration. Once you are finished, the professor gives it a grade and you are given your next prompt.

This process repeats 50 times until you graduate from school. It is as much a commentary on the idea of educating creativity as it is a functioning game. While Art Sqool can be thought-provoking, it also misses far more than it hits.