QBICS Paint Switch review - A pretty fun painting game

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Abylight’s “QBICS Paint” is an alright little 3D modeling and painting game. Especially for younger audiences and little fingers that enjoy tapping screens. There’s some fun to be had here on this Art Attack Switch game. However, there are a few chips in the paintwork stopping it from being a Picasso.

“QBICS Paint” is quite basic in its gameplay. As it utilizes the Switches touch screen interface and uses no other controller function. You can choose a variety of creatures and objects, you then have to act as an archaeologist to slowly chip away bricks to unveil the object trap within. So once that has been achieved, you are then free to paint the object. Furthermore, you can set it to a variety of pre-rendered backgrounds and then take a picture of it using the Switches capture button =) And for the most part. That’s all there is to this game. However, it’s worth pointing out that there are 90 of these to complete. So in a way it’s like a very big pixel art coloring book.

I know that art is subjective, and that this art creation might look like a mess. Nevertheless, don’t laugh out loud, because this art piece might just sell for millions at an auction.

However, if that’s not your thing, then you could instead try your hand at creating an object yourself which opens up a variety of possibilities. So if you’re good enough you could start creating Pokémon or various other characters. You could then paint them, and post your creations to social media. The process is quite simple, because you simply tab the screen where you want a block and press and hold on a block to remove it. This is certainly more engaging, and you’re limited to 50 creations. In other words, you can now finally show off fairly vast repertoire of QBIC creations with ease. Even so, I must admit I was a bit rubbish at this as all my artistic talent left me at college years ago. Nevertheless, you could literally create whatever you want here, and that makes the game more than just an interactive coloring book.

Even so, there are a few niggling issues that I would like to point out. The main one being that this game is screaming for a stylus as fingers aren’t exactly ideal, although you can zoom in or out to chip off blocks at will, unfortunately my man fingers were making a mess of things. That’s also why I do recommend using a stylus that is compatible with the Switch. Besides, it makes creating QBICS easier with the added accuracy, then of course you need to get a screen protector (if you’ve not already got one) so that you don’t ruin your screen. Another slight issue is that you have to unlock other QBIC creations. Sure, while it adds progress, it does also limit what you can do for a while. So if you really wanted to check out the Medieval ones first, then you’re going to have to work for them. I’d rather these have simply been accessible like the pages of a coloring book.

You can create, paint and share your creations with just a few taps on your Switch screen.

Finally, I’ve saved the best till last that surprised me. You see, while in handheld mode the game uses the touch screen. So that had me wondering what it would be like when I took my creations to the TV. Well, to my surprise docked mode is not compatible and “QBICS Paint”. In other words, the game is only playable in handheld mode. So I would have thought with the Joycon’s motion control functionality they would have come into play here with the possibility of you sculpting your creations block by block…But alas you can’t so that screen protector is looking like a must buy at this point.

You can create pretty much whatever you want art-wise with the help of “QBICS Paint”.

Anyways, all in all, “QBICS Paint” is a basic game with some fun to be had. So it’s great for young gamers with a taste for art (not to mention for those who would like to recreate the original 150 Pokémon. Well, at least 50 of them at a time). That’s also why it’s a shame that there is no way to play the game on the big screen. I mean, it’s strictly portable. Sure, it’s not inherently a bad thing per say. Even so, I would still have liked to have seen the Joy Cons used in some intelligent way (even if it was a separate game mode, but at just £4.49 you can’t grumble too much). So “if” you do pick up the game, then be sure to post your creations in our comment section below 😉 And who knows perhaps the best one might get a treat from Robin? 😀

Pros:
+ Great for Kids
+ Creating art is always fun
+ Share functionality

Cons:
– Handheld only
– 50 creation spaces
– Stylus and screen protector are a must

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound/music: 3/5
Controls: 3/5
Replay value: 4/5

tgg grade 3.5 out of 5

Verdict: 3.5/5
If you like art, then you’re going to enjoy Abylight’s “QBIC Paint” with not doubt, because it’s a great game for those who like to create art. So “QBIC Paint” should provide a nice distraction for young budding gamers. However, remember to avoid scratching your screen!

Title: QBIC Paint
Developer: Abylight
Format: Switch
Genre: Education, Art
Resolution: 1080p
Release date: 2017-07-27
Difficulty: Easy
Spent time: +3 hours
Average grade internationally: 70% Gamerankings.com
PEGI age rating: 3+
Price: £4.49