Drawn to Life

* Original
* Current

“*Your hero. Your adventure.*”
―Tagline
***Drawn to Life*** is an action-adventure platform video game for the Nintendo DS developed by 5th Cell and published by THQ. It was later published by Agatsuma Entertainment in Japan in 2008 under the name ***Drawn to Life: God's Marionette*** (ドローン トゥ ライフ 〜神様のマリオネット〜, *Dorōn tu Raifu: 〜Kami-sama no Marionetto〜*), and in Korea under the title ***Geuryeora, Touch! Naega Mandeuneun Sesang***.

In this game, the player creates their own playable characters, level objects, and accessories by drawing them using the DS's stylus and touchscreen.

## Gameplay

*Drawn to Life* is a 2D game where the player must draw their own character, weapons and accessories, platforms, and objects. The game is separated into three different modes.

### Village Mode

A top-down, central hub where the player progresses the story and interacts with the Raposa, purchases items from the item shop using rapo-coins collected in Adventure Mode, and accesses levels. Players draw different items at the Raposa's request to enrich their village. Over the course of the game in Village Mode, the player plays minigames, participate in a town festival, hunt for a thief, and help the Raposa thrive. Here players are given their objective for the next Adventure Mode level.

There are three main buildings in this mode - Creation Hall, where players can edit their previous creations, and the item shop, where players can purchase songs, patterns, stamps, and even new abilities for their hero. Also, there is a wishing well in which players can dump rapo-coins to get prizes. The 10,000 rapo-coin grand prize is Developer's Grove, where the Hero can meet sprites of the game's developers.

### Adventure Mode

A side-scrolling platformer with 16 levels. Here, the player battles enemies, rescues Raposa, and collects items. Players draw platforms that allow them to progress through the level. The levels exist in one of four different worlds: Ice, Forest, Tropical, and City, each with its own boss.

Players are tasked with rescuing three Raposa and four pieces of a page from the Book of Life, which has to be used to create a new village object. Players can also collect secret orbs that will then unlock and be purchasable in the item shop. In each section of the levels, players tap on an easel icon to enable Draw Mode, which tells the player to draw a new type of platform or object. Once drawn, the player goes back to Adventure Mode and can then interact with the newly drawn object.

### Draw Mode

The tool through which players create new objects, weapons, and their hero. This is done through the stylus and touchscreen. Once drawn, objects and the hero will animate. The player can design up to three different humanoid heroes using a variety of colors, patterns, and stamps. Character creation also features 15 pre-made character templates which can be traced or have their body parts used for those who are less artistic. The game's title screen can be drawn and saved, so players can make their own title screen.

Players can trade their drawn heroes and other objects via local Wi-Fi only.

## Reception

### Critical reviews

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. In Japan, *Famitsu* gave the DS version a score of three eights and one seven for a total of 31 out of 40.

### Awards

The game *Drawn to Life* was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Story Development at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards along with *BioShock*, *Mass Effect* and *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* during the D.I.C.E. Summit. It was the only handheld game to be nominated in the category. At IGN's "Best of 2007" awards, the DS version won Most Innovative Design and was a runner-up for Best Platform Game.

In GameSpot's Best of 2007, the DS version was nominated for Genre Awards' Best Platformer (All Systems) and Special Achievement's Best Original Game Mechanic.  *Nintendo Power* nominated the game for Best Platformer (Wii & DS) for its 2007 Nintendo Power Awards. The DS version was also a finalist in the Second Annual Independent Games Festival: Mobile awards for Achievement in Art and *Audio Achievement*.