By Karoline Castillo-Troncoso

When experiencing a process as profound as grief, you may find yourself revisiting moments and clinging to objects once associated with what was lost in attempts to alleviate such anguish. Others channel their pain through creative outlets, such as art. And games. Or art in games.

Please Touch the Artwork 2, a free, hidden-object adventure directed and developed by Thomas Waterzooi, aims to honor and celebrate the legacy of the late Belgian artist, James Ensor, whose passing reached its 75th anniversary in 2024. James Ensor utilized methods such as surrealism, expressionism, and modernism in his art which are styles that at the time were deemed unconventional or perhaps, eccentric. Furthermore, the painter’s artistry was not always received with reverence; in fact, many critics opposed his paintings’ grotesque images and bold colors. Nevertheless, James Ensor’s art was revolutionary in the sense that it illustrated modern Belgian society through a satirical representation of its practices. For example, the painter often incorporated masks within his paintings, depicting distorted social relationships and a side of humankind that was often overlooked, the dark side. Whether the topic was political protests, religious displays or carnival celebrations, James Ensor’s work comprised burlesque, crude caricatures, clashing colors, and thick paint placed into his art to further display such satire. 

Please Touch the Artwork 2 not only highlights James Ensor’s innovative artwork, but it also brings them to life; the engrossing puzzle game displays hand-painted masterpieces where players can interact with various objects, spot differences, find hidden objects and repair damaged paintings. Additionally, hints are provided for the player to ensure an easier puzzle-solving experience. 

Said paintings, which act as the setting within this game, are part of a vivid and immersive experience, effectively setting the scene for more adventure. As for the game’s plot, it is consistent and follows common objectives; players must interact with quirky characters in the quest of retrieving their lost items; an activity which entails emotional stakes. This sparked my curiosity; how does each object relate to its owner? The content ultimately engages audiences as they traverse through the story. 

One instance in particular that stood out to me occurred in one of the opening scenes, where the skeleton of Baron James Ensor goes on a momentary journey until he comes across a man on a rowboat, which is where the adventure begins. The artwork is one of James Ensor’s copious masterpieces titled “The Rower” (1883). You must find five buckets hidden in the current painting as well as previous paintings and when having done so, return to the Rower who then transports/rows you to a different painting for another puzzle. Witnessing the art spring to life in such a way was fascinating and unlike anything I’ve ever encountered in an art-oriented game.

The music and sound that accompany the contents of this game fit effortlessly into the plot of the story, whether it be the clamor of an enthusiastic crowd, the clinking of beer glasses, or even the simple sound of gentle crunches and soft rustling of the grass the protagonist walks on. It is evident that the aspect of detail was carefully considered, including the mouse cursor being a skeleton hand – a clever touch.  

Moreover, the antagonist is portrayed as a character who goes on a rampage as he damages paintings; however, he remains unseen until later stages. Repairing damaged paintings is done through patching intricate patterns that start out simple yet become more complex as you progress; and you can’t patch over an area that has already been restored. This brings to mind that one childhood puzzle where you had to draw an image without lifting the pencil or retracing over the same line twice. Yet, something that was exhibited beautifully was the antagonist’s redemption at the end of the game. Although the antagonist’s action of destroying paintings in this case was not justified, a motive was displayed – being that he had been missing from his own painting (i.e. The Intrigue, 1890).  Revealed later, this illustrates the humanity of the characters depicted in James Ensor’s artwork. 

I would recommend Please Touch the Artwork 2 to anyone in search of a puzzle game that combats history through a modern lens in the sense that it challenges ancient standards as to what art is presumed to look like when in reality, the perception of various art forms is subjective to the onlooker; through this game, a display James Ensor’s striking art, one is able to witness former perspectives in a progressive society. The developer seamlessly incorporates timeless masterpieces created by a legendary artist into a fun, idiosyncratic puzzle game that anyone can enjoy. Thomas Waterzooi made a flawless approach to remembering James Ensor in a way that gives his artistry the recognition it deserves. So, contrary to museum requests – please touch the artwork! 

Karoline is our intern from the Bronx’s TapCo school. She won one of our scholarships for writing a one-act play featuring a video game.

---