Any management sim enthusiast would be aware of Two Point Museum, the latest game in the Two Point series. I reviewed the game last year and praised the varied approach to creating museums, alongside its other DLCs, to score it a 4.5/5. The full game review can be read here, as this review focuses on its latest DLC – Arty Facts. As the name suggests, this expansion is themed on creating an art exhibition. We’ve had zoos, fantasy and more, but this is very much encouraging the creation and display of art to wow your attendees. If you enjoyed TP Museum, this is a great addition to the game. It doesn’t do anything largely different to the others outside of new features and decorations, but it adds a touch of class and further humour to the ever-expanding title.
The TP Museum DLCs are always about the new offerings. Here we start with a new map called Undee Docks that has some light art already installed, but very much remains a work in progress. An incomplete art set is right in main view (one of three art pieces are present, meaning it needs your work and discovery) and the goal to create an art studio soon follows. The art studio is the location to create a commission original art, requiring a specific art expert to do so. This is very much following the way other new themes are introduced in the game. A new expedition map (Zara’s Sketchbook) will be where you discover your new art, with approximately 30 exhibits available. My first thought was ‘how can art be more entertaining than the animals?’ (I am a sucker for animal sims) and soon noticed the humorous take on classic art. There are plenty of nods and Easter eggs for those in the know, but one that caught me off-guard was The Stinker – a take on the well known Thinker statue that has a sculpture of a man seated on a toilet, holding his nose. I won’t give any others away, though you can expect some laugh out loud moments.
The art exhibits are more interactive than I expected, bouncing off the other exhibition themes well. As always, there are new decorations, gift shop items, wallpapers, skins and utility items to really style the museum your way. If you’ve found all the exhibits already, the original creations through the studio can ensure that the process is ongoing. Anyone unsure about purchasing the DLC can try the update for free up to one star, which includes samples of most features here. If I was to rank the three main DLCs, I would say Zoo is first and both Arty Facts and Fantasy Finds are fairly even – depending on your theme preference rather than the offerings. For those wanting the full experience, I see this as a must buy.
Arty Facts is another successful DLC to the Two Point Museum universe. It adds another layer of humour, fun and depth to a title that recreates the museum experience seamlessly. While not quite as game changing as the zoo exhibits, I acknowledge that this may be a personal preference and art lovers will have plenty to play with. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – I can’t wait to see which direction they go next.
