We’ve rightly developed some suspicion around the suffering artist trope, but I think deep down we’re all holding onto the idea that our art becomes a little bit tastier with some angst mixed in. I think the artists of Jenna Felli’s Bemused, wracked by doubt and dread. Or Jasper de Lange’s Bohemians, all penniless syphilitics. Want to create a masterwork? Sure. Go right ahead. But it’ll be better if you wedge a needle under your toenail.

But then there are the artists of Re;ACT: The Arts of War by Chris Lin, MingYang Lu, and Eric Zeringue. These folks are out here dueling each other in an arena, and although it might seem like the footrace between calligraphy and animation was settled long ago, here they both are, having the time of their lives. Step aside, suffering artists. This one’s for the artists who can’t wait to get back to the drawing table.

As for the game? Oh, right. That.

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