Review

Developed by:Starbreeze Studios Published by:505 Games Genre(s):
  • Action Adventure
  • Platform:
  • Handhelds
  • Microsoft
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$14.99 ESRB Rating:TEEN Players:1 Release date:August 7, 2013 Reviewed on:XBox 360
    10

    Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

    Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has to be one of the most endearing games I have ever played. The story follows two brothers as they search of a cure for their ailing father. Though it may sound simple, I assure you that the game kept me engaged as I explored this fairy tale world. With an interesting control scheme combined with a well told narrative, Brothers eventually turns into a beautifully synchronous symphony of movement and teamwork. “Hatada!”

    Brothers is an absolute delight. The controls are deceptively simple, only using the two thumbsticks, triggers, and bumpers. The trick is attempting to master the simplicity; the older brother is controlled by the left side and the younger by the right. Most people will get the gist of it by the end of the tutorial. Not having to struggle with the controls is a good thing as the game’s puzzles requires both characters’ participation to solve. That said, having to control two characters at once makes ordinary puzzles more intricate than one would expect. The same thing goes for simple platforming, exploration, and other “normal” gaming tropes.

    Then there’s the story itself. It’s extremely well done; a meshing of mediums, film and interactivity, to what I thought was previously unattainable. I was sort of put off by the setting of this Nordic world, but was quickly immersed by its deliberately slow, yet well-paced narrative. The brothers are different – the younger one is playful while the older one is more mature. These factures determined how they would interact with not only each other, but different characters throughout the story. Over time I was able to understand and identify with their relationship. This, along with the ability to control both characters, made their journey more meaningful to me. Basically, Brothers grew on me to such a degree that I didn’t want to put down my controller.

    Their journey is full of wonder and excitement, yet is extremely heartbreaking. The developers did a great job crafting this tale, where gamers can get emotionally attached within the game’s four to six hour lifespan. Adding to this is the superb score that ranged from the ethereal to downright mournful, accentuating a constant theme of death. Not to say that the music was overly morbid, just that it helped conjure up an emotional response. You can tell that the composer worked closely with the developers to make sure every note hit just right. The same thing goes for the charming visuals; it’s colorful even when the darker elements show up.

    Brothers offers up some of the most memorable moments you will ever come across in any medium, whether it be written, seen, or experienced. Josef Fares, a film director from Sweden, and Starbreeze worked hard to give us a great digital title and it shows. I wasn’t far into the game before I realized that this was something entirely new, exciting, and dare I say, special. It’s absolutely marvelous, setting the bar pretty high for future digital titles.

    Gameplay:

    10

    A smart simple control scheme, deceptively difficult puzzles, great story. Awesome game!

    Graphics:

    10

    Lush and detailed; I have never seen a digital game use the Unreal Engine as well as this.

    Sound:

    10

    Music and atmospheric sounds are fabulous. The music definitely belongs in a film.

    What's New:

    10

    The control scheme and narrative - such a breath of fresh air to what is normally offered. I quite literally feel like I did when I first started playing video games.

    Replay Value:

    10

    I’m in the process of going through the game again to earn the achievements. Makes me curious as to what else is available in the world that I have missed.

    Final Score:

    10

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