Review

Developed by:Press Play Published by:Microsoft Genre(s):
  • Platformer
  • Puzzle
  • Platform:
  • Microsoft
  • Nintendo
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$14.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE 10+ Players:1 Release date:December 20, 2013 Reviewed on:XBox One
    8

    Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

    I need a magic marker. Not just a Sharpie you get at a local office supply store, but a real magic marker with real MAGICAL MAGIC. That way I could draw something and have it suddenly exist in the real world. Life would be so much more interesting. Of course, I’d hope my finding of such a marker wasn’t the result of a family member being kidnapped!

    This is the basic premise of Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, the spiritual successor of the popular mobile game, Max and the Magic Marker. Max starts out as a normal 10ish year old boy with an annoying little brother named Felix. Upon finding Felix messing around in his room one day after school, Max finally reaches his limit. Tired of his little brother’s behavior, Max searches on the internet a method of getting rid of him. He recites a random incantation and Felix gets whisked to another dimension. Max, seeing what has happened, follows his brother through the portal. On the other side lies a world of magic, monsters, and a marker possessed with power to help defeat the evil that is behind the kidnapping of Max’s little brother.

    One of the first things you’ll notice, after the intro ends, is just how great Max: The Curse of Brotherhood looks. The camera angles are legitimately chosen to capture the feeling (weight) of Max’s every movement, which happens to be super slick at 60fps. There is a little stuttering here and there but, for the most part, the game runs smoothly. The art style really sells the look as well; honestly, I thought the game looked as good as some recent CGI animated films.

    Beyond the impressive visuals is a good platformer. Controlling Max in this new world is endearing. The controls are extremely responsive, even while drawing with the marker using the left analog stick. They’re also deceptively simple in nature, complete with small button prompts at key locations to help remind and guide you. This is deceptive because it gives you the false sense of “easy” when it comes to the overall gameplay (I’ll get back to this point). As great the platforming is, the game feels it’s freshest when using the marker to manipulate the world to your advantage. You might have to pull a pillar from the ground, draw a vine to climb, make water move through the air to propel you and more. Creating objects out of thin air to solve puzzles adds to the fun in an interesting way.

    There are times, however, where I felt this would maybe be a bit too tough for kids under 10 years old. The beginning puzzles are purposefully made simple to get used to the controls or a recently introduced mechanic. It then ramps up the difficulty at a fairly steep pace, easily stumping adults, let alone kids; like I said before, it’s deceptive. At first you are just controlling Max and platforming like you would in any other game. The all of a sudden, Max will get into an extremely tense situation – so much so that you’ll literally feel your blood pressure rise during the encounter. Personally, I welcomed the challenge. Others may find themselves frustrated with the spikes in difficulty though.

    Since 2010, I’ve been looking for a replacement to get the same feel as I got with my first playthrough of Limbo. The intensity, the world, puzzle solving, and the art all coalesced together into one of the best games of the generation. I’m not saying Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is the replacement, but it definitely comes close. Don’t let the challenging gameplay deter you. This game is definitely worth playing through to the end; I promise you will not be disappointed. If anything, I highly recommend everyone to give it a fair chance via the demo. As it stands, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is good game and a welcomed addition to my gaming collection!

     

    Gameplay:

    9

    Extremely responsive platforming controls combined with a unique twist on a drawing mechanic makes for a great time.

    Graphics:

    9

    The graphics are a beautiful at 60fps. With camera angles and art that are on par with recent CGI kid movies, you can’t go wrong. Everything is well done and thought out - although, there is stuttering in a few cut scenes.

    Sound:

    7

    There is a fair amount of repeated Max sayings, but nothing that detracts from the rest of the game. The music is outstanding and matches every mood perfectly!

    What's New:

    9

    Although it’s obviously similar to other titles, the developers were able to create something fresh here.

    Replay Value:

    6

    As fun as it was, there is very little reason to replay. Especially, when it comes to the puzzles; you already know how to solve them.

    Final Score:

    8

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