Honestly, it's crazy how good it is. It really is something special.
Disclosure: 505 Games and Lurkit provided the game for review.
I completely missed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons when it came out on Xbox 360, and I don’t know how it slipped through my fingers. I’m so glad I got to play the remake, because this is an experience. The original was the debut game from Josef Fares, yes, the guy behind the famous “F the Oscars” moment at The Game Awards. He went on to found Hazelight. For a debut? Honestly, it’s crazy how good it is. It really is something special.
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Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake Review: A Truly Special Co-op JourneyWant to play it? Grab it on the Xbox Store or see Where to buy.
Story
The story is simple and not convoluted, and that’s a strength. Early on you learn the brothers’ father is dying, and the medicine that can save him is somewhere he can’t reach, so his two sons set out to find it. It’s a tale as old as time, but the way they execute it is special. Because the whole game is built around the two of them working together, you really feel like they’re connected and on this journey together. The ending is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. You have to see it through.
Explore everything. At one point we came to a branching path, with one route that looked like the obvious way and another that seemed to lead to something. We almost passed it, but we checked it out and found a story moment that had nothing to do with the brothers directly, yet they experienced it with the character involved. It was hugely powerful, it stuck with me for the rest of the game and it still does. And we almost missed it.
Gameplay
This is where the game is most unique, and possibly most divisive. Each brother is controlled with one thumbstick and its trigger: the left stick and trigger for one, the right stick and trigger for the other. Solo, you control both with one controller. In co-op, each player takes one side, which is how we played. It took us a little getting used to and felt disjointed at first, but once it clicked, everything made sense and became intuitive. That initial hurdle is real, though, and if you don’t get past it, it’ll bother you. I can imagine solo being harder, since you’re splitting your brain between two characters.
Once you’re past it, the variety is excellent. You climb, fly and evade creatures in the water, and sometimes one brother distracts an enemy while the other slips by. At one point we climbed opposite sides of a structure, and when my brother’s handholds ran out, I held on while the other swung him across to a higher spot. When you pull something like that off together, it’s dope. Look at what this team’s creator went on to make, A Way Out and It Takes Two, and you can see they’re among the best at co-op.
Visuals
Compared to the original, it’s night and day. Graphics are at the top of the list for me, and there wasn’t a moment that looked weird or took me out of it. The world evolves as you play, taking you through seasons and into almost mythical places. At times the game makes you feel tiny against the scale of everything around you, and without spoiling anything, the whole journey visually is a chef’s kiss. The animation work is great: you can see how playful the brothers are and feel it when things get heavy, which matters because nothing they say is in a language you’ll understand. The lighting is so well done, and some interiors look like real life. Even details like footprints in the snow are there.
Sound
The brothers don’t speak a language you’ll understand, but it doesn’t matter. The animation conveys so much emotion that you never miss an explanation, and filling in the words for yourself almost makes it better. The soundtrack, re-recorded with a live orchestra, is grand and cinematic and enhanced the emotional impact of the story for me.
Verdict
The fun factor for me was through the roof. I enjoyed every moment, kept wanting to play and never once thought, “Let’s get through this.” The only snag was once getting stuck when we wandered too far apart and the camera swung around a building, but that was on us for getting too far ahead. The controls take a moment to learn, but get past that and everything lines up. Do yourself a favor and play through this story.
Image: Avantgarden / 505 Games
More on OnPoint: Minecraft Dungeons II Review: Finally, a World Worth Living In and Hypercharge: Unboxed Review: Small Soldiers Come to Life.
The verdict: Amazing
Honestly, it's crazy how good it is. It really is something special.
Pros
- Simple, powerful, gut-wrenching story
- Unique, intuitive co-op controls once they click
- Night-and-day visual upgrade
- Emotional animation that needs no words
- Grand, cinematic soundtrack
Cons
- Controls take some getting used to at first
Platform played: Xbox Series X (co-op)
Where to buy
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