Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

It is sad but true that the video game world tends to be dominated by squad shooters, FPS’ and multiplayer maps these days. However, on occasion games developers like to remind us that games can also be an art form. You can name the recent successes on one hand: Braid, Limbo, Fez and Journey, but Starbreeze Studios clearly set out to make Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons the next title on that list.

an epic fairytale feel that’s hard not to embrace

Opening with an emotional bang, Brothers begins by showing a young child mourning his recently deceased mother, only to be informed that his father is gravely ill. With the help of his elder brother, they transport their father to the local apothecary on a rickety wheelbarrow. After a quick examination the apothecary tells you of a fabled tree that can be used to save your father’s life, and so begins your arduous journey through a world based in simple times, with low technology and sparse population. The world is breathtaking and well-designed, with regular benches placed to encourage you to sit down and enjoy the views. It has an epic fairytale feel that’s hard not to embrace as you encounter giants, ride a griffin-style creature, or just admire the aurora in the sky.

Throughout the game the player controls both brothers simultaneously by using a control stick and trigger for each boy. This unusual setup allows for simultaneous action and some interesting dexterity tests, whilst being strangely intuitive. Little to no instruction is given on how to interact with specific objects but I found myself automatically completing the required actions without missing a beat. An early example is the aforementioned wheelbarrow, as both brothers need to lift an end and move together in order to successfully carry their father. This sort of symbiotic action is key to the game, and sets the tone of working together to achieve your goals. It may take some people a little getting use to but, apart from rare occasions in which the boys are on the wrong side for their stick, the simplicity of the controls makes the game easily accessible. It is such a joy to see someone thinking outside of the box on something as basic as controls, and it certainly adds to the personality of the title. Brothers could have been a run of the mill co-op adventure, but the choice of direction means it is anything but.

A combination of puzzle solving and platforming make up the gameplay in this adventure title. You must ask for directions and help those in need as you struggle through harsh but beautiful landscapes fraught with danger with nothing but your wits, and each other, to protect you. The control system allows each brother to interact with people and objects individually, allowing their personality to shine through and influence the outcome. An early example comes in the form of a cat. If the elder brother tries to touch it the cat scratches, but with the younger brother it is easily picked up and cuddled. Snippets like this allow you to find strengths and weaknesses in the characters. The younger brother is clearly more animal-friendly and, as you soon learn, more of a prankster. This helps you to ascertain which brother should be doing which action in order to get the required result. Even the achievements are in the form of puzzles, with it being entirely possible to finish the game with zero gamerscore. Only those that take their time to explore and enjoy all the game has to offer are going to be rewarded.

Brothers is a triumph of storytelling, and as such the gameplay has to flow without interruption or difficulty spike. This is accomplished well by frequent small puzzles, and a handful of bosses that you need to outwit. This leads to some repetition of very small puzzles, but nothing that could taint the experience. This does mean the gameplay is rather linear as it insists on keeping the story flowing, and whilst this doesn’t detract from the game it does seem a shame with such a wide world created. Additionally, longtime puzzle fans, such as myself, may find the lack of challenge a shame, but this does allow a level of accessibility to gamers as a whole that would not otherwise by possible.

A collection of simple joys, Brothers is a tale of love and loss

A collection of simple joys, Brothers is a tale of love and loss. It is filled with heart-wrenching moments and innocence lost. The dialogue is incomprehensiable which only amplifies the emotion that comes across. If you don’t feel a connection to the characters you’re missing out, and frankly, probably dead inside.

If anything is likely to put the average gamer off this title it has to be the length. With the usual hefty price tag of 1200 Microsoft points, total gametime clocks in at 3-5 hours. Obviously, further exploration for achievements can extend this with additional playthroughs or chapter selection, but when looking at value this may be enough to put some people off. All I can say is that this is a special experience, and one of those titles which is unique enough to garner attention regardless. If you enjoy something a little different and want a real treat, then splash out.