Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons offers a simple narrative that needs to be fully explored and carefully studied to be fully appreciated. The characters in the game don't speak any language that can be understood by players, but by recognizing body movements, tones and focusing on the interactions the brothers have with the world and each other, it's easy to see the game offers something special for gamers. The story is based around the two brothers' desperate attempt to save their dying father, who happens to be the boys only living parent. The story was crafted by Swedish film director Josef Fares and definitely could have been crafted into an excellent feature length Summer film rather than a video game. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons manages to be the most emotional game we've played since Telltale's The Walking Dead, and the ending of the game will stick with players long after the final credits have rolled.
The control scheme in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is simple in concept but difficult to manage in execution. Both brothers will be controlled at the same time with the left stick and left trigger controlling the older brother in blue and the right stick and right trigger used for the actions of the younger brother in red. The controls of the game aren't bad, but playing the game gets terribly confusing at times, since this type of control scheme is rarely, or possibly never, seen in any other video games. The major problem with the different control scheme occurs during the game's tougher puzzles that require both brothers to move at the same time and cross paths to different sides of the screen. Luckily, most puzzles only require one brother to head to a location and perform an action while the other does something in a different spot, so frustration levels are kept relatively low throughout the game.
Many of the design choices in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons will remind gamers of the classic title Ico. Characters don't speak a known language, the two characters often have to work together to defeat bosses and solve puzzles and the world even features a light aesthetic that is familiar to the foggy worlds present in similar games. The game is only single player unfortunately, so taking control of one character while your buddy controls the other isn't an option, though we're pretty sure that's just the way the developers wanted the game to turn out rather than a feature left out due to development time constraints.
Exploring the vast world contained in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is possibly the best part of this new game. The environments in the game are varied and unique when compared to many other new titles. One mission will have players scouring the countryside and interacting with a sweet old lady, while the next will have the duo running from a killer sea monster at a frozen lake. The game isn't terribly long when rushed, but there are plenty of optional missions that really create emotional impacts and are one of the main reasons hurrying through the game isn't recommended. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a great game that should be savored for as long as the game can last.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons touches on some very serious subjects that includes the death of a loved one, suicide and the relationship between two siblings. The result is one of the most emotional games you'll ever play and a surprising title that will resonate with nearly any gamer. The game's strange control scheme can lead to some frustrating restarts, but the game is a delightful experience overall. An enchanting soundtrack and touching story makes Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons one of the most memorable games in 2013. Download your copy of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons only on Xbox LIVE Arcade today!
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is now available exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade and can be purchased for 1200 Microsoft Points. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is rated T by the ESRB for Blood, Violence & Crude Humor. For more information on the game, check out the official Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons website.
Game Features:
Game Information:
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Available exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade
Release Date: August 7, 2013
