Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PS3) Reviews

  • JJP12JJP12106,431
    14 Feb 2014
    8 1 5
    Brothers: A tale of two sons ditches the popular modern-day cinematic storytelling approach in favor of a fresh and underutilized method of doing so. Believe it or not, the game actually uses game play to tell a beautiful story. Wait what? Game play? No seriously, it's as revolutionary as it is simple.

    Video games have been around forever. By forever I mean the mid 1900's. What I'm saying is, there are a LOT of games in the world; so much so that it's difficult to tell a truly original video game story in the year 2013. (The year Brothers was released.) This particular game tells a story that's been told in some way or another a thousand times over. The game revolves around a younger and older brother. Right off the bat you learn their mother has recently died. To make matters worse, you also find out that the father has fallen deathly ill. Without any hesitation the brothers set off on an adventure to find a cure to save their fathers life. Although the set-up isn't groundbreaking, Brothers makes up for that with the use of certain game play mechanics to help tell the story.

    The story progresses in a text-less and voiceless manner. Actually characters do speak; however, they speak in a language that does not actually exist. All sounds that characters in the game make are just random made up words that make no sense. Whenever dialogue is exchanged, it's up to the player to use their best judgement to guess what is being said. In Brothers, the player controls both sons simultaneously. Each analog stick controls the movements of one of the brothers while each corresponding shoulder button acts as a way for them to interact with various parts of the world. Although it may sound simplistic, simultaneously controlling two characters definitely takes some getting used to. Throughout the adventure, there are many obstacles that prevent the brothers from moving forward. These obstacles are essentially puzzles that must be solved using the uniqueness of each brother. The size of the older and younger brother changes the way each of them interact with the environment. Its up to the player to figure out how to make the brothers work together to progress to the next area. Early puzzles are simple. For example, simply using the older brother to hoist the younger brother to a higher point will be enough to get through early areas of the game. As you discover newer and bigger areas you'll also discover the difficulty of the puzzles increases as well.

    Tampering with complex machinery, using intricate devices and helping out other characters will allow the brothers to proceed throughout the journey. You can rush through each area but it is not recommended. Plenty of fun moments can be discovered through a bit of exploring the diverse world. And what an amazing world it is. You'll see small bustling towns, dark eerie forests, and impressive mountain peaks among many other unique environments. If you enjoy taking in gorgeous environments as much as I do then you're in luck. The brothers can sit on benches scattered across the world. In doing so the camera will zoom out and the particular area will be displayed in all its splendor. The world you travel through is as beautiful as it is deadly. You'll be scratching your head trying to figure out how the brothers will need to cooperate in order to make it through many deadly circumstances. While not remarkable, the music is used really well to set the tone for many important moments. The music will get downright chilling in some parts and will disappear altogether in others. It really adds tension to a lot of the more thrilling sections of the game. The sound and scenery come together perfectly during the journey.

    Brothers is an emotional ride that is definitely worth checking out. In 4 short hours the game will make you feel like you've known these brothers for years. In order to survive, they work together to solve countless puzzles and help out many strangers. In fact, one of the most touching moments I've ever witnessed in a game takes place about midway through this adventure. Do yourself a favor and give this twin stick adventure game a shot.
    4.5
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    Funderballs_007Great game and great review, hope to see more from the developer. Thumbs up.
    Posted by Funderballs_007 on 18 Jun 14 at 13:02
    PLATINBLAZENice, I can only agree with everything! +1
    Posted by PLATINBLAZE on 13 Dec 14 at 14:23
    Great review! With news of it's PS4 release imminent we can look forward to this game being even more beautiful and engaging.
    Posted on 11 Jun 15 at 08:53
  • Removed Gamer
    Gamer has been removed
    5 0 1
    In these days of tired sequels and unoriginal stories, rarely, very rarely, a game comes along that reminds us why we play video games. Brothers is just such a game...
    The lush, watercolor visual style is utterly beautiful. There are countless moments when you find yourself stopping play just to take in the gorgeous landscapes that make up the stunning game world. Sadly, there are very occasional graphics issues on the PS3 version which do appear, but never enough to be off-putting. It is rare to find such incredible artistic style in a game, and the attention to detail and genuine love for the game show throughout. In fact, every aspect of this title shows an obvious love for the project on behalf of the creators that is increasingly absent in todays commercial market. This game really has been hand crafted by a talented team who i hope to see more from soon.
    The sound track is beautiful and rarely intrusive, the ambient chorals blending wonderfully with the visuals and plot to create a truly stunning and cinematic game experience.
    The gameplay is a unique if occasionally challenging use of both sticks, which are used to independently control the two characters simultaneously. This is sometimes tricky in a "rubbing your stomach whilst patting your head" kind of way. However, these infrequent moments of frustration are almost never a result of poor level design or badly developed gameplay, and usually result from momentary lapses on behalf of the player. Simply taking a moment to recover and work out which hand is doing what is all that's ever needed. The puzzles are simple and intuitive as is the gameplay throughout.
    It is this intuitive feeling that really makes this title something special. At no point does it hold your hand but never leaves you feeling baffled for long. Instead you learn to interact with the game world as you explore and encounter it. The first time you sit down on a bench for example, the game rewards you with a brief 360 degree view of the surrounding vista and gives you the idea that by experimenting with objects you'll discover all the game has to offer, it won't necessarily sign post you to what to do. Each brother can cause different reactions, or interact differently with people or objects so experimentation is key.
    The story is achingly sad, poignant and utterly enthralling. Not since The Walking Dead has a narrative felt so heartbreakingly engaging or utterly compelling. This charming, beautiful little tale will captivate you like the best fairy tales did when you were a child.
    The only negatives i could possibly find to comment on are twofold. First, the above mentioned, occasional hiccups with control which almost never impact on gameplay, and two... size. At under 5 hours this is definitely not the longest game you'll ever play and will leave you crying out for an extra couple of hours. Seriously, in these tight fiscal days there really is not much "bang for yer buck" and i know for some this will be an issue so i'm moved to mention it. It is, however, the games only real flaw and to miss such a gem of a title because of money would be tragic.
    More games should be created with this amount of love and care. Rewarding, enchanting and truly original, i wholeheartedly recommend this truly haunting, and beautiful game.
    4.5
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