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