Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Release Date: August 7, 2013
Adventure, TPP, fantasy, a fairy tale, indie games, experimental/artistic, action adventure, Game Pass, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A fairy tale adventure and arcade game created by the Swedish Starbreeze studio, known for such titles as Kroniki Riddicka or Syndicate. The production tells the story of two brothers travelling through picturesque lands in search of medicine for their sick father. During the game, we control both characters at the same time, and most of the challenges we face require their close cooperation.
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Videos and Screens
[0:55] Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons iOS and Android trailer
[1:11] Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons accolades
Digital Trends: 5 / 5 by Anthony John Agnello
Starbreeze's collaboration with first-time game director Josef Fares is a soaring success, joining wholly unique and effective controls with a vivid visual language.
Destructoid: 8 / 10 by Brett Makedonski
That's precisely what makes Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons so endearing -- the undeniable contrast created by the highs and lows that come with the entire experience being driven by love. It's so strong that it even dwarfs the game's core mechanical flaws, making them feel trivial when they should sully the whole affair. It's a powerful venture that isn't necessarily about where you began or where you end up; it's about everything that happened in between.
VideoGamer: 8 / 10 by Tom Orry
The best way to play the game on consoles and it's very much worth playing if you're yet to experience it.
The main pros of the game
- Unique Gameplay Mechanics: Players appreciate the innovative control scheme that allows simultaneous control of both brothers, enhancing the cooperative gameplay experience.
- Atmospheric Design: The game is noted for its beautiful graphics, scenery, and overall ambiance, creating an immersive experience.
- Emotional Experience: Many users found the game to be a heartfelt adventure with a strong emotional core, emphasizing themes of family, loss, and resilience.
- Short and Engaging: The game?s short runtime (around 3-4 hours) is seen as a positive for those looking for a quick, impactful experience.
- Puzzles and Exploration: Players enjoyed the inventive puzzles and exploration aspects, which added depth to the gameplay.
The main cons of the game
- Predictable Story: A significant number of reviews mention disappointment with the story, describing it as predictable and lacking depth, particularly in character development.
- Emotional Disconnect: Some players felt they could not connect with the characters, leading to a lack of emotional investment during key moments in the story.
- Linear Gameplay: The linearity of the game was criticized, with some players preferring more open-ended experiences.
- Controls Can Be Challenging: While the dual control scheme is unique, some players found it difficult to master, particularly when playing solo.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Deeper Storytelling: Users expressed a desire for a more complex narrative with richer character development to enhance emotional engagement.
- More Gameplay Variety: Some players wanted additional gameplay elements or mechanics to add variety beyond the core puzzle-solving and exploration.
- Improved Save System: The lack of manual save options and reliance on auto-saves was mentioned as a drawback by some players.
- Co-op Mode Enhancements: While co-op play is encouraged, some players felt that the experience could be improved with more features or options tailored for cooperative gameplay.
Summary
- Overall, "Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons" is praised for its artistic design and emotional themes, but it faces criticism regarding its story predictability and character depth.
Summary generated on:
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Description
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a fairy tale adventure and arcade game created by the Swedish Starbreeze studio. The developer is known for many successful productions, such as The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, The Darkness or Syndicate. Interestingly, the Swedish director Josef Fares, the author of such films as In a Foreign Country, Police and Zozo, took part in the work on Brothers.
The plot of the game draws its inspiration from both the rich Nordic culture and classic fantasy stories, reminiscent of the Fable series. It tells the story of the brothers who set out on a dangerous journey to find a cure for their sick father. Reaching the healing "water of life" requires getting through both peaceful valleys and dangerous mountains. The gameplay is full of platform scenes and simple puzzles. A friend monster, for example, assists you in climbing and crossing the abysses.
Producers of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons wanted to create a kind of emotional experience that would involve players and allow them to live with their heroes. The realization of this goal was helped by a nice, picturesque visual setting and perfectly selected, subdued music. It is also worth noting the unusual control system in which we control both brothers at the same time, and most of the challenges facing us require their close collaboration.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Summary
Game Series: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Platforms:
PC / Windows September 3, 2013
Switch May 28, 2019
PlayStation 4 August 12, 2015
Xbox One August 12, 2015
Android OS May 24, 2016
Apple iOS October 22, 2015
Windows Phone cancelled
PlayStation 3 September 3, 2013
Xbox 360 August 7, 2013
Developer: Starbreeze
Publisher: 505 Games
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 256 MB (GeForce 8600 or better), 2 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7, Internet connection
Xbox 360
Uses: Xbox LIVE
PlayStation 3
Uses: PlayStation Network
PlayStation 4
Uses: PlayStation Network
Xbox One
Uses: Xbox LIVE
Josef Fares May Announce Remake of His Award-winning First Game [Update: Trailer]
Josef Fares' first game may soon be getting a refresh. That's according to a well-known tipster, but that's not the only thing that points to the return of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
December 7, 2023