Title: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Type of Game: Action-Adventure, Puzzle
Developer: Hazelight Studios (Remake by Avantgarden Games)
Publisher: 505 Games
Released: Original Release: August 7, 2013; Remake Release: February 28, 2024
Platforms Available: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC Game
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 5
Level of Maturity: Rated T for Teen
Reading Time: 8 minutes
It was 2013, and almost no studio was focused on offering a truly quality co-op gaming experience on a single console. But Josef Fares decided to change that with his studio Hazelight and the Fantastic Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to play the original, but now I’ve got my hands on a remake of a game I’ve heard a lot about, backed by the almost unknown studio Avantgarden Games. That’s also why I had doubts before playing it whether the original game was re-created respectfully by the now legendary co-op game industry studio Hazelight, which has already made such groundbreaking games as A Way Out and It Takes Two. I’ve also reviewed these games, so I recommend checking them out!
From Co-op Classics to a Hidden Gem
I started following Studio Hazelight because of the A above Way Out, and It Takes Two games, and I have completed them several times with my friends. These games definitely rank among the best ever made in the cooperative couch gaming genre. It Takes Two, which also earned high ratings from me, including Game of the Year 2021 recognition, along with A Way Out, are perfect affairs, but they owe their excellence to their predecessor, which, unfortunately for me personally, was relatively unknown until now.
A Journey Through Fantasy and Grief
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons tells the story of two brothers who embark on a perilous journey through a beautiful fantasy world after their father falls ill. The word “beautiful” has a double meaning; I’ll get to it later. The only way to save their father is to search for mysterious magical water to keep him alive. After the tragic loss of their mother, the brothers can no longer risk being alone in the world, and the story begins at the big tree behind their house. Playing the remake, I was surprised by the power of the story, and that’s why Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a great emotional ride, which, as a gamer who loves the story games genre in particular, I appreciate.
Solo Play with a Twist
The original was always seen as a co-op game. Still, the remake reminds me of this, so primarily, it is a single-player affair that is spiced up with the ability to control both brothers simultaneously. It takes some practice, but you can get used to it quickly. After all, the controls are very intuitive and easy. Each of the analogs controls one of the brothers, and each has one action button corresponding to the analog above. R3 is used to control the younger brother, and R2 is used to perform his interactions. For the older brother, it is L3 and L2. The last thing you can do in the game is rotate the view using R1 or L1, depending on which side you want to rotate the screen.
Cooperative Play: A Friend’s Adventure
So, the title is primarily announced up front as a single-player title, but I thoroughly enjoyed it with the two of us and a friend who also tried out the short part with me.
You turn on a second controller, each controlling one of the brothers. In this mode, the default control is also retained for the individual controllers. In single-player mode, you’ll occasionally run into situations where the brothers you’re controlling switch positions on the screen, and you’ll wonder why they’re running elsewhere. It’s widespread, and the game can occasionally rattle the hemispheres of your brain.
Puzzles and Trophy Hunting
Although it’s been over ten years since the release of the original game, due to my lack of experience with the original, I did all the puzzles unthinkingly, which brought the playtime up to almost 5 hours, which isn’t much, but trust me you’ll still enjoy the adventure to the fullest especially if you are playing the game for the first time, as I did. For connoisseurs of the original, the game time might be shorter. Also, here is the additional information about the platinum trophy, which took almost 5 hours. In terms of difficulty, it was nothing challenging, and the trophy composition was straightforward. The game has a total of 15 trophies, including the Platinum one. So, for a trophy hunter like me, it’s the perfect thing to do in one long afternoon! One last important thing – trophies are only earned by the Host of the game, so unfortunately, your friends will have to invite you to help out at their house for the next playthrough if they are interested in the shiny trophies too.
Puzzles: Cooperation Over Complexity
But back to the puzzles. These are relatively easy to solve and are more about cooperation and coordination between the two brothers. It will always be primarily about finding a way forward. They managed to climb a wall together, move an object, steal something carefully, row the boat in the right direction, and so on. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of playing the game yet, it may come as a surprise that you are “only” completing specific interactions, and besides that, you are still running forward. With minor exceptions, the game has no branching or extended locations to navigate. It’s a very straightforward but all the more intense adventure for it.
A Tale of Two Worlds: Beauty and Grit
Here I come to what I mentioned at the beginning: the game has a beautiful world. The remake’s graphics, which were taken care of by Unreal Engine 5, are very nice. While I can’t put it on the same level as, say, the Demon’s Souls remake, there are scenes that I can describe as breathtaking.
Avantgarden has done an excellent job in this regard, and connoisseurs of the original version, in particular, will be surprised at how detailed the remake is. I also greatly appreciate the sharp visuals and smoothness of the game. In all my time playing, I haven’t encountered any significant problems I must mention here. The music and sounds have improved significantly, but I can’t say that due to the lack of dubbing. Instead, the brothers communicate in some form of sign language and an unspecified language.
From Fairy Tales to Harsh Realities
The other side of the “beautiful” world is the utterly raw and gritty portrayal in the second half of the play. For a long time, the title feels like a beautiful fairy tale inspired by the first Fable. Gorgeous scenes, a relaxed atmosphere of villages and fantasy countryside, and then there’s a significant change. The beautiful setting is replaced by a barren wasteland and a harsh medieval setting many would not expect. The whole game’s highlight is the Valley of the Giants, which will leave you uncomfortably stunned.
Conclusion
The remake of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has done more than well. It’s a pleasant surprise that certainly doesn’t put the original to shame. On the one hand, I wonder if it lacks any innovation, and on the other hand, I worry about how it would turn out if the studio tried to set the game up with new passages, for example. For those who have already played Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, the remake needs to make more sense and may work more in the context of nostalgia. However, players who have not come into contact with the game, as was the case with me, have an excellent opportunity to play one of the best adventure games with an emotional story at a very affordable price of under 20 euros. And at a discount, as was the case with me, even for 12 euros.
Where to Buy The Game?
- Steam (PC): Available for $19.99. You can purchase it directly from Steam.
- Xbox Store (Xbox Series X|S): Available for $19.99. Check it out on the Xbox Store.
- PlayStation Store (PS5): Available for $19.99. You can find it on the PlayStation Store.
- Nintendo Shop (Switch): Available for $14.99. Purchase it from the Nintendo Shop.
- Epic Games Store (PC): Available for $19.99. Purchase it from the Epic Games Store.
- GOG (PC): Available for $19.99. Purchase it from GOG.
Official Page: Visit the official Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons page for more information.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Subreddit for community insights and updates.
