I have to be completely honest and say that I never gave the original Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons a fair shake. I was first introduced to it as a PlayStation Plus free game back in 2014. I had heard all the hype, I was excited to see it on the monthly list, and I installed it immediately. But after the first 10 minutes of gameplay, I stopped playing, I deleted the download, and I never gave it a second chance.
That almost never happens with me, so what about Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons bothered me so much that I dropped it so quickly? It wasn’t the story – I hardly had enough time to see any story. It wasn’t the presentation – the game looked and sounded wonderful for that era. It was 100% due to the two-character, two-stick control scheme which so frustrated me that it seemed easier to simply kill the game than to actually take the time to figure it out.
But a decade later, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is still referenced as one of the most artistic games ever released, so there always was a part of me that wanted to someday give it a shot. That’s why when Game Chronicles asked if I’d like to review the recently released PS5 remake of Brothers, I jumped at the opportunity- figuring it would be the impetus to force myself to master the controls and see what all the hubbub was (and still is) about.
Obviously, I can’t compare Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake with the original 2013 release – but what I can say is that this current release is absolutely gorgeous, and I can see why this game is considered an example of artistry in gaming. Everything from spectacular cinematic-quality visual presentation to the core-jarring orchestral soundtrack that plays during the game – Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is an absolute masterpiece. Every scene, every character, and every encounter is a work of art – with an amazing level of detail and terrific lighting. The fact that the gamer’s developer, Starbeeeze placed so many park benches throughout the levels where the two characters can simply sit and admire the spectacular surroundings is evidence of the pride that they have in their work.
The roughly four-hour story follows the adventure of two brothers – one big and one little – who go on a quest to get water from the Tree of Life in an effort to cure their ailing father. All of the dialog in the game is delivered in a purely fictional language, and there are no subtitles for translation, so it’s really in the characters’ gestures and intonations that the plot is delivered and understood. It actually works out well and really helps set an ambiance of authenticity to the experience.
Each brother has a unique use based on his size and strength. For instance, the bigger brother can move levers and carry heavy objects, whereas the smaller brother can fit through small spaces and be hoisted up onto hard-to-reach places by his older brother. But most of the game’s puzzles will require both brothers to work in concert, which is where the still-confusing control scheme comes in.
Each brother is assigned an analog stick for movement and a corresponding trigger for interacting with objects. Big brother on the left, little brother on the right. Each is controlled independently in 3D space from a raised third person view, but most puzzles will require both brothers to move and interact simultaneously with their environment – and this is where it can become really, really confusing. It doesn’t seem so difficult when big brother stays on the left side of the screen and little brother on the right, but if they happen to cross paths it becomes a real mind bender.
There were more than a few times I would lose track of who was who, and suddenly both characters are at each edge of the screen when I ‘m thinking I’m bringing them to the middle. I would at times have to work with each separately, leaving the other to sit and wait for his turn. But in the numerous timing-critical segments – such as using each brother to draw a mean farmer’s dog away from attacking the other as your traverse a farmer’s field – it was a real challenge. But in challenge there is reward – so when I finally made it through the field after a half-dozen failed attempts, I felt like I’d all but saved the world.
Most puzzles are skills-based and very inventive – requiring careful navigation and interaction with certain components within the level. The game gives hints, but most are very subtle, consisting of a brother making a guttural sound and gesturing in a general direction. It’s up to the gamer to figure out what that means and how to achieve it. Again, equally challenging as it was rewarding.
As I played through Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, I found myself completely enthralled in the gameplay and storyline, but I couldn’t help shaking the feeling that I’d played something very similar before. It was then that I realized the game I was thinking of was the 2001 PlayStation 2 classic Ico, from Team Ico and Sony Computer Entertainment. And while I had my issues with the control, in hindsight I can say that Brothers actually eclipses Ico for that reason alone, as it was still somewhat less frustrating controlling two independent brothers simultaneously than it was to have to drag and command the anemic Yorda around. No shade on Ico – still a work of art and easily one of my favorite gaming memories – but Brothers is better.
What more can I say? I admitted I did not give Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons a fair attempt years ago, but do I regret it? Not at all. Because I was able to experience the updated reportedly far-superior remake as one who is completely new to the franchise – and man was it worth it. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is a true masterpiece, and one gaming experience that I will remember fondly for many years to come.
