It isn’t a long or incredibly complex game, but Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons does offer an emotional and compelling experience that just about any player can enjoy. Developed by Starbreeze Studios and directed by Josef Fares, the lead behind 2021’s Game of the Year It Takes Two, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a beautifully presented game that has a narrative to match, and is worth the few hours that it takes to complete.
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What Is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons?
Originally released in 2013 for the Xbox 360, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was developed by Starbreeze Studios, a developer best known for its work on the fun heist game Payday 2. Fares, the founder of Hazelight Studio, directed this game, bringing his renowned passion to the project.
Taking place in a fantasy setting, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a third-person adventure game that sees the player control its two titular brothers as they seek out a mystical cure for their father. Along the way, players will need to solve puzzles, platform, and face off against orcs and other fantasy creatures.
Since its initial release, and following a publisher buyout in 2015, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has been ported to a wide range of consoles. Most recently, the game received a Nintendo Switch port in 2019. Every version of the game has received positive reviews, with scores averaging around 80-to-90.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Has Unique Gameplay
Perhaps the most unique aspect of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is its gameplay. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is best played using a controller. In the game, the player controls both of the brothers simultaneously with each thumbstick, and each trigger lets them interact with the world. It may take a while to get used to at first, but this control scheme is unique, and does a good job of connecting the player to these characters immediately.
Each brother has their own set of unique skills, with the older brother being stronger and the younger being more agile. The vast majority of puzzles or encounters in the game require the player to use both brothers’ skills at once, which can be quite challenging.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons’ Real Draw is its Story
While its gameplay is unique and engaging, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons’ real draw is its resonant story. The general premise of Brothers is simple, tasking the characters with finding a magical cure for their ill father. But it’s the emotional journey that Brothers takes the player on that’s so engrossing.
As the player continues their quest, they’ll come into contact with a range of fairy tale creatures, some of which want to harm the player, some of which need help. Through a variety of encounters, Brothers manages to weave a poignant tale of family and loss all without any dialog, instead relying on the characters’ expressions and gestures to convey the story.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is beautiful game, and is absolutely worth the three hours needed to complete it. Epic Games Store users should pick the game up when it’s available for free next week.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons will be available for free on the Epic Games Store starting February 17, 2022.
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