The multi-award winning Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons originally released in 2013. Developed by Starbreeze Studios, the title quickly captured the hearts of those who experienced the game firsthand. The unique controls weaved into the story, building connections between the two brothers and the player, and creating an unforgettable narrative. A decade later, in December 2023, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake was announced. Developed by Avantgarden Games, the remake promised updated graphics, performance and to introduce the game to a new audience. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons contains themes of death and loss, as well as a potential suicide scene the player may encounter unexpectedly in Chapter 4. Player discretion is advised.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake released on 28th February and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam for £15.99 ($19.99).
Story – Remade Yet Unchanged
Rather ironically, the touching story of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons remains untouched. We join Naia and his younger brother Naiee as they embark on a quest to obtain the cure for their father’s deadly illness, travelling through various terrains and overcoming barriers while learning to work together. Venturing forth to new locations, the boys meet fantastical creatures, both friends and foes, every chapter diving deeper into the mystical fairytale influence. There is no written lore, and dialogue occurs as a fictional language with no subtitles. Therefore the majority of the storytelling is conveyed through engaging with others, the environment and the clever implementation of the dual control mechanic.
The brothers learn to rely on each other throughout their travels.
Gameplay – Dual Control
A crucial aspect of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is the control scheme, and despite having played the original game, the dual movement was still a joy to rediscover. The controller is essentially split in half – the right side being used for the older brother and the left side for the younger. The multitask approach to controls creates a satisfying synchronisation as long as you stay focused. Otherwise it is easy to accidentally drift away with one brother while focusing on the other. Right when you begin to feel at home with using both analog sticks in tandem, you are challenged with puzzles requiring one of the brothers moving solo, rendering the remaining side of the controller empty.
By pressing the relevant trigger, R2 for Naia and L2 for Naiee, you interact with the environment or nearby NPCs. Although the controls remain the same, the interaction depends on the object approached and by which brother. The way in which the brothers interact with people and objects holds clues into their personalities; the cheeky Naiee runs circles around strangers, while the wiser Naia offers a helping hand or asks for directions.
There are plenty of moments when you are required to hold and release the triggers for both brothers, in order to climb or navigate narrow rocks on cliff faces. A subtle detail which I was probably too excited about was the inclusion of the light bar. When holding R2 it lights up blue and L2 is a yellow light, both reflecting the colour of the boys’ outfits. When working together, the light glows white.
The moments of teamwork make the solo moments hit you harder.
Audio and Graphics – Significant Upgrade
The graphical upgrade is a significant change in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake, and the noticeable improvement is obvious from the opening moments. Clothing textures looks more tactile, sunlight pours in through dirty stained windows and bounces off cracked wooden surfaces, and facial expressions are more defined. Benches are placed throughout the world, allowing the player a minute or two to admire the spectacular views of snowy mountain tops and towering buildings.
As both analog sticks are preoccupied, the camera is rotated using R1 and L1. Although slightly awkward to control, I appreciated being able to swivel around to my preferred position. While there are some changes to the aesthetic which may make it difficult for players to spot interactive items, this can be resolved using the accessibility options. These provide the option to highlight characters and puzzle related items in the area.
A downside of the improved visuals is how they match up with the fictional language. Personally, I felt as though there were occasions where the dialogue and movement were at odds with each other, taking away from the emotional beats of the story. The detailed environments and character models aren’t the only elements which received the upgrade treatment; a live orchestra was used to re-record the original soundtrack, creating a more immersive and authentic score to accompany the classic tale remade.
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- You’ll often need to control the boys in unison.
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- Puzzle solving utilises both boy’s strengths, encouraging them to work together.
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- The dual controls can be difficult to master, in particular when it comes to rowing.
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- Benches are dotted around the world, allowing you to appreciate the views.
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- Some sections are easier to complete focusing on moving one brother at a time.
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- The lighting and decorative detail combine to enhance the fairytale atmosphere.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake was reviewed on PS5, with a key provided by 505 Games.
