We’ve got history with Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, having reviewed it in 2013 when it was available on the Xbox 360, and giving it another play on the Xbox One in 2015. It’s safe to say that we enjoyed the puzzle-adventure game on both occasions. Not only us it seems, as the game won a plethora of awards including a BAFTA for Game Innovation and Best Xbox Game at the VGAs. It’s also gained high scores from other reviewers for its wonderful storytelling and fantastic puzzles.
Now we got the chance to play the first hour or so of a new version of the game in Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake, ahead of its release onto Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC at the end of February.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake follows the narrative and gameplay of the original game, but has been rebuilt from the ground up using the Unreal Engine 5. By comparing the visuals with the 2015 version, you can see that those in the remake are much more life-like which pumps up the immersion you experience in playing the game even higher. This make-over will also ensure it appeals to a new generation of gamers, allowing this classic to get another well-deserved spot in the limelight.
The story is based on the journey of ‘little’ and ‘big’ brothers Naia and Naiee as they are sent on a long journey to find the ‘water of life’ in an attempt to cure their father of a deadly illness. Their journey will see them travel through stunning landscapes, meet fantastical creatures and overcome numerous obstacles.
And it’s the puzzle-solving that forms the basis of the gameplay. You control both brothers, to manoeuvre them, and objects, in the environment. One brother is controlled using the left thumbstick to make him move and the left trigger to carry out an action (such as pulling a lever or picking up an object). The same goes for the other brother on the right thumbstick and trigger.
You’ll find that each brother has certain skills so will have to think carefully about what tasks you give each one. For example, only the little brother can get through tight gaps and only the big brother can pick up heavy objects. Quite often you’ll find yourself controlling both of them simultaneously to do tasks like carrying a pipe, or climbing up a wall. This can prove to be extremely tricky as you try and remember which buttons control which brother, attempting to execute actions at the correct time. This unique experience was challenging but enjoyable, although we did have to repeat some sections of the game multiple times before being successful. The well-placed checkpoints before each tricky section helped to ease any frustration though.
If this sounds like it requires too much coordination, the full game will feature a local co-op mode for the first time, where each player gets to control one brother. If you prefer trying to communicate with a partner rather than trying to get your hands to sync your brain, then this will be the option for you.
Saying that, no puzzle in Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake has felt too difficult or too frustrating. At all times it was very clear what the objective was or which direction to travel next. The puzzles are seemingly pitched at just the right level to avoid frustration, very cleverly designed to fully utilise the inventive mechanic of using the two brothers.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake is a game to take your time over and fully immerse yourself in the environment. In just the first hour of playing the two brothers travelled through a village, climbed a mountain (with the help of a troll), swam along rivers and traversed an underground mine. The soundtrack has also been re-recorded with a live orchestra, which subtly enhances the experience.
Exploration is the key to fully enjoying the game. There’s lots to find and do and the trigger buttons allow each brother to interact with his environment in many ways. You’ll be able to pet cats, pick up sheep and sit down on benches and rest a while to enjoy the view. If you come across a villager, big brother might engage them in polite conversation, while the cheeky little brother might do something a little less civilised. Even though the language used in the game is not anything recognisable (it has more than a passing resemblance to Simlish), you never feel lost about what’s going on.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time playing the preview of The Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake and cannot wait to get our hands on the full game, where we will be able to continue this fantastical quest through a stunning landscape while giving our grey matter a gentle workout. Watch out for our full review coming soon.
The Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake will be released on February 28th on Xbox X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC Steam.
Huge thanks go out to 505 Games for providing us access to the early stages of Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake.
