Review by Arman Zarmehr
In this review and critique, we will take a look at the Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake and see how this charming title has managed to embrace its modern shell.
The title “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons” was released in 2013 across various gaming platforms. It quickly attracted a broad community of gamers and took them on a beautiful narrative journey. Those who have experienced this game often recall it with fond memories. Now, more than a decade after the original release, we are presented with a remastered version of this game. Not only does it faithfully preserve the overall experience of the original, but it also introduces various improvements across different aspects.
Two brothers and a journey full of ups and downs
Before anything else, I must point out that we are not dealing with a Reimagining, which is actually a very good thing because I personally believe that this work, in general, did not need a remake. However, now that the decision to remaster this game has been made, it is excellent that the creators have taken an approach similar to the Dead Space Remake, focusing solely on technical and visual reconstruction, as well as various Quality of Life enhancements. They have not necessarily made any specific changes to its narrative. So, we are following the same overall narrative course of the original game.
As the title suggests, the story revolves around two brothers who have lost their mother, and now their father is also afflicted with a severe illness. The game begins with the two brothers needing to get their father to a doctor. Upon arrival, the doctor informs them that the only way to save their father is to find a substance called the “Water of Life.” Therefore, these two brothers embark on a journey full of ups and downs to find this fluid.
Along the way, you, playing as these two brothers, will encounter various humans and creatures. While many of these encounters may not play a significant role in the game’s overall story, they contribute to the richness and dynamism of the world the game aims to depict.
At times, you may come across humans or even animals facing some issues or in need of help, and the game gives you the choice of whether to get involved with these characters or not. For example, you might encounter a man planning to take his own life.
Here, you can either pass by him with indifference and continue on your way, or you can quickly prevent his death. If you choose to intervene, you can perform some minor but interesting activities related to this situation and even earn a trophy for it.
A puzzle called brotherhood
As you probably know, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons offers a puzzle-centric experience that, in its original version, was presented as a single-player cooperative game. In this format, you controlled both brothers simultaneously with a single controller and worked together to solve puzzles.
This cooperative approach remains intact compared to the single-player mode, and we still have the same gameplay structure. As a player, you control both brothers simultaneously, and each of these characters has unique characteristics that directly contribute to the moment-to-moment experience of this game.
For example, the older brother is stronger and can perform heavier tasks, while the younger brother is physically weaker but, due to his smaller size, can pass through certain places that his older brother cannot. Additionally, the younger brother is very scared of water and swimming, completely relying on his older brother in these situations, which has been beautifully portrayed in the gameplay.
However, one of the most significant additions that this remake brings to the original game is an exclusive Coop mode for all platforms! In 2013, Brothers was not released with a Coop mode, and from the very first day, many players complained about the absence of this feature, despite the game’s strong emphasis on collaboration even in single-player mode. So, in the Nintendo Switch port, this mode was added, and it seems to have received positive feedback. Now, in the remake, we have the Coop mode.
It’s worth mentioning that this mode is considered local, and online play is not possible. However, for a game like Brothers, this limitation is entirely acceptable, as the game provides an experience that truly requires you and your loved ones to play alongside each other and immerse yourselves in it.
While this game, in terms of gameplay, offers a very cohesive experience, personally, during my experience, I encountered several bugs. One of them occurred after defeating a boss, forcing me to reload my previous checkpoint, bringing me back to before facing the boss, which was somewhat frustrating. Despite being content with the overall faithfulness of the game’s narrative to the original work, in terms of gameplay, this remake certainly had the potential for expanding its puzzles. It wouldn’t have been bad if we saw more expansions in this section, the addition of challenging puzzles, and full realization of this potential.
A look at a big world through a small lens
This work, like any other remake of its kind, has undergone the most significant transformations in its visual and graphic aspects. The character models in the game have been completely reworked, and in this regard, we see the rebuild of their faces, with the most noticeable changes, as expected, in the faces of the two main characters of the game. The visual graphics of the game have undergone extensive changes, and in this regard, we have a much more detailed and immersive environmental design that displays a high level of dynamism.
The game’s lighting has also received significant improvements, and now the overall art style of this work, while being somewhat fantastical, has absorbed realistic elements to some extent. However, in this remake, there have been significant changes, and the artistic approach has taken a completely different direction, somewhat toning down the distinctive charm of the original version.
However, now we are faced with much livelier characters that, thanks to the revamped animations, can express their emotions more than ever. This directly contributes significantly to the overall impact of the experience.
Let’s move on to the visual aspects, particularly the topic of the soundtrack and sound effects of this work. From the beginning, it was considered the main complement to the narrative process of the game, and now in this remake, it has been entirely re-recorded live. Even for this task, the creators have enlisted the help of a complete musical group. So, the soundtrack of this title, thanks to this live performance, is more captivating than ever in this remake! Thanks to this live recording by a music group, the effectiveness of the soundtrack has multiplied several times, creating a powerful and epic atmosphere in various parts of the game.
In summary…
The Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake implements a suitable remake process within the framework of the original work. Extensive graphic and technical improvements, along with the addition of the Local Coop mode to the game and the re-recording of the soundtrack live with the collaboration of a music group, collectively contribute to revitalizing an already exceptional puzzle-oriented experience in the original format. Now, with the utilization of modern hardware, the game can retell its unforgettable adventure with a fresh and vibrant narrative. However, it cannot be denied that there was significant potential for expansion regarding the puzzles. Ultimately, this remake presents a completely new opportunity for the game to connect with an entirely fresh gaming community and immerse them, all while providing a renewed experience for the previous fans who can revisit the game with a fresh perspective.
Pros:
- Excellent storytelling with various improvements, thanks to technical advancements
- Improved control responsiveness in single-player mode
- Complete rebuild of character models and animations
- Very good lighting effects
- Reconstruction of game environments with increased dynamism and depth
- Enchanting soundtrack
- Addition of Local Coop mode
- Inclusion of new hidden interactive situations alongside original content
Cons:
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