‘Brothers’ is beautiful in its simplicity
Title: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Genre: Top-down adventure
Platform Reviewed On: PC
Also Available For: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ($14.99)
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Release Date: August 7, 2013
Modern video games have become so concerned with attempts to mix narrative profundity with gameplay innovation that it's refreshing when a game like Brothers comes along. This brief, indie adventure title from the veteran developers at Starbreeze Studios introduces a single new gameplay conceit to complement its straightforward narrative -- and the result is a title that's a joy to experience over the course of its short duration.
The game doesn't waste much time introducing its setup to players. In a vaguely fantastical world, two brothers see their father fall sick, and the local shaman tells them of the single cure for his mysterious ailment, which lies within the boughs of a huge, mystical, far-away tree. Thus, the brothers set out on their quest, across mountains, into graveyards, through decrepit battlements and more.
Immediately, the title's sole gameplay twist becomes apparent; using the twin-sticks of a game-pad, players take control of both brothers simultaneously. Contextual actions for each brother are handled using their corresponding triggers -- and that's it. The control scheme is simplistic, which is good, because it's quite difficult to adjust to. In fact, I never fully adapted to the unconventional scheme during my time with Brothers. Controlling two characters at once can be confusing and disorienting, and I found myself often mixing up the two brothers, failing to correctly associate their movements with the correct stick. This lead to one brother or the other running headfirst into a wall on multiple occasions.
Thankfully, the developers at Starbreeze acknowledge this difficulty. The aforementioned issue rarely impeded upon my ability to perform the actions the game demanded from me. Seldom does Brothers require quick reflexes or simultaneous movement of the two brothers, so I was always able to re-acquaint myself and take it slow when I got confused.
The fact that a single button is devoted to every possible action of each brother also lends a few issues to the experience, namely the fact that I was sometimes unsure of whether or not the action button would allow me to perform a specific task that seemed to be set out before me. Still, this problem can always be solved by a bit of trial and error, and the inclusion of any more action buttons would likely have proven overwhelming for players.
Gameplay in Brothers consists mostly of simplistic puzzle-solving and platforming. The game's brain teasers won't test your mental might, but they require just enough figuring to grant satisfaction upon their solutions, and are designed with enough ingenuity and variety to remain engaging over the game's entire course. The platforming sections are similarly undemanding, though are hampered more by the game's control issues, and thus became my least favorite gameplay bits of the game. A few cleverly-designed combative encounters lend further variety to the proceedings.
On the occasions when the gameplay was annoying me or failing to hold my attention, I was always kept engaged by the title's wondrous aesthetics. A few small visual idiosyncrasies, like unnatural dirt piles, reveal the title's low-budget heritage, but by and large, Brothers is a visual treat. At times, it can look like a stunning canvas painting, with smooth textures and impressively natural water and lighting effects. The game's slow pace allows for plenty of opportunities to soak in the beauty. Brothers even offers up a few benches placed at especially marvelous vistas where the travelling duo can take respites.
The title excels during these quieter moments. When players aren't being faced with some challenge to overcome, they're usually being offered up a form of environmental interaction, whether it be blowing into a Giant's horn, asking a drunkard for directions, or strumming on the harp of a modest peasant. Oftentimes, each brother has a unique means of interacting with an object, or a different reaction to the event triggered by the object. These adorable moments of sibling bonding do fantastic jobs of organically endearing the brothers to the player, and they showcase Brothers at its best.
Generally, the game is quite good at expressing itself despite a total lack of comprehensible dialogue. Lines are delivered in a gibberish language, so the game is left to convey its narrative in unconventional ways. The simplicity of the story helps, to be sure; it's refreshing that Brothers doesn't concern itself with narrative profundity, but instead with telling a compelling, straightforward tale of familial love. The game explores some heavy themes that may surprise given its family-friendly appearance, but it does so with grace. The story ends up feeling arbitrarily tragic for the sake of evoking tears, and doesn't manage to convey any clear message, but it's compelling and emotionally resonant nonetheless.
By the game's close, I genuinely felt like I'd participated in an epic, world-spanning journey, which is especially remarkable given Brothers' short, three-and-a-half hour duration. The sweeping, orchestral score certainly helps to get this feeling across, but the stellar environmental design is the primary contributor. Progressing through Brothers' chapters brings significant changes to the appearance of the players' surroundings. Each distinct area is memorable in its own way. Despite their highly divergent visual designs, the areas feel irrevocably tied together. Though its details are kept vague, Brothers' world feels like a living, breathing one. It's a place that I want to explore further in order to uncover its lore and history.
Ultimately, Brothers' design hiccups do not impede heavily upon its appeal. The game is refreshingly simplistic in a gaming era that's increasingly concerned with non-stop innovation and complexity. Playing through it feels like an ode to days gone by -- when not every game was setup for a sequel; when a single, simple, self-contained experience could surprise, move, and wholly satisfy the player.
Verdict: 4/5 stars