Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons really is an amazing experience and was well deserving of being brought into the new decade with this remake.

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"Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake" is a touching journey where two siblings work together to save their ailing father. With rebuilt visuals, updated performance, and a live orchestra soundtrack, this remake of the 2013 classic offers an emotional and immersive experience as players guide the brothers through a fairy tale world filled with discovery, loss, and adventure.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 142 reviews

graphics26 positive mentions

optimization11 negative mentions

The remake features stunning graphics and improved environmental details, making the game visually appealing.
The emotional story remains intact, providing a touching experience for both new players and fans of the original.
The addition of co-op gameplay allows for a shared experience, enhancing the game's themes of teamwork and connection.

The game suffers from performance issues, including bugs, glitches, and poor optimization, making it frustrating to play.
Many players feel the remake is unnecessary, as it does not significantly improve upon the original gameplay or story.
The game is very short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, leading to concerns about value for money.

graphics
82 mentions
32 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant visual upgrades and the use of Unreal Engine 5, which enhances the game's environments and character designs. However, some players feel that the new graphics detract from the original's unique art style and atmosphere, citing issues with optimization, frame rates, and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered beautiful and engaging, they are not without their flaws, leading to a divided opinion on the necessity of the graphical overhaul.
- “For newcomers to the game, this graphical overhaul provides a more polished and visually stunning experience, allowing them to fully appreciate the game’s richly crafted environments.”
- “The graphics and environments were beautiful, the characters really improved and the new spider girl design fits better.”
- “This isn't just a game; it's a meticulously crafted work of art that seamlessly blends mesmerizing visuals with a narrative and sounds that grips your soul from start to finish.”
- “The pre-rendered scenes are limited to 30 fps, and the overkill game's demanding graphics require users to tweak settings and use scalers for a playable, albeit not optimal, experience as it lacks developers' optimization.”
- “While the story remains touching, the new graphics feel out of place, and the poor optimization is a real party pooper.”
- “The supposed 'remake' is nothing but a money-grab, with only one extra achievement and marginally improved graphics compared to the original game.”
story
54 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of the game, centered around two brothers on a quest to save their ailing father, remains emotionally impactful and faithful to the original, resonating with both new players and fans alike. While the graphics have been upgraded, some players feel that the changes detract from the original's charm, and the addition of co-op gameplay may alter the narrative experience. Overall, the combination of a touching storyline, beautiful visuals, and a captivating soundtrack makes it a memorable experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay length and character design.
- “The story is the same and the journey is awesome with co-op; get your friend or partner and enjoy this masterpiece.”
- “This game is a very simple, but very well told story of a journey two brothers undertake in order to find magic healing water to save their father.”
- “The storyline is an absolute gem—I've lost count of how many times I've immersed myself in it, whether solo or with friends.”
- “The story is irrelevant because there is no text, no dialogue, no nothing.”
- “This game is still just as short as the original, not really adding much of anything 'new' to the gameplay and story itself.”
- “I wish we could take slightly different paths in the game, change a small part of the story and give us two different endings at least with the choices we make as the player, instead of being forced to go down one line.”
gameplay
34 mentions
21 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the remake of "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons" remains largely unchanged from the original, preserving its unique dual-character control mechanics while introducing cooperative play options. However, many players find the experience unsatisfying due to clunky controls, limited gameplay mechanics, and a short playtime of around three to four hours. While the visuals and narrative continue to impress, some users recommend playing the original or exploring other cooperative titles for a more fulfilling experience.
- “The remake of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons offers a visually upgraded experience without altering the core gameplay or narrative elements that made the original memorable.”
- “Though the main gameplay element was to control both brothers through the journey, remote play and co-op mode worked wonderfully and was a welcome addition to the game.”
- “The gameplay is fairly unique in that you are controlling each brother with a different joystick and trigger buttons for their actions.”
- “Whatever little gameplay there was now feels simpler, resulting in an oddly unsatisfying experience.”
- “Making its gameplay nearly unplayable when trying to control both brothers in unison.”
- “This game is still just as short as the original, not really adding much of anything 'new' to the gameplay and story itself.”
emotional
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game remains a standout feature, with both the original and the remake delivering a deeply touching narrative that resonates with players. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears, while praising the improved graphics and character expressions that enhance the emotional impact of key moments. Despite some critiques regarding optimization and pacing, the overall consensus is that the game offers a powerful emotional journey that is both beautiful and heart-wrenching.
- “The remake doesn’t change much but polishes what was already a touching adventure.”
- “Whether you want to see an already nigh perfect game remade with stunning visuals or just playing for the first time, Brothers is definitely a must-play for anyone wanting to experience one of the most beautiful and emotional stories in gaming.”
- “I cried playing the original game, I cried playing the remake.”
optimization
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and glitches, particularly on older hardware. While some users managed to achieve smoother gameplay through manual adjustments, the overall consensus is that the game lacks proper optimization, making it a frustrating experience for many. Despite improved graphics, the technical shortcomings detract from the enjoyment, leading to calls for better optimization and bug fixes.
- “The original game still delivers the same emotional impact and narrative depth with a lighter system requirement, making it a viable option for those who prioritize performance over visuals.”
- “Game runs smoothly, I didn't face any technical issues, the game runs on ultra settings at 50-60 fps with DLSS, and 80-100 fps with DLSS (quality).”
- “I look forward to any sort of bug fixes that they release for this, and maybe even some updated optimization, or I upgrade my computer first.”
- “The pre-rendered scenes are limited to 30 fps, and the overkill game's demanding graphics require users to tweak settings and use scalers for a playable, albeit not optimal, experience as it lacks devs' optimization.”
- “As of now, do not get this game, poorly optimized, co-op with remote play was very jank and my friend could not even move his character.”
- “Very badly optimized!!”
music
19 mentions
58 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a significant highlight, with many reviewers praising its beauty and emotional depth, which enhances the storytelling experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack diverges from the original, with changes that may detract from the atmosphere during key moments. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, its impact varies, with some feeling it lacks the subtlety and poignancy of the original score.
- “The soundtrack, too, sounds wonderful independently, but in some places it sounds a little too grand for the story.”
- “And let's talk about that soundtrack and storyline—they're simply breathtaking!”
- “Really wonderful music to totally dive into the world of the brothers.”
- “But most crucially they changed the bittersweet, subtle, yearning background music to something happy and cinematic and oblivious.”
- “Music is radically different; some hits land a lot less hard during the most important scenes.”
- “More missing atmosphere, replaced with music (the music gets better).”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with numerous users reporting bugs, graphical glitches, and frame rate issues, particularly during cutscenes and co-op play. While some players have experienced fewer problems, many have encountered significant stuttering, unskippable cutscenes, and visual artifacts, leading to frustration and a recommendation to stick with the original version instead. Overall, the remake suffers from a lack of optimization and stability, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “Despite its potential, the remake is still buggy, especially with its graphics, frame rate, self-optimization, and unskippable cutscenes.”
- “Pointless remake with the worst visuals, more glitches, and added unskippable cutscenes that add absolutely nothing to the game. A few small puzzles are worse... just play the original, don't bother with this remake.”
- “I have an NVIDIA 2070 Super with updated drivers, and there was some stuttering in the early videos, pixel glitches with reflections in the water, and my partner's screen went black 10 times during gameplay. We had to restart the remote play; she even decided it was easier for me to just stream the game on Discord than keep restarting the remote play. The final section of the game doesn't work in co-op; you need to be in single-player mode for the controls to work properly.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its original bleak visuals, which evoke a magical yet unsettling feeling, enhancing the narrative experience. While some players feel that the atmosphere has diminished in favor of improved music, the overall ambiance remains a standout feature that distinguishes it from more conventional modern games focused on collectibles.
- “The visuals in the original game, with their bleaker palette, created an otherworldly, magical, and at the same time unsettling atmosphere that made me love the game in the first place.”
- “It's honestly a breath of fresh air to play his games: they're full of quality narrative moments and atmosphere, and not about the typical collection of pickups or collectibles that most modern games focus on.”
- “The visuals in the original game, with their bleaker palette, created the otherworldly, magical, and at the same time unsettling atmosphere that made me love the game in the first place.”
- “It's honestly a breath of fresh air to play his games: they're full of quality narrative moments and atmosphere, and not about the typical collection of pickups or collectibles that most modern games are about.”
- “More missing atmosphere, replaced with music (the music gets better).”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that while the remake of the game features impressive character designs, particularly praising the reimagined spider lady, there are concerns about the overall character development due to changes in art direction and cutscene execution. The original game's character design was already strong, but the new graphics have received mixed feedback regarding their impact on character portrayal.
- “Both have their own charms, but really what this game nails is the character design!”
- “While the original has incredible character designs already, the remake really steps it up with the spider lady redesign, featuring a combination of human and spider-like skin textures. It was very freaky!”
- “The new graphics, while they can look good in some very specific moments, have completely messed up the character design, art direction, and for some reason, they also changed the cutscene direction.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be enjoyable, often leading to laughter and lighthearted moments, especially when playing with others. Accidental mishaps, like minor fall damage, contribute to the comedic experience, though solo players may engage with the game's humor differently.
- “I will admit that when I was playing this game with my brother, we were cracking jokes, laughing, and at some points, not really taking it seriously. I feel that if I had been playing by myself, I might have been more receptive to some of those tones and themes.”
- “At least some of the accidental deaths I experienced from minor fall damage were funny and got a good laugh out of me.”