Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

Simply put, Max is a fantastic indie game and a far better purchase than many of the others currently available for download. In Curse of Brotherhood, Xbox One has a fun, good-looking platformer at a budget price. Highly recommended.

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"Max: The Curse of Brotherhood" is a physics-based puzzle/platformer game set in a 2.5D environment. Max acquires a magic marker that gains five different powers, such as creating earth pillars, growing trees, and manipulating water streams, to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. With 7 chapters and 20 levels, the game takes players on a cinematic journey to rescue Max's brother.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 939 reviews

graphics194 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Great puzzle design that combines platforming with a unique magic marker mechanic, making gameplay engaging and fun.
Beautiful graphics and charming environments that enhance the overall experience, reminiscent of a Pixar film.
Accessible for players of all ages, with a simple yet enjoyable story that adds to the charm of the game.

Controls can be clunky at times, particularly when using the magic marker, leading to frustration during fast-paced sequences.
Some puzzles may feel too easy or obvious, lacking the challenge that some players might expect from a platformer.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content or replayability.

graphics
305 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and charming art style, often compared to Pixar animations. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, detailed textures, and smooth animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Despite some minor glitches and performance issues on lower-end systems, the visuals are generally considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game also features stunning visuals and a distinctive art style that complements the overall experience beautifully.”
- “The graphics, animation, and gameplay are top notch!”
- “The graphics are amazing and the cut scenes look like a real animated movie.”
- “It won't work with Xbox 360 controller and there isn't a way to adjust graphics and gaming resolution.”
- “However, considering the overall quality of the graphics it shouldn't struggle on older gear, but it does.”
- “I got the sound without visuals or got it with miserable framerate.”
story
267 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as simple, charming, and light-hearted, revolving around an older brother's quest to save his younger sibling from a whimsical fantasy world. While some reviewers find the plot predictable and cliché, many appreciate its appeal to younger audiences and the engaging gameplay that complements the narrative. Overall, the story serves as a fun backdrop for the puzzle-platforming mechanics, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.
- “The story is charming and brilliantly narrated.”
- “Imaginative story about two brothers, the oldest of which sets off on an adventure to save his brother when an evil nemesis called Mustacho breaches dimensions to steal Felix, Max's younger brother, just seconds after Max Google searches for a way to get rid of him.”
- “The story is interesting, even if simple, and the main character is quite likable.”
- “There is no story.”
- “The overly simplistic story and minor technical flaws prevent it from being anything greater.”
- “With unintuitive controls, puzzle mechanics that’ve been done better elsewhere, and a story with the depth of a coloring book, it’s hard to stay invested in this short adventure.”
gameplay
262 mentions
56 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a nostalgic platformer feel enhanced by a unique marker mechanic that adds depth and creativity to puzzle-solving. While many players appreciate the engaging and fun mechanics, some express frustration with the limitations of the drawing system and occasional clunky controls. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful graphics, clever level design, and satisfying puzzle elements, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- “It captures that nostalgic platformer feel, but adds a fresh and creative twist with the marker mechanic.”
- “The marker brings a whole new layer to the platforming experience, making the gameplay much more engaging.”
- “The gameplay is awesome and it's the strength of the game.”
- “Its not a bad game, but the mechanics are quite frustrating.”
- “The difficulty in the game comes from the actual drawing mechanic, too.”
- “I expected the game to become more complex, with more possible paths to complete puzzles, but the only reason it becomes more difficult is because the window of time you have to fiddle with the sluggish magic mechanic gets smaller and smaller as the game progresses.”
music
48 mentions
71 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in "Max: The Curse of Brotherhood" is described as charming and fitting, enhancing the game's atmosphere with a mix of playful and intense tones. While the soundtrack is enjoyable, it is often considered simplistic and not particularly memorable, with some players noting that it lacks standout moments. Overall, the ambient audio and voice acting contribute positively to the experience, making it a pleasant accompaniment to the gameplay.
- “Right from the start - when I loaded up the game for the first time - until the end, I was filled with a somewhat nostalgic feeling, probably because of the charming music, the entertaining cinematics, and the loveable cartoony look of the game.”
- “The ambient audio, music, and voice acting are all wonderful.”
- “Max is very vocal the whole way through and it adds enormously to the whole experience, along with the music.”
- “You will have to search for the soundtrack on YouTube.”
- “While the music is very charming and cute, it is rather simplistic and not all that memorable.”
- “Voice acting is fine (I loved the voice of our brother, Felix, he has such a cute voice), but that's all; there are no amazing soundtracks or impressive musical intros.”
humor
44 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by lightheartedness and clever writing that appeals to both young and old players. Reviewers highlight the funny dialogue, amusing gameplay mechanics, and entertaining puzzles, often comparing its charm to that of a Pixar film. Overall, the humor enhances the gaming experience, making it a delightful and engaging title.
- “What sets Max apart is its humor, injecting lightheartedness into the adventure.”
- “The title is a platform game with mild puzzles that tastes and smells like a Pixar cartoon, very neat, polished, and funny; very good entertainment.”
- “I really liked the humor; the CGI cartoon-style visuals come to life with funny exaggerated animations and gameplay challenge.”
replayability
24 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for players interested in uncovering hidden items and completing achievements. While the core experience may feel complete after the initial playthrough, the well-designed levels and satisfying puzzles encourage players to return, especially if they enjoy exploration and collecting. Overall, it is praised for its replay value, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “Highly recommended, fantastic level design and clever puzzles - also lots of replayability if you want all the achievements (my next mission...).”
- “The game has several levels and the replay value is enormous.”
- “Not much replayability once you finish, but it is well priced for what you get.”
- “It has some replayability if you want to go back and find all the hidden items (which are not required to complete the original playthrough).”
- “Hidden items to find in each level and badges for completing each level without dying give a little replay value.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
73 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics, reminiscent of a Pixar film, and engaging sound design, creating an immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of beautiful visuals, polished production, and imaginative elements that enhance the overall gameplay, making it feel both nostalgic and modern. The atmospheric quality is consistently noted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the puzzle-platformer.
- “Super gorgeous (like a Pixar film), fantastic atmosphere, fun puzzley mechanics and responsive controls.”
- “The graphics, atmosphere, music and voice acting are superb.”
- “The atmosphere is reminiscent of Eric Chahi's Heart of Darkness, an older 90s platformer game that I deeply love.”
- “Beautiful graphics, nice voices and sounds, and just tremendous atmosphere.”
grinding
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and irritating, often due to awkward controls and a lack of clear checkpointing, which forces them to replay levels they find unengaging. While some appreciate the simplicity and breezy pace, others feel that the repetitive nature of the gameplay can lead to boredom and a lack of investment in the experience. Overall, the game is mechanically sound but suffers from moments of mind-numbing tedium.
- “I had to exit the game to leave home, then later came back and started up the game and had to redo an entire tedious level that I never wanted to see again, ever.”
- “If there is checkpointing in later levels, you would never know it because the game never shows a saving checkpoint icon like all other games do, so it's one of those 'well I better not exit the game or quit until I finish the entire tedious level' type of games.”
- “Levels aren't horribly long, but with boring, automatic-win tedious levels and a drawing mechanic I've seen done before, I just can't force myself to care because it keeps putting me to sleep.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Max: The Curse of Brotherhood" is highlighted by its heartwarming story centered on the bond between two brothers, evoking nostalgia and a sense of childhood wonder. Players appreciate the game's engaging graphics, soundtrack, and satisfying puzzles, which collectively enhance the wholesome adventure experience. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses, making it a memorable journey.
- “Great graphics and soundtrack, heartwarming story, and satisfying puzzles.”
- “Seeing the connection that two brothers can have is touching.”
- “"Max: The Curse of Brotherhood" made me feel like I was a kid again.”
optimization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is generally well-optimized, particularly on consoles like the Xbox One and Xbox 360, with only minor stuttering issues during auto-saves reported. However, players using a keyboard and mouse may experience less optimal performance compared to those using a gamepad. For the best graphical experience, it's recommended to play on a capable console or ensure your PC meets slightly higher specifications.
- “The game is very well optimized.”
- “If you have any worries about performance issues, that's not to worry.”
- “If you want to make sure the graphics are at their best, then either get it for the Xbox One or ensure your PC has better graphical performance.”
- “I recommend playing this with a gamepad, as I used the keyboard and mouse and could tell it wasn't quite optimized for that game.”
- “But if you want to make sure the graphics are at their best, then either get it for the Xbox One or make sure your PC is just a bit better with graphical performance first.”
- “It had some stuttering issues when the game auto-saved, but I played this a while ago, so I can't say much about that other than it didn't ruin the game for me; minor complaint really.”
stability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing freezing issues after initial animations and occasional glitches that, while noticeable, do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Achievements may also be slow to appear, but most users report that these issues do not ruin gameplay. Overall, while there are some stability concerns, they are not universally experienced.
- “The game runs smoothly with no glitches.”
- “I haven't encountered any bugs or crashes.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; it never lags or freezes.”
- “Starts off good like it's going to load and then freezes after the first animations.”
- “There are probably other obscure glitches in there, but nothing that ruined the game.”
- “Achievements can be a little buggy/slow to show up, but they eventually do.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by a charming main character with appealing design, though some users note a lack of freedom in crafting solutions compared to the original game. Additionally, the human character designs and voices received mixed reviews, suggesting they may not be as engaging.
- “The main character is very charming, complemented by beautiful character design and level modeling.”
- “The main character is very charming, with stunning character design and level modeling.”