The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,555 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante Game Cover
Icarus-esque in its attempt to set a new standard in choices matter adventuring.
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In "The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante," players navigate a ruthless world in a narrative-driven RPG format, following a man who challenges the existing social order. The game is presented as a journal, with life-altering decisions and the struggle for freedom at its core.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,555 reviews
story1,142 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive storytelling with meaningful choices that impact the narrative.
  • Rich world-building and character development that evoke strong emotions.
  • High replayability with multiple paths and endings to explore.
  • Frustrating stat requirements that can lock players out of desired choices.
  • Some players may feel railroaded into specific paths due to earlier decisions.
  • Minor spelling and grammar errors that can disrupt immersion.
  • story2,645 mentions

    The story of "The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante" is widely praised for its depth, engaging narrative, and the significant impact of player choices on the unfolding plot. Players appreciate the intricate world-building and character development, which create a rich, immersive experience reminiscent of a well-crafted novel. However, some critiques highlight issues with game mechanics that can limit player agency, particularly in later chapters, leading to frustration when choices feel railroaded or when stat requirements overshadow narrative freedom. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven experiences with meaningful consequences.

    • “Simply amazing storytelling, interesting choices and consequences, deep afterbite and great replayability.”
    • “The story is engaging, the art is nice.”
    • “The life and suffering of sir brante is a remarkable storytelling achievement.”
    • “The story is very linear and your choices don't matter.”
    • “The main objection I have is the same that I had for We the Revolution in that the developers have really shot their own story in the foot by over-gameifying it.”
    • “After that, the story slowly but surely becomes a convoluted mess, your choices mean less and less in a story, and most of the events seem to happen just because writers need them to happen, not because of your choices.”
  • gameplay452 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante" is primarily choice-driven, resembling a visual novel with branching narratives and stat-based mechanics. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the decision-making process, criticisms arise regarding the disconnect between narrative and mechanical incentives, particularly with the "willpower" system that can restrict player choices and lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a compelling story and immersive world, but its mechanics can feel unpolished and may detract from the role-playing experience.

    • “The life and suffering of Sir Brante is an excellent mix of gameplay-oriented narrative, exceptionally thoughtful world-building, and a beautiful art style.”
    • “It has deep lore, enjoyable and smooth gameplay, many choices to make, and great replay value with potential easter eggs and multiple endings.”
    • “The storytelling is utterly captivating, managing to immerse you in your own version of 'Brante', while also providing some very worthwhile and seemingly deep gameplay mechanics; allowing you to choose not only your path of your life in the story, but also honing stats/skills and forming relationships.”
    • “The problem I had is that the narrative incentives are decoupled from the mechanical incentives.”
    • “But if you're just here for the plot, you will find that the game's mechanics are just too complicated for role-playing - to get your character to the ending you want, you won't be able to make decisions based on what you believe your character would do - you have to make decisions that optimize your points.”
    • “In the end, by the time you are an adult, your freedom of choice is entirely gone and you are instead railroaded into a linear mechanic of min-maxing certain stats and giving up on any sensibility in favor of more singular, sometimes extreme loyalties.”
  • music270 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the narrative, with many reviewers noting its atmospheric qualities and fitting integration into the gameplay. While some tracks are described as repetitive, the overall soundtrack is considered beautiful and memorable, contributing significantly to the immersive experience. However, a few critiques mention that certain pieces may not stand out or be particularly memorable after extended play.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent, drawing the player into the game, its world and the life of Sir Brante.”
    • “The music is moving and sticks with you.”
    • “Quite simply the most immersive, touching and thought-provoking video game story I have ever played paired with utterly gorgeous visuals and soundtrack.”
    • “The illustrations add a lot, but like the sound design (both effects and music) they're reused and tend to get repetitive.”
    • “The cutscenes felt unnecessary, and the music was fitting but never really caught my attention.”
    • “However, there are minor shortcomings like an absolutely unremarkable soundtrack.”
  • graphics253 mentions

    The graphics of "The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante" are characterized by a unique and beautiful art style that complements the game's dark narrative and immersive world-building. While the visuals are often described as minimalist and simple, they effectively enhance the storytelling experience, with many praising the woodcut-inspired artwork and atmospheric presentation. Overall, the graphics are well-received, though some players note a desire for more visual variety and a more polished user interface.

    • “Its art style dovetails perfectly with the harsh and gritty tone of the story, further embedding the medieval fantasy world into your psyche.”
    • “The graphics and sound design emphasize the atmosphere of the game, creating a dark and exciting environment.”
    • “Quite simply the most immersive, touching and thought-provoking video game story I have ever played paired with utterly gorgeous visuals and soundtrack.”
    • “The game requires a lot of reading and very little graphic appeal.”
    • “Artwork is, to be frank, kind of ugly for the people specifically.”
    • “There is too little visuals for a visual novel.”
  • replayability250 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a strong replayability factor, with many players praising its branching storylines, diverse choices, and multiple endings that encourage exploration of different paths. While some reviews note limitations in replay value due to repetitive early chapters or a lack of intuitive gameplay, the majority highlight the engaging narrative and the potential for varied experiences across multiple playthroughs. Players seeking a rich, story-driven experience will likely find ample reasons to revisit the game.

    • “The game has great replay value as there are many different branches of how the story proceeds.”
    • “It has deep lore, enjoyable and smooth gameplay, many choices to make, and great replay value with potential easter eggs and multiple endings.”
    • “The replay value is immense thanks to the variety of choices, outcomes, and paths you have to follow.”
    • “I loved it at first, but now I see this as an okay game, because unfortunately the replayability is very low and the whole game is short and unintuitive at times.”
    • “Finally, there is basically no replay value.”
    • “In my opinion, the replayability is low, even though there are plenty of alternate routes to try and different choices to make.”
  • emotional96 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its profound narrative and immersive storytelling, which evoke a range of feelings from joy to deep sadness. Players report being deeply affected by their choices, often needing time to process the emotional weight of the story, with many describing it as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact. Despite some critiques regarding the mechanics and writing quality, the overall emotional complexity and depth of the characters and events resonate strongly with players, making it a memorable experience.

    • “I cannot remember the last time a game had such a profound emotional effect on me.”
    • “This game hits you like a ton of bricks, emotionally.”
    • “With that I can confidently say this is one of the most immersive and heart-wrenching stories I have ever experienced.”
  • atmosphere84 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by compelling writing, strong sound design, and a dark, vibrant setting. Many players appreciate the emotional depth and tension created by the choices available, although some note that repetitive music and gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing players into its richly crafted world.

    • “The graphics and sound design emphasize the atmosphere of the game, creating a dark and exciting environment.”
    • “This game pretty much swallowed me in with its great atmosphere, compelling writing, and everything it had to offer.”
    • “The atmosphere ties the entire game together and made me play through this game 5 times already.”
    • “I wish I liked it more, because I really dig the style, setting, and atmosphere, but the game just seems so hellbent on forcing the player into bad positions to really enjoy this thing.”
    • “Apart from its nostalgic atmosphere, I found it mostly mediocre.”
    • “It's not good because the character is very jovial which contrasts the general grim and serious atmosphere of the world.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring repetitive actions to maximize stats for later chapters. The inability to skip previously read dialogue and the need to restart chapters further contribute to the frustration, although some appreciate the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Overall, while the grinding can be a significant drawback, many still feel the game is worth playing for its story and mechanics.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game has a decent enough story, but the constant repeating of the early game to maximize stats for the later parts gets tedious fast.”
    • “The biggest downsides might only be the inability to save and the game getting a bit too grindy in terms of action points towards the end.”
    • “Biggest con: a bit grindy in that there's no easy way to skip already read dialogue or jump into the middle of a chapter (you have to restart at the beginning of chapters).”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players found moments of elation and laughter amidst the serious themes, many criticized it for lacking humor entirely, describing it as overly grim and frustrating. Overall, it appears to balance between thrilling storytelling and moments of levity, though not all players appreciated this blend.

    • “Brought me to tears often, and made me laugh with elation.”
    • “A thrilling, sometimes ruthless, often funny example of video games' great potential for storytelling.”
    • “It made me laugh a few times, think a ton, and cry often.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The game's optimization is heavily criticized for detracting from immersion, as players often feel compelled to make decisions solely for stat optimization to achieve desired endings. This reliance on stats can be frustrating, especially for those who prefer a more narrative-driven experience without the need for extensive guides or time investment. Overall, the optimization issues significantly impact the enjoyment of the story and gameplay.

    • “Story is great, but the RPG part relies too much on stats optimization. If spending a lot of time on it or reading guides is annoying to you, better to avoid it.”
    • “What qualities you possess, though, depend on what stage of life you are in: a child has but two, an adolescent has three new ones, and an adult possesses six, synthesized from your performance in the prior two stages.”
    • “It completely ruins immersion, and very often you are sort of forced to make decisions purely for the purpose of stat optimization so that you can get the ending you're actually going for.”
    • “The story is great, but the RPG part relies too much on stats optimization. If spending a lot of time on it or reading guides is annoying to you, it's better to avoid it.”
    • “I may try one more time, but if it does it again, basically this is garbage due to poor optimization.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its engaging story and worldbuilding, appealing to players who enjoy narrative depth. However, many reviewers criticize it for being overly simplistic and unrealistic, with choices that often undermine the development players expect. Overall, while the character designs are visually appealing, the depth of character growth leaves much to be desired.

    • “I really like the game, the story, the worldbuilding, character development, and the matter choice.”
    • “Buy: if you like to read and enjoy good character development, but also want to play a game.”
    • “- eyecatching character designs inspired by old European manuscripts.”
    • “The premise is good, the worldbuilding is good, but unfortunately the game imposes decisions that time and time again counter the character development you've been pretending to build.”
    • “That being an oversimplification of character development.”
    • “Short and overly simplified character development (not realistic enough).”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with very few glitches reported, allowing players to immerse themselves in its well-crafted world and narrative. While some users appreciate the charm of minor imperfections reminiscent of other titles, the game is largely seen as polished and functional.

    • “Much like the numerous glitches and unfinished state of the Stalker games, the game adds charm to its world facing an existential threat from anomalies alien to traditional nature. It has since been salvaged by opportunists in more ways than one - Sir Brante is a lifetime story about how life never goes the way you want, and it is a game that never goes the way you want despite giving you the keys.”
    • “The game suffers from numerous glitches and an unfinished state, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “While the story and world are engaging, the stability issues and glitches significantly impact gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
5-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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