Two Brothers
- December 3, 2013
- Ackk Studios
"Two Brothers" is an action-adventure game with a Gameboy-inspired aesthetic that follows the story of Roy Guarder, a scientist and philosopher who travels to "The Cursed Lands" in search of the origins of life. After a fateful discovery, Roy finds himself able to cross between the worlds of the living and the dead, leading him to question his beliefs and confront the strange phenomena of the afterlife. The game features a vast, non-linear world to explore.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and thought-provoking story that explores themes of life and death.
- The graphics and music are well-designed, evoking nostalgia for classic 8-bit games.
- The gameplay offers a unique blend of retro mechanics and engaging side quests, making it immersive despite its flaws.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can make it unplayable at times.
- Combat mechanics are often described as dull and repetitive, lacking depth and strategy.
- Technical issues, such as poor controller support and resolution problems, hinder the overall experience.
- story54 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is generally praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging themes, often drawing comparisons to classic 90s action-adventure narratives. While it features thought-provoking elements and a compelling plot that keeps players invested, many reviews note that technical issues and bugs can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the narrative's charm and imaginative execution make it a highlight of the game.
“The story is thought-provoking and touching.”
“A fantastic tribute to 90s action-adventure games with an imaginative story and intriguing game mechanics, this title is nothing less than charming.”
“I was hooked on the story within the first scene, and I guarantee that if you give this game 15 minutes of your time, you won't regret being drawn into this amazing game.”
“It serves its purpose but otherwise felt like a chore between story points.”
“While there is some fun to be had and a decent (if not a little cliché) story to be told here, the game started to drag for me.”
“The story is pretty decent, although at times it can dump some pretty wordy sequences upon you.”
- stability30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous glitches, ranging from minor graphical issues to severe game-breaking bugs that can disrupt gameplay and require restarts. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these problems, many caution that the instability may render the game unplayable for those unwilling to navigate its challenges. Overall, stability remains a significant concern, with frequent freezes and collision detection issues reported.
“A buggy mess, plain and simple.”
“The most common concern people have for this game is the game-breaking glitches.”
“Game design-wise, this game is fantastic from the little I've seen, but it's sadly buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
- music22 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the soundtrack as one of its standout features, evoking nostalgia and enhancing the overall experience. However, there are notable criticisms, particularly regarding a specific track in the museum that is described as a loud, unpleasant screech. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, with an average rating of around 8/10 for ambiance.
“Music is really cool and probably one of the best features of this game.”
“The music of the game is pretty darn good and the graphics for what they are aren’t bad.”
“The music track in the museum is horrendously screwed up and is just a loud high pitch screech that made me want to throw my headphones against the wall.”
“During a scene in which the two brothers meet in a house, there is the demise of the ceremony song from Shadow of the Colossus playing.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as colorful and reminiscent of classic styles, but they suffer from numerous glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay. While some players appreciate the nostalgic quality, others find the visuals to be mediocre by modern standards, often likening them to Game Boy graphics. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with a common sentiment that they are good but plagued by technical issues.
“The story is simple but interesting, the combat is challenging but uncomplicated, and the classically inspired graphics are filled with colour.”
“Graphics and music are great nostalgic tokens.”
“This game has an absolutely wonderful story, graphics, and music, but is just a tad glitchy at times.”
“The sound hangs, there are tons of graphic glitches, and after beating Eagle Island, the screen goes black.”
“These range from innocuous graphical glitches to game-breaking bugs that will demand you restart.”
“Also give it a pass if you can’t stand Game Boy quality graphics.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a charming homage to 90s action-adventure titles, featuring imaginative mechanics and an engaging story. While it offers a fun experience, some players find it simplistic and clunky, reminiscent of older games, and are disappointed by bugs that hinder playability. Overall, the game shines artistically, but expectations for more original gameplay elements remain unmet.
“A fantastic tribute to 90s action-adventure games with an imaginative story and intriguing game mechanics, this title is nothing less than charming.”
“The gameplay is fairly simple, but engaging.”
“By itself, the gameplay is fun, but this game truly shines artistically.”
“While it's unfair to compare it to 'Link's Awakening' or 'Final Fantasy Adventure' (which is really 'Seiken Densetsu'), I expected more gameplay elements like classic bomb mechanics, exploration, or even switching to your brother for some puzzles. Anything original would have been appreciated.”
“While it's unfair to compare it to 'Link's Awakening' or 'Final Fantasy Adventure' (which is really 'Seiken Densetsu'), I expected more gameplay elements like classic bomb mechanics, exploration, or even switching to your brother for some puzzles. Anything original would have been appreciated.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is criticized for being annoying and often feels like it's mocking the player, detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, technical bugs further diminish the enjoyment of the game's comedic elements.
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game for its lack of grinding, noting that they can enjoy a substantial playtime—around 18 hours—without the repetitive tasks often associated with RPGs. This design choice is seen as a positive aspect, enhancing the overall experience.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its thought-provoking and touching narrative, which resonates deeply with players.
“The story is thought-provoking and touching.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably lacking, particularly in areas such as hit detection, combat, and dialogue, which detracts from the overall experience despite the captivating story and world.
“Really poor optimization around hit detection, combat, dialogue... it's a shame because the story and world are pretty captivating.”