Summary
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is getting a remake with enhanced visuals, gameplay improvements, and co-op play added.
- The remake aims to preserve the original's strengths while making the gameplay more responsive and dynamic.
- The graphics of the remake have been completely redone in Unreal Engine 5, with new animations and a re-recorded soundtrack played by a live orchestra.
After over a decade since its original release, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is getting a remake. A variety of polishes and upgrades have already been confirmed for Brothers' upcoming remaster.
Brothers made a big splash back in 2013, quickly becoming a staple indie title of the era—alongside hits such as Journey and Super Meat Boy. Telling the heartbreaking story of two siblings' adventure across a fantasy world, Brothers' exceptionally poignant narrative and unique control scheme helped it win many hearts. The title has been a huge influence in the indie scene and, despite not originally being a co-op title, undoubtedly inspired co-op titles such as It Takes Two and Unravel Two.
Every New Feature Confirmed For The Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake So Far
2023's Game Awards unveiled a remake of Brothers, one slated to release February 28, 2024. Helmed by Avantgarden and with 505 Games publishing, the remaster's trailer comes out the gate swinging, presenting a huge shift from the simplistic graphics of the original. However, a change in look is not all that's so far been promised for this remake. While the stated goal across the game's promotional material has been to reinforce the original's strength, there are more than a few new bells and whistles already confirmed.
Co-Op Play
Brothers did not originally launch with local co-op support, with both brothers being controlled on the same controller (each tied to an individual joystick). Its Switch port added in local co-op—and it seems as if the idea has gone over well. The remake will be adding co-op to the standard experience. In a Dev Diary on the 505 Games YouTube channel, Avantgarden Creative Director Giorgio Macellari stated that the goal of adding co-op was to 'reduce as much as possible' the discrepancy between the title's single player cooperative elements.
Gameplay Touch-Ups
In an article for Xbox Wire, 505 Games' Senior Brand Community Manager Jason Ryan revealed some gameplay details. The upcoming remake will preserve Brothers' inventive and harrowing gameplay, with attempts to make drastic changes (such as increasing puzzle difficulty) rolled back later in development. However, Avantgarden will be improving the gameplay as much as possible without undoing the original's qualities. Controller inputs will be more responsive and enemy AI will be made more dynamic. In addition, though puzzles will not be made more difficult, the 'look and feel and performance' of each will receive some polish.
Remastered Visuals And Sound
Right from the first rumors of a Brothers remake, it was expected that the title would receive a graphics upgrade. The visuals of the original Brothers get the job done, but are incredibly simple with limited expressiveness and a somewhat polygonal aesthetic. It's obvious from the announcement trailer for the remake that the looks have seen a big improvement—all whilst maintaining the original's fantasy charm. Lighting, fidelity, and character design have all seen big enhancements. Characters are far more lively and expressive, and backgrounds are brimming with extra doses of fantastical whimsy.
It's no wonder that the shift has been so dramatic; Avantgarden has remade Brothers' graphics from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, with each animation being entirely new. Movements have been redone to gel better with the modernized controller inputs, presenting a wholly seamless end result.
Moreover, Brothers' breathtaking vistas have been further improved by an entirely re-recorded soundtrack. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' remake will be serenading players with an OST played by a live orchestra. The original's music was already well complimented by critics for its fantastical tunes, so a live orchestral rendition seems like a great way to keep up the goal of enhancing what already exists.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 77%
- Released
- August 7, 2013
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Starbreeze Studios
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
The critically acclaimed and award winning masterpiece arrives with Bonus Content including Director’s Walkthrough Commentary, Art and Sound Gallery.
Share in the epic journey of two brothers, as they set out to find a cure for their dying father. Travel across beautiful vistas, through dark and foreboding forests, down perilous rivers, up hazardous mountain sides and experience the wonders of Nordic mythology along the way.
Use the unique control system to control each brother with a stick, for concurrent gameplay throughout the adventure. Use both brothers cooperatively to solve puzzles, explore the environments and in boss encounters.
