We’re diving back into a fantastical adventure with Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster. Developed by Avantgarden, does this 11-year-old game still have the impact it did when first released back in 2013.
Same Great Game
If you loved the unique gameplay of the original release, then you don’t need to worry, Avantgarden have retained the same core features that made it such an innovative title. You play as two brothers who recently lost their mother to a tragedy at sea. Now their father has become sick, and it’s up to them to find a way of saving him.
Guide the brothers on their quest to find the medicine that can cure their dad through a breathtaking landscape. They must overcome a variety of obstacles together, such as dodging dogs guarding a farmyard, or swimming along a river when one brother fears the water. Then there is the impressive way these lads climb cliffs, they’re up them before you can blink!
The game is best played with a controller, with each brother assigned to one side. The elder brother, Naia, is controlled through the left analogue stick and shoulder buttons. Meanwhile, the younger brother, Naiee, is the right side. I tripped up a few times getting used to this at first, my attention would slip for a second and suddenly one brother has slammed face first into a wall! Once you get used to this, though, you’ll soon have them working effortlessly in tandem solving a huge variety of puzzles.
What’s Changed?
What has changed with the remake? The first thing you’ll notice is the gorgeous new graphics. The game has been completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, which allows the developers to utilise far more graphical horsepower. Thanks to this, the game looks spectacular. Each brother retains the same distinct look they had in the original, only with much more detail. The landscapes are stunning, it’s well worth grabbing a seat, and just taking it all in.
The second addition is a new split screen co-op mode. This makes this game feel much more like It Takes Two or A Way Out, where you and a friend each take control of one character. What’s more, you won’t have to try and wrap your brain around trying to operate both brothers at the same time!
My Thoughts on Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster
I never played the original release of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons but have found its remaster to be a truly charming title. It’s an ideal game for when you have the odd hour to sit and play, or a day to binge. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remastered uses the show don’t tell approach to weave its narrative. One example is how Naia and Naiee learn what they need to do at the start of the game. The doctor tells them that the only way to save their father is with water from the Tree of Life, this is all conveyed through him pulling out a piece of parchment, and a few lines of Simlish.
As I said, it takes a little while to get used to the controls, with the thumb sticks being my main tripping point. I mostly play with a keyboard and mouse, unless it’s for certain gameplay mechanics, say driving a car in GTA V or Cyberpunk 2077. Getting my head around this different way of playing did take me longer than I liked. But once I had a handle on it, the game played phenomenally. The simple controls could be utilised in a surprising number of ways, all driven by the context of the current situation the boys find themselves in.
At heart, this is a puzzle game, where you need to utilise each brother’s abilities to pass a given obstacle. Naiee, with his smaller size, can squeeze through gaps or be boosted to a ledge by his brother. As Naia is older, he is more physically developed, giving him extra strength and endurance. This allows him to do things such as give Naiee a piggyback ride whilst swimming along a river. Figuring out how each sibling can be best utilised is very satisfying, perfect for getting all those good chemicals flowing in your brain.
Where Can I Play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster is available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The official specifications for playing on PC are:
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core –7-6700 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X | Intel Core i7 10700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Memory | 8GB | 16GB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1650 | NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super / AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 35GB | 35GB |
Best Gaming PC to Play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster
Whether you want to play this fantastic game by yourself or grab a friend to play it co-op, you’ll need a computer to play it on. Here at Overclockers UK, we have a superb selection of gaming PCs to suit any budget, perfect for any gamer.
Refract Gaming Amber
The Refract Gaming Amber exceeds the recommended requirements for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster. This pre-built gaming PC features an AMD Ryzen 5 7500F CPU, paired with 16GB of super-fast DDR5 memory, perfect for playing your favourite gaming titles flawlessly. What’s more, the Refract Amber includes an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU. Powered by the advanced Ada Lovelace architecture, this graphics card features the latest technologies such as AI Upscaling and Real Time Ray Tracing, meaning your games will look and play better than ever before.
Furthermore, the Refract Gaming Amber is covered by our amazing three-year parts and labour warranty. Should your gaming PC develop a fault, we’ll collect your computer, repair any issues, and ship it back to you all at no cost to you.
ACER Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop
If you’re taking a trip, much like the titular brothers, you don’t have to leave your gaming behind. With an ACER Nitro 5 gaming laptop, you can enjoy phenomenal gaming performance in a highly portable form factor. This computer features an Intel Core i7 12650H CPU and 16GB of blazing fast DDR5 RAM. Whether you’re using your laptop for gaming or professional workloads, this processor and memory combo will deliver excellent performance. Plus, the NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU delivers outstanding graphics and silky-smooth frame rates in modern gaming titles. With a 57.5 Whrs battery, you can enjoy up to five to six hours of gaming whilst you travel.
Microsoft Official Xbox Elite Wireless Controller
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remaster is best played with a gamepad, in fact it’s how the developers designed the game to be played. So why not play this game with one of the best models available, an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Boasting a highly ergonomic design, you can game for hours and not feel any fatigue. What’s more, the Elite controller is highly customisable, with removable thumb sticks, d-pads, and back paddles, allowing you to configure this gamepad however you like. Plus, with the Xbox Accessories app, you can further adjust this controller to your unique control scheme, by remapping the buttons, and even adding voice commands. Even better, with a 40-hour battery life, you’ll be able to enjoy many epic gaming sessions without having to charge!
New or Old?
Did you play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons when it originally released, or is the Remaster your first foray into this world? Let us know in the comment section below.
- 7 min read
Simon Procter
Author
Having been a gaming nut for longer than he cares to think, Simon landed his dream job over a year ago at Overclockers UK. Since then, he has written many product pages and category texts. He even gets released from the basement to write the odd cheeky blog post. When not working, you can often find him entrenched in World of Warcraft, visiting friends to have his butt whooped in a board game, or with his nose buried in a book.
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