During the broadcast preceding the Game Awards 2023we discovered Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake, a modernized version of the adventure game of Starbreeze Studios And 505 Games. A title as a reminder designed by Josef Fares, who has since founded Hazelight Studios to create A Way Out And It Takes Two.
The original game dates from 2013 and was ported to recent platforms (PS4, Xbox One, Switch and even mobile), it had the particularity of offering a gameplay atypical: the player simultaneously controlled two brothers using two joysticks, to explore environments and solve puzzles. Jason Ryan, brand community manager at the house of 505 Games spoke on the official website Xbox to evoke the new features of this remake, developed by Avantgarden and which will not only offer updated graphics.
Released in 2013 and directed by the singular Josef Fares, Brothers was a truly unique game. After their father falls ill, the game follows two, well, brothers as they embark on a strange and often dangerous world – with the twist thata single player controls both characters simultaneously. They must navigate dangerous lands, face deadly enemies, and rely on each other more than ever before to find a cure, leading players through a beautiful world to the way of action-packed puzzles and obstacles.
Nearly ten years after the original game’s release, nothing has managed to replicate that game’s mix of unique controls and moving stories. That’s why, with our remake, we focused not only on about how to bring a modern classic back to life, but also about preserving and improving of this incredible unique experience.
- Remake a masterpiece
Throughout the remake process, our philosophy has been to improve the original, not distort it. As we began to study the game, we realized that everything in Brothers, every environment, every puzzle, every interaction, is there for a specific reason and has its own purpose to help support the overall story. Our work therefore consisted of modernize the experience while retaining everything that made the original game special and memorable.
Brothers’ gameplay is primarily designed for a unique single-player experience (although local co-op is also included). As you explore, a single controller controls the two brothers and their ability to interact with the world. Each brother has unique abilities that will be necessary for them to solve the different puzzles and enemies they encounter.
For this remake, we put a lot of effort into perfect character controls to provide a smooth, quality experience. The controls are more responsive than in the original game, and the animations have been remade from the ground up for precise movements and transitions between actions. For example, when the eldest helps his younger brother to climb a ledge, the action is done gently, each brother influencing the other. And that’s just one of hundreds of interactions we’ve sought to perfect.
We also have overhauled the puzzle and enemy AI to ensure a fun and challenging experience which goes beyond what was possible in 2013. Being chased by dogs or dodging a charging Troll is a more dynamic experience today. We considered making the puzzles more difficult, but felt that would defeat the narrative goals of each section. For this reason, we wanted improve the look, feel and performance of each puzzle without making it unnecessarily more difficult just for the sake of making it harder.
- An enchanting world revisited
From icy rivers and dizzying heights to a giant’s castle and dangerous caves, there’s as much beauty as there is danger.
In addition to the controls and animations, we have granted special attention to the amazing environments that the brothers must pass through. As the brothers begin their quest, you travel through their charming home village, full of thatched roofs and beautiful flower beds, sheep pens and streams. Soon you will leave the safety of the village and begin scaling treacherous mountains and climbing along cliffs that fall into the void. As the story and adventure move away from this idyllic village, the tone and themes of the game darken.
Throughout the game, we strived to maintain a good balance between foreground and background elements, while improving the overall look, especially in the cutscenes. To achieve this balance, we used extensive dynamic lighting, an area where the Unreal 5 engine excels, as well as foreground and background depth of field, and camera positioning to render all the characters, structures and graphic elements remodeled as beautiful and impactful as possible.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is a classic and remarkable game that we are not only honored to work on, but one that we owe it to ourselves to remake with the greatest care and attention to detail.
If you’ve played the game before, we think you’ll discover new things to love about the Remake. If you’ve never played it, this is your chance to experience a game that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, and which now benefits from the latest graphical, musical and other improvements.
It’s an experience you will remember, forever.
The release date for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is set for February 28, 2024. on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Until then, you can find It Takes Two from €26.99 on Amazon, Cdiscount And there Fnac.