You play two characters at the same time. The left half of the controler for one brother, the right for the other. Many (not so) special abilities can only be done by one brother and the corresponding button is on that side of the controller.
Its a short game that can only truly be experienced once so beware the spoiler!
Tap for spoiler
At some point the older brother dies. You now only use half the controller until the surviving brother overcomes his fear of swimming, which was an ability of the (now) dead brother. Just standing in front of the water and realising that I have to use the dead-brother-controlls to control the alive brother was mind blowing. Its also really emotional to a point that would not be possible without that twist. Using a button that was assigned to the dead brother just elevates the feeling of growth of the alive younger brother
Truly one of the all-time greats and it drives me crazy because I can’t explain what makes it so good without spoiling it!
spoiler
That death, and the “death” of half your controller, feels like an amputation. It makes it so real and visceral. Like real grief, the feeling is that a part of you has been ripped away. Frankly “meditations on grief” are a dime a dozen in indie games, but this one is one of the most intense ugly-cry gut-punches I have ever experienced in any medium. Well actually the ugly cry was later, when you realize the absolute devastation the father suffers.
But yeah, that controller trick–and realizing you even can use the other half to swim–phew. Just such a good game. Always happy when I see someone else who has played it.
Brothers: a tale of two sons
You play two characters at the same time. The left half of the controler for one brother, the right for the other. Many (not so) special abilities can only be done by one brother and the corresponding button is on that side of the controller. Its a short game that can only truly be experienced once so beware the spoiler!
Tap for spoiler
At some point the older brother dies. You now only use half the controller until the surviving brother overcomes his fear of swimming, which was an ability of the (now) dead brother. Just standing in front of the water and realising that I have to use the dead-brother-controlls to control the alive brother was mind blowing. Its also really emotional to a point that would not be possible without that twist. Using a button that was assigned to the dead brother just elevates the feeling of growth of the alive younger brother
BROTHERS: A TALE OF TWO SONS MENTIONED
Truly one of the all-time greats and it drives me crazy because I can’t explain what makes it so good without spoiling it!
spoiler
That death, and the “death” of half your controller, feels like an amputation. It makes it so real and visceral. Like real grief, the feeling is that a part of you has been ripped away. Frankly “meditations on grief” are a dime a dozen in indie games, but this one is one of the most intense ugly-cry gut-punches I have ever experienced in any medium. Well actually the ugly cry was later, when you realize the absolute devastation the father suffers.
But yeah, that controller trick–and realizing you even can use the other half to swim–phew. Just such a good game. Always happy when I see someone else who has played it.