An Open Letter to Starbreeze Studios

[Sobtanian]

Dear Starbreeze Studios,

I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a few days now. To be precise, from the moment the end credits started rolling in as I finished Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

I played the game in two greedy sittings, during both I felt a roller coaster of emotions that very few mediums of entertainment have made me feel. I was happy, I was sad, I was elated, I was depressed, I was angry, I was hopeful, I was disillusioned, I was upset; but most of all, I was in love.

I fell in love with the world you’ve created, with the loving detail your artists so clearly put into this game. Small, incidental flourishes and nuances that many people might have missed, but are there if you look. All of them adding texture and detail to this wonderful land.

I fell in love with the people and creatures of this fantastical land. I wanted to know more about them, who they were, where they came from, and what was their story. But, you left the story telling to the player. I filled in their stories from my imagination, which only made me care for them even more.

I fell in love with the simple gameplay mechanic you created. Controlling each brother with a thumbstick and a trigger, making for a truly unique single player experience, and creating a relationship between the brothers that broke the fourth wall and extended to the player’s own two hands.

I fell in love with the puzzles you created, the set scenes you directed, and with the game as a game.

But, most of all, I fell in love with the two brothers, and their relationship with one another and with others around them. I learnt to always keep the small brother on the right, just like my right thumb is in the real world that controls him. I laughed as he played pranks on other people, and I smiled as his older brother was more sensible. No matter how many times it happened, I would always watch with silent admiration when they helped each other cross various obstacles, or work together to try and use things made for the adult, and very hostile, world around them. And when they would stop for a break, or forget about their task and just start playing like two care-free brothers, I would sit back and sigh a sigh of relief, and take a break myself.

And, when the final moments of the game arrived, I played and watched with a heavy feeling in my chest, knowing that my relationship with the two brothers had to end. I felt like a connection was lost, and like a very special relationship had come to a sad end. I was left physically and emotionally drained watching the final scene, but also happy that I had witnessed a moment of change in gaming as a medium to tell a story that engages that player like no other medium can.

I finally understood the truth behind the game’s name. By the end, my feelings towards the Brothers was that of a father towards his two sons. I cared for them, I loved them, and I wanted the world to change for them; but ultimately their fate was not mine to decide.

This was the tale of my two sons.

[lithander]

<3

[sofastian]

Couldn't agree more with every word you've written.

[StandingCow]

Very well written and I couldn't agree more.

[Sobtanian]

Why thanks *blushes*

[DocAndyH]

Top notch sir - I wholeheartedly agree, and excellent work on the spoiler avoidance.

[Anwest]

Wow, that's love!

[TheNastyDoctor]

My room got real dusty at the end there.

[Sobtanian]

Haha, as in there's something in your eye?

[Stinkflipper Incarnate]

This game is a masterpiece. These are such strange times to be a gamer. Things are so exciting and incredible, and so depressing at the same time. On the one hand we have this desire to infest everything with in-game stores, online social features and dlc. On the other we have this. And the two are mutually exclusive. You can't put an in-game store in this without ruining it. You can't sell DLC for it without ruining the perfection of what it already is. So can a game like this even exist in a few years? Sigh.

[Izorion]

Kudos to the original poster. Well-versed commentary which I wholeheartedly agree with. Some will criticize the brevity of the game, but a few hours of emotional storytelling and gorgeous environments is a welcome change from mindlessly racking up body counts.

[Sobtanian]

Thank you. I think a properly made short game (LIMBO, Braid, Brothers) is a much better form of game than a padded out one.

[Assknight]

TL:DR

[donelwero]

I don't even how people dares to play this game more than once. I just finished the game, I'm devastated, I don't think I have the courage to play it again :'(
I have a little brother, so I played this game thinking of the young brother as mine...

I've never shed tears for the story of a game. This is one of a kind and a masterpiece. I can tell so many things about it, it was my brother and I living an incredible adventure. Playing with him with the right stick made it feel more real, that was just like my brother, I just couldn't control him. lol

Thanks devs for these incredible moments you just made me live.

[conn0r]

A beautiful game.

[tpetrovic]

Just finished this game today - it was money very well spent. A GOTY contender.