Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood Review by: supernerd117 - 5/10
It's a curse, all right.Note: this is a review of the Xbox 360 version of the game, not the Xbox One version. However, the two versions have almost everything in common.
After reading a Common Sense Media review for this game and watching a video, I was pleased with this game. Buying it on sale, I was content that this would be a game that I would be pleased to play to 100% and play with my much younger, 10 year old brother. I was wrong.
First of all, the game bills itself as a sequel to “Max and the Magic Marker”, although this game barely draws any resemblance to that game. While this game’s graphics are gorgeous, they seem much darker than those found in the sunny “Magic Marker”. This is to match the tone of the game.
“Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” is grim, dark, and depressing. The environments are often dark and moody. And the many ways to die don’t help the game’s case, either. Upon your quest (should you choose to try to complete it), you can get killed by spikes, eaten by giant monsters, and devoured by living thorns. Although bloodless, the game doesn’t joke around, unlike “Magic Marker”, where death is a trivial thing, a joke, if you will.
The game is a slow-paced platformer that requires great precision. While you will often have to experiment around to find a solution, when the solution “clicks” in your brain, you will have accomplished half of the task. But the depressing tone takes away from the joy you might have felt solving puzzles. I found myself giving sighs of relief instead of smiling whenever I completed a difficult section.
The main character, Max, doesn’t help the game’s case either. Max is portrayed as a sadistic, immature child that delights in harming his enemies. He has few redeeming qualities. Although his quest may be noble, he seems to be about it for the wrong reasons. And ultimately, this distracts from quest itself and puts the focus back on gameplay.
But the gameplay is frustrating, despite itself. I found myself having to repeat sections often, even once I had found a solution. The system is simply hard to get used to. Sure, it sells itself well (Max is slow and jumps low), but it feels very clunky. You also have to let go of control of Max in order to use the marker. The game, therefore, perhaps would have been best on the Wii U as a two-player game. One player controls the marker, and the other controls Max. But this is likely not to be, thankfully.
The music is acceptable, but I found myself hardly noticing it during my many deaths. I was simply too stressed to notice the music, which I find a severe disappointment.
But the most egregious problem is that the game seems very happy to preach sadism and masochism to children. Pain is supposed to be a delight, each kill or amount of pain caused a joy. But this ain't Super Mario...so it ain't so, Joe.
Ultimately, this game could have been a fantastic, joyful romp. Instead, it’s a horrific, terrible slog despite its great controls. I therefore cannot recommend it to anyone.
Presentation: 7/10 (the presentation is mostly well done, but is depressing)
Graphics: 9/10 (the graphics are wonderfully gorgeous. I have seen few better-looking games)
Sound: 5/10 (OK soundtrack drowned out by frustrations with the game)
Gameplay: 5/10 (gameplay is tight, but much too frustrating to be enjoyable for long)
Lasting Appeal: 3/10 (I finished 1 world, played a bit of the second, then called it quits. I wish I had done so sooner. I weighted this category the highest)
Overall: 4.5/10
Summons:
A user of this :
juuldude :
janus :
happiness7 : I summoned you because you liked my last review. This one is much shorter, but also more to the point. I hope you like it!
Graphics
9 Sound
5 Addictive
3 Depth
6 Story
3 Difficulty
8
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