Superbrothers really isn't like anything else--yet strangely engaging in its own way.
Cons: Slow, indirect movement; First half is kind of boring
Truly, all of the time I have spent playing games has not prepared me to write a review of Superbrothers Sword & Sworcery. It defies analysis on conventional levels: judged on gameplay merit alone, this is a game absolutely not worth playing. And it doesn't quite pack the same artistic punch as thatgamecompany's projects or The Walking Dead. Yet somewhere along the line, Superbrothers defies logic to become a very charming little artsy indie game.
You'd be forgiven for not believing this at first, though. To put it bluntly, the first half of the game is boring. Sure, the art and music are good (more on that later), but the moment-to-moment actions just fall flat. The closest comparison would be a point-and-click adventure game: the same slow, indirect movement is there, just without the puzzles or engaging plot. All you do through the beginning chapters is walk from one place to the next, read some kind of funny nonsensical dialogue, and wish that the character would move faster.
I really wanted to quit Superbrothers early on. I really did. But somewhere just before the halfway point of the game it suddenly clicked. The dialogue, which just seemed initially bizarre and chuckle-worthy, suddenly had purpose and the intentions of the plot began to make sense. The movement, while still slow, suddenly opens up, and the environments become a little more interesting to interact with.
In fact, there's a real accomplishment here in the environmental interactions. Somehow, these simple little puzzles (and they are both simple and little) are engaging, despite having no significant reward, and despite not posing any real challenge. Instead, the game wisely uses its great sound design and gorgeous pixel art to make the simple act of reaching out and touching the world rewarding. It's easy to overthink why this is, but the end result is simple: you'll want to keep moving and seeing what's next, just because.
Again, major props to the visual and sound design here, as they truly sell the package. The pixel art is decidedly simple, but the strangely disproportionate limbs, and surprising visual density of each environment make for a simultaneously charming, yet stunning visual display. The music is even better, offering some of the most varied, perfectly fitting, and ultimately catchy music I've heard in a while. Not only is the music wholly fantastic, it manages to tie in perfectly to the moment-to-moment mood and completely elevate the experience to another level.
It's really easy to overthink Superbrothers. Don't do that. Superbrothers can't really be judged the same way as most games because it isn't trying to do the same things as most other games. It's a failure by the standards of most challenge driven games, but somewhere along the line it's also a charming, wholly unique triumph.