View source for Software:Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

{{Infobox video game
| title = Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
| image = Max, The Curse of Brotherhood box art.jpg
| developer = [[Company:Press Play|Press Play]]<br/>Flashbulb Games<small> (PS4, NS)</small>
| publisher = [[Company:Microsoft Studios|Microsoft Studios]]<small> (PC, X360, XONE)</small><br/>Wired Productions<small> (PS4, NS)</small>
| director = 
| producer = 
| designer = 
| programmer = 
| artist = 
| writer = 
| composer = 
| engine = [[Software:Unity (game engine)|Unity]]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]|[[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]|[[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]|[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]|[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]|[[Software:IOS|iOS]]}}
| released = {{Unbulleted list|'''Xbox One'''|20 December 2013<ref>{{cite web|title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Xbox One Release Date|work=IGN|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/19/max-the-curse-of-the-brotherhood-xbox-one-release-date|date=19 December 2013|accessdate=19 December 2013}}</ref>|'''Microsoft Windows''', '''Xbox 360'''|21 May 2014|'''PlayStation 4'''|8 November 2017|'''Nintendo Switch'''|21 December 2017<ref name="switch-release">{{Cite web |url=http://twinfinite.net/2017/11/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-is-hitting-nintendo-switch-this-december/ |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Is Hitting Nintendo Switch This December |last=Vincent |first=Brittany |date=16 November 2017 |website=Twinfinite |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118142723/http://twinfinite.net/2017/11/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-is-hitting-nintendo-switch-this-december/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>|'''iOS'''|18 October 2018|'''Amazon Luna'''|14 April 2022<ref>{{Citation |title=New on Luna: Max: the Curse of Brotherhood |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlFSTEJPbtE |language=en |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Software:Puzzle video game|Puzzle]], [[Software:Platform game|platformer]]
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Max: The Curse of Brotherhood''''' is a [[Software:Puzzle video game|puzzle]]-[[Software:Platform game|platform]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] developed by [[Company:Press Play|Press Play]] for [[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]],<ref name=Kotaku/> [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]], [[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]],<ref name="Polygon announce" /> [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twinfinite.net/2017/11/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-is-hitting-nintendo-switch-this-december/|title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Is Hitting Nintendo Switch This December|website=twinfinite.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118142723/http://twinfinite.net/2017/11/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-is-hitting-nintendo-switch-this-december/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and later on [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/10/25/former-xbox-exclusive-max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-gets-a-ps4-release-date|title=Former Xbox Exclusive Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Gets a PS4 Release Date|last=Osborn|first=Alex|date=2017-10-25|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref> The game was announced during Microsoft's E3 2013 press event. It is a sequel to [[Company:Press Play|Press Play]]'s previous work, the 2010 game ''Max & the Magic Marker''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Max:The Curse of Brotherhood coming to Xbox Liechtenstein Arcade|date=16 March 2013|publisher=Cinemablend|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/max-curse-brotherhood-coming-xbox-live-arcade-53715.html|accessdate=2 August 2013|archive-date=25 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325093340/http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Max-Curse-Brotherhood-Coming-Xbox-Live-Arcade-53715.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Story ==

Max, the protagonist of ''Max & the Magic Marker'', arrives home from school one day and finds his younger brother Felix playing in his room and smashing his beloved toys. Being annoyed by his little brother Max searches online on the search engine website "Giggle" (a parody of [[Company:Google|Google]]) for a way to get rid of Felix. He immediately stumbles upon a spell which promises to make his brother disappear. Inadvertently reading the spell out loud opens up a mysterious portal from which a giant claw emerges and kidnaps his little brother Felix. Realizing the consequences of his actions, Max jumps without hesitation into the portal to rescue Felix and enters a magical and hostile world controlled by the evil lord Mustacho and his henchmen.<ref name="Destructoid"/><ref name="PressPlay"/>

== Gameplay ==

In its core ''Max: The Curse of Brotherhood'' is a physics-based puzzle/platformer and set in a [[2.5D|2.5D]] environment with a free and cinematic camera.<ref name="PressPlay"/> The game has 7 chapters and 20 levels in total. All levels are connected so the game feels like one long journey. Besides platforming, the gameplay twist is the magic marker which introduces a creative and open approach to how puzzles can be solved. Throughout the game the magic marker will gain different powers.<ref name="Destructoid"/><ref name="PressPlay"/>

== Reception ==

{{Video game reviews
| MC = XONE: 72/100<ref name="Metacritic" /><br />PS4: 67/100<ref name="MetacriticPS4" /><br />NS: 73/100<ref name="MetacriticNS" />
| Destruct = 8/10 <ref name="Destructoid">{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-268141.phtml |accessdate=26 March 2014 |title=Magically hits the mark |last1=Ruscher |first1=Wesley |date=29 December 2013 |work=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]] |publisher=Modern Method |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329113828/http://www.destructoid.com/review-max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-268141.phtml |archivedate=29 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Edge = 7/10<ref name="Edge"/>
| GI = 6/10<ref name="GI"/>
| GSpot = 6/10<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/1900-6415617/ |accessdate=25 March 2014 |title=Markedly competent |last1=Venter |first1=Jason |date=30 December 2013 |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324154817/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/1900-6415617/ |archivedate=24 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GRadar = {{rating|4.5|5}} <ref name="GRadar">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/ |accessdate=26 March 2014 |title=MAX: THE CURSE OF BROTHERHOOD REVIEW |last1=Grisham |first1=Richard |date=24 December 2013 |work=GamesRadar |publisher=Future plc |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328122742/http://gamesradar.com/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/ |archivedate=28 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GameZone = 5.5/10<ref name="GameZone"/>
| HCG = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="HardcoreGamer">{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2013/12/24/review-max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-xbox-one/66997/ |accessdate=25 March 2014 |title=Review: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (Xbox One) |last1=Peeples |first1=Jeremy |date=24 December 2013 |work=Hardcore Gamer |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317054509/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2013/12/24/review-max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-xbox-one/66997/ |archivedate=17 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

''Max: The Curse of Brotherhood'' received mixed to positive reviews, with an aggregated score of 72/100 from Metacritic.<ref name="Metacritic" />

GamesRadar praised the inventive and well-balanced puzzle design, gorgeous visuals and beautiful environments providing a fresh and charming experience on the platformer genre.<ref name="GRadar"/> [[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]] also commended its visuals which are "Pixar-esque" charming and loved the mix of cerebral puzzles combined with thrilling action sequences in a memorable world.<ref name="Destructoid"/> Edge described it as a memorable and enjoyable platformer with ingenious puzzles and steady flow of new sights. But they remark that the game "stretches the controls beyond their comfort zone" and criticize the limit of freedom to draw whatever and wherever you want.<ref name="Edge"/> GameSpot loved its lush environments and attractive art design combined with an appealing story and protagonist. Regarding the puzzles they found them initially intriguing but they tend to get repetitive and therefore predictable over the course of the game.<ref name="Gamespot"/>

Game Informer wrote that the game's central conceit was a "gimmick that simply doesn't work all that well", and for that reason, they did not expect players to advance to the end of the game.<ref name=GI/> They added that the Xbox One controller was not precise enough for the puzzles.<ref name=GI/> They commended the final puzzle.<ref name=GI/> Kotaku did not recommend the game, which they compared to a larger version of the iPhone game.<ref name=Kotaku/> They praised the game's humor and background art, but complained that the game's drawing mechanics were needlessly difficult at times and extended the game's length in undesirable ways.<ref name="Kotaku"/> Hardcore Gamer criticized the game for not breaking any new ground and failing to utilize the features of the Kinect for the drawing mechanics, while praising its voice acting, sound effects and soundtrack.<ref name="HardcoreGamer"/> GameZone stated that it is hard to recommend Max: The Curse of Brotherhood to fans of platformers, since the game presents such infuriating mechanics. However, they praised the visuals, calling them, "freaking gorgeous," and commended the detailed environments, which, "coupled with the brilliant lighting make it look like an interactive Pixar movie."<ref name="GameZone"/>

== References ==
{{reflist|1|refs=

<ref name="Polygon announce">{{cite web |url=http://live.polygon.com/xbox-one-e3-live-blog/ |title=Live from Microsoft's Xbox E3 2013 press conference |date=10 June 2013 |work=Polygon |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |accessdate=10 June 2013 }}</ref>

<ref name="PressPlay">{{cite web|url=http://pressplay.dk/games/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood/ |accessdate=25 March 2014 |title=Max The Curse of Brotherhood |work=[[Company:Press Play|Press Play]] |publisher=[[Company:Microsoft Studios|Microsoft Studios]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320075413/http://pressplay.dk/games/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood/ |archivedate=20 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Edge">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/ |accessdate=25 March 2014 |title=Max: The Curse Of Brotherhood review |last1=Staff |first1=Edge |date=17 January 2014 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222024703/http://www.edge-online.com/review/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review/ |archivedate=22 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GI">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/max_the_curse_of_brotherhood/b/xboxone/archive/2013/12/20/the-novelty-is-drying-out.aspx |accessdate=22 December 2013 |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood |last1=Cork |first1=Jeff |date=20 December 2013 |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=[[Company:GameStop|GameStop]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223010829/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/max_the_curse_of_brotherhood/b/xboxone/archive/2013/12/20/the-novelty-is-drying-out.aspx |archivedate=23 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Kotaku">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-the-kotaku-review-1487679516 |accessdate=22 December 2013 |title=Max: the Curse of Brotherhood: The Kotaku Review |last1=Narcisse |first1=Evan |date=21 December 2013 |work=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224171306/http://kotaku.com/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-the-kotaku-review-1487679516 |archivedate=24 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameZone">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2014/01/17/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review-saving-your-kin-one-marker-stroke-at-a-time |accessdate=25 March 2014 |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Review: Saving your kin, one marker stroke at a time |last1=Splechta |first1=Mike |date=17 January 2014 |work=GameZone |publisher=GameZone Online |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324154940/http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2014/01/17/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood-review-saving-your-kin-one-marker-stroke-at-a-time |archivedate=24 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood for Xbox One Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=23 December 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222103236/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood |archivedate=22 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="MetacriticPS4">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood for PlayStation 4 Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=5 October 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="MetacriticNS">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/max-the-curse-of-brotherhood/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Max: The Curse of Brotherhood for Switch Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=5 October 2018}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==


[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Max: The Curse of Brotherhood}}