Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Great imaginative puzzles mixed with uneven platforming.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
1out of 5 it SUCKS .
Report this review
What’s It About?
MAX: THE CURSE OF BROTHERHOOD begins with mischievous tween Max angry at his younger brother for playing with his toys. In a fit of rage, he opens his laptop, queries the Internet for ways to make brothers disappears, and recites the magical chant that appears. To his surprise, it works: a portal opens and a giant purple hand plucks his brother out of the world. Horrified at what he's done, Max jumps in after him and begins a quest to save his endangered sibling.
Max travels over hills, through caves, and across water to find his brother, avoiding and fleeing various monsters along the way. His only tool is his trusty magic marker, a giant pen that can summon into existence specific things drawn near sparkling magic points, including branches, earthen pillars, vines, and water jets, most of which are governed by a generally realistic physics system. To find his brother, Max will need to learn how to use the things he draws into existence in clever and unusual ways, combining them to cross hazards and trap his enemies.
Is It Any Good?
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a sequel to Max & the Magic Marker, but you might not have guessed it: it's a much more sophisticated game. Designed for Xbox One, it's graphically impressive. Environments are lush –- there’s a dramatically lit level set inside a system of caves that looks amazing –- and the monsters look a lot scarier, making it better suited for a slightly older audience.
Also, the action is more orchestrated. Puzzles are less free-form and generally require specific solutions. But they're still constructed in such a way as to allow for experimentation. Figuring out how to connect vines to branches and make objects roll over earthen platforms you create can be very satisfying. It's only too bad that the platforming is occasionally frustrating, requiring very precise, perfectly timed button taps. Expect to fail a lot. However, if you can stomach the 15 percent of the game that's aggravating, the remaining 85 percent will pay dividends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about puzzle games. What makes a good puzzle? What makes a bad puzzle? How do you react to really hard puzzles? Have you tried taking a break to clear your mind so you can tackle them afresh?
Families also can discuss the difference between a game in which the player's character fights and one in which he or she doesn't fight but still can be attacked. What subtle or overt messages might lie within these games? Do you feel different playing a game in which you're an active combatant?
Game Details
- Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Subjects: Science: momentum, motion, physics
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: logic, problem solving, solving puzzles, Creativity: developing novel solutions, Tech Skills: digital creation
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Release date: December 17, 2013
- Genre: Puzzle
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Last updated: August 25, 2016
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate