Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a $15 (or whatever other currencies may be) downloadable title (platformer) available on the Xbox One (coming sometime soon-ish to the Xbox 360).
So what are my current opinions of this game (based off of the levels I have "beaten" so far (about halfway through, I think: level 4-1, edit: now stuck on 6-3 where I will probably be until the end of time)?
Updated: I finally beat the game (somehow), I hope I never see a vine again.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (TCB) is a frustratingly mediocre game let down by questionable level design and a non-optimal main gameplay mechanic.
Max: TCB is a 2.5D scrolling platformer with decent cartoon-ish graphics (for the main character). However, all is not smooth sailing. This game seems to think it has "puzzle elements", but that usually just boils down to performing a series (and it usually is a series) of actions. Well, either that or more timed input.
There are numerous times where I have wondered what the heck I am supposed to be doing at a particular stage. This is really annoying to get past a large section of the level and not knowing what the game wants you to do. In level 4-2 I did much of the level (if I never see another branch or vine, it will be too soon), I got to a part of the level where I have absolutely no clue what to do. I am on a ledge and there is a node for a vine and a branch. You can connect the two, but after that I don't know what to do. I deemed my only current idea to be impossible (cut the branch, swinging it, then cut the vine to try and land the branch as a platform). The game isn't telling me anything at all either. What am I supposed to do here. I shouldn't have to look it up on YouTube.
Also, you will die a lot (mostly due to level design). There are also far too many "chase" sequences that overly rely on timed button presses/draws (I hate pressure/timed events). Sometimes it seems that there are power nodes just to have power nodes.
Some people see no problems with the "magic marker", but I am not one of these people. I find it kind of annoying. You will use it to interact with the environment. However, it doesn't always do exactly what you want it to. It will usually snap to a node where you can then "draw" something (like a branch, a vine, a water jet, a stone pillar, etc). Some of these are tied to narrow window timed events - like "drawing" a vine when you are in mid air. I find this mechanic to be a bit annoying and ill conceived in execution. I frequently have to "redraw" branches and such because they are not exactly correct. I don't like having to "draw" by holding the annoying right trigger and the A button, then "drawing" with the right thumb stick. I view this as interrupting the flow of the game at times.
So what would make this game better?
1) Auto draw: bring up the magic marker and click the A button and it auto draws the correct shape or auto connects the vine to a rock or branch. It is still "puzzle solving" but you don't have to manipulate the right stick to just the right shape. I've had numerous times where I had to "redraw" something (sometimes more than 10 times) because it wasn't quite what the game wanted.
2) Superman mode: invincibility and ability to fly (I wish). It is annoying enough that (at least so far) you can't attack enemies directly (and must avoid them). The magic marker, at times, is dodgy. It would be nice to be able to more fully explore
3) Easier mode: I view the game as too hard. A cartoony game like this should be easier. However, its cartoony nature just makes the game more frustrating. There is no such thing as a "good challenge". The level design alone will likely result in numerous deaths (and for some reason it seems the levels are designed for you to die on).
Challenge = Frustration, Frustration <> Fun, therefore Challenge <>fun.
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