Braid is a time shifting platformer/puzzle game for the PC and Xbox 360 that is touted as doing for platformers to what Portal did for FPS'. It has it's own sense of style and requires you to think "outside of the box" to solve a few puzzles. Puzzles are solved through manipulating time and space with rules that change from world to world. The puzzles will change and become harder the further you make it into the later levels. Braid's gameplay is framed by it's amazing artwork and ambient soundtrack, and bookended by a bitter sweet story. I found some interesting quotes from the developer at another forum I frequent. CRITICAL ACCLAIM Eurogamer: 10/10 EDGE: 9/10. Text not online, but summary from a subscriber: IGN: 8.8/10 Quotes: OFFICIAL WALKTHROUGH AND LIST OF CHEATS Found here on the developer's website. Here's a link to the music featured in Braid: “Maenam”, by Jami Sieber, from the album Hidden Sky. “Undercurrent” and “The Darkening Ground”, by Jami Sieber, from the album Lush Mechanique. “Tell It By Heart” and “Long Past Gone”, by Jami Sieber, from the album Second Sight. “Downstream”, by Shira Kammen, from the album Music of Waters. “Lullaby Set”, by Shira Kammen and Swan, from the album Wild Wood. “Romanesca”, by Cheryl Ann Fulton, from the album The Once and Future Harp.
My thoughts so far: Me and my brother were pretty much playing it together last night. We'd get a good laugh at how to solve some puzzles, find it hilarious that the game was intentionally screwing with me, and generally worked together to figure some puzzles out. Plenty of, "Oh. I get it!" moments, along with, "Dude. Check this out." The music is great. I've always been a fan of ambient sounds and it really compliments the game's art style and environments. Braid's puzzles can be a little frustrating at first but once I figured them out I never felt like they were "cheap", like, crazy logic wise. Of course, I haven't beaten the game, but I've yet to see some of the ALL CAPS posts about it like I used to see back on USEnet with some adventure games. Loads of moments where you'll go, "OOOOOOOOOOOOH. GOD I'M AN IDIOT FOR NOT SEEING THAT." Aesthetically, the game is pretty impressive. I like how "World 1" is just the outside and inside of the house. I don't think the game is as totally forward thinking as it was made out to be. Gameplay? Yes, definitely. It's fun, it's completely different, and it requires you to think differently. Just like Portal. Unlike Portal, which has a really distinct presentation, Braid still suffers from a few problems. It's probably due to the nature of the game itself, it's going to be difficult mixing story, setting, and gameplay together in a platformer. The story is pretty much told to you, optionally, before each level. You enter a level, have access to books that spell out the situation, and then you go on to complete it. The writing is ok. Apparently there are some secrets left. I wonder what the bathroom is for. If I had to assign a numerical value to this game, so far it's a 9 out of 10. Great gameplay, great artwork, great music, decent setting and premise, and the way the game is presented is incredibly fresh. It rewards curiosity and there are several moments in Braid that I really enjoyed either a quirky NPC, the "power" you use in that world, the solution to a puzzle, or just the puzzle itself. Ghost_Hands/Jonathan, you're really onto something here. With an introduction like this, I don't think you'll have any trouble finding an outlet for future games. Whether they'll be similar in design or not, I'll trust you to keep the production values high, and the game interesting. Thank you for a very enjoyable, gaming experience.
I decided to take the plunge and finally add some points to my dusty 360 silver account after loving my PS3 just a little too much, and wow, what a game. The first thing that stuck me was the art style, shortly followed by some of the best in-game music I've ever heard. This game is a feast for the eyes and ears that doesn't let up, I can't honestly say enough about how good this game looks and sounds. Then the puzzles; cleaver, fun and not so hard they'll make you want to stop playing. In fact you don't even need to complete most of the puzzles if you don't want to.....wait this is going to turn into a long review lol. Well let me just say that as the first game I've bought off XBL, it's fantastic. The only downside is that it may be a tad short in length, but I think even if the game was 300 hours long, I'd still be craving for more. EDIT: Also, Mario references aside, does anyone notice a resemblance to Puggsy?
You forgot my review!:-( (not the most popular site, so I'm not surprised) Heh, I did review it for www.gamingring.com, it's one of many I've reviewed and am reviewing for them. I ranked it 4.5/5 stars, only because of the difficulty some players might have whilst playing it. Couldn't get any screen shots, my kit was acting up when trying to get them =\. For the review, you can find it here: http://gamingring.com/news/?p=2161
Great, mind if I ask where you found the quotes? The interview was mine, and posted for my site I hate people who copy and paste entire articles and stuff. Of course, if its just that little bit and a link to my site, then all is good, if not, bad people. Just saying, would be nice to be given credit
You didn't play it enough then...the puzzles are actually fun to solve. Great music and graphics too. Fun stuff, though it really did look stupid at first.
actually the first game I ever found worthy to buy online ... (and had enough points left to buy REZ HD as well ... its just an amazing game ! and I think if you try to solve all the puzzles and not just run through its not really that short ... some of the puzzles might take quite some time to solve ... and I love the way they integrated the story - the wish to undo some of your actions and make things right ... great
Dammit! Just sent my XBOX 360 out to the "Texas Repair Center" today, so I cant wait to get it back to purchase this game. I hope its as good as you all make it seem!!! :nod: :thumbsup:
It reminded me of Lost Vikings , in some ways, a game I liked. However - the character design doesn't click really. Puzzles seem ok but I m more of a straight-forward platforming person - I d take the Lost Levels over Braid any time of the week.
I got this a week ago along with BC Rearmed after trying both demos, and I've finished it today. Great gameplay, incredible music and a twisted story. I'm happy to read they've managed to sell a nice number of copies through XBLA, and are already planning their next game and a possible port of Braid for PSN.
I loved the game, and I liked the idea of the stars. *possible spoiler following* Sure, you don't get anything for collecting them all, but the obsession needed to collect them could be taken as a commentary on the protagonist's obsession with finding the princess. I mean, one of the stars takes hours of just letting your guy sit on a cloud as it traverses across the level, and you get nothing for collecting them all. But it shows that you are obsessed enough to do anything in your power to collect them.
