So here's my first XBLA review, and what a doozy I have chosen. Braid is a cross between the platforming of Super Mario Bros., the puzzles of something like The Incredible Machine, and some time turning twists depending on which world you are in. The game revolves around Tim, who is searching for a Princess, before entering each world you're given a few pieces of text to read. This isn't your regular guy saves Princess routine here. The text talks upon relationships, and that line everyone walks when in one. Tim has made a mistake of some sort, it's never outright said, but Tim learns his lesson but unfortunately the damage is irreversible. While the story is brief, there's just the right amount of it and it keeps you hooked. You feel for Tim and you're left wondering what's going to happen.
The gameplay here is fun and engaging and also at some points can hurt your noodle. In each world the object is to collect 12 puzzle pieces, by putting these puzzles together it's the only real way to gain closure and see the Epilogue. The first world Time and Forgiveness plays out like a standard platform game with the ability to rewind time if you die. But even in this world you'll find a few puzzle pieces that have brilliant solutions on how to obtain them. The second world is Time and Mystery, this world has certain objects that are unaffected by rewinding time and the puzzles revolve around that. The third world is Time and Place, this is one of my favorite worlds, here time is linked to your movement in the world, as you move left time is moving backwards, and as you run to the right time is lurking forward. Some very cool and difficult puzzles here as well. The fourth world is Time and Decision, here after you've performed something, if you rewind time back to before you did it, there exists a shadowy version of yourself who will go and do what you just did, so in this world there are some very clever clone type puzzles. Things that require two people to accomplish, yourself and your shadowy former self. The final world Hesitance, provides Tim with a magical ring that you can place at any time and surrounding it is a bubble in which time is slowed down to a crawl. I found the final world to be the most difficult and it made me scratch my brain a few times.
The game has beautiful backdrops that appear to be hand painted, the little characters all animate well and the the game has an amazing soundtrack, one that I will be looking out for if it's ever made available. I can definitely see myself doing work and listening to the soundtrack, very serene at times, very moody at others. Great instrumental stuff. It definitely captures that feel of Tim's quest to find the Princess.
I've only beaten the game last night, so I will definitely run through it again at some point. The ending is ambiguous so I won't spill my interpretation of it, but I am curious to read the others out there. I'm not sure what the creator Jonathan Blow has next up his sleeve, and I know he's issued some complaints with the Microsoft certification process, but I really hope this is not the end for him. He's already said he won't be doing more levels or a sequel for Braid, but I hope a few years from now there's something new of his to be played. From what I heard the development team on this game was 2 people, and you would never be able to tell from playing it. It's got a heart and soul to it and goes beyond the expectations of what an XBLA game can be.
Braid : 2008 ::Portal : 2007. While the two games are nothing alike, I feel that analogy must be made, if you sat down and played Portal and it sucked you in for the brief story and unique gameplay and left you wanting more, then Braid will do that for you this year.
Final Verdict:Buy
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