Braid is like the ultimate brain-teaser of a video game. It looks like a simple platformer at first, but the way it plays with time manipulation is mind-blowing. The puzzles are clever and challenging, the story is surprisingly emotional, and the art style is beautiful. But man, some of those later levels will twist your brain into knots! If you're up for a unique and thought-provoking experience, Braid is an absolute must-play.
Seems like Blow's pretentious attitude made people forget this is a legitimately solid puzzle game with an interesting gimmick. Sure the themes and story are dubious but its not at all present enough to warrant the amount of scrutiny I would give it otherwise.
But it's only okay when Kojima does it, I guess.
But it's only okay when Kojima does it, I guess.
This review contains spoilers
An aesthetically pleasing landscape, with beautifully composed music as well as a genteel time flow mechanic rounds out this puzzle platformer into an indie standout. The real stinger is the story though, which was a hell of a shock the first time I played it. To put it curtly, the levels serve as therapy for an overarching trauma that the protagonist (Tim) is revealed to have inflicted on his romantic partner.
It’s a real thinking person’s game, but best played drunk or high. Some say Jonathan Blow still, to this day, receives psychic damage whenever someone remembers the Soulja Boy video (JK, he calls the whole situation a “distortion”). That begs the question though, is remembering painful memories a “bridge” too far? Nah, Braid’s still a great title, and one day the long-awaited Anniversary Edition will come out as well.
It’s a real thinking person’s game, but best played drunk or high. Some say Jonathan Blow still, to this day, receives psychic damage whenever someone remembers the Soulja Boy video (JK, he calls the whole situation a “distortion”). That begs the question though, is remembering painful memories a “bridge” too far? Nah, Braid’s still a great title, and one day the long-awaited Anniversary Edition will come out as well.