A perfect puzzle game - original and clever and with great atmosphere. For me 10/10.

+manipulate the flow of time

Incredible gameplay...

It's pretty hard but it worth it.

The magaical moment of success after spending hours on a section is truly amazing.
I've been playing my second time, just to go through the story.
Artistically pleasing, not a fan of retro nonetheless.

I remember playing this game way back when it was new at a friend's house. I'll never forget the frustration we felt as an entire room full of teenagers struggled to get some of the game's trickier puzzle pieces, or the cheers that went up when a puzzle was finally untangled, or the audible gasps elicited by the game's final level.

Part of me was worried that buying the game now, seven years later, and playing it would dull some of those memories. I was worried it wouldn't be as good as I remembered. But to my relief, it's just as difficult and rewarding and strange as I remembered. This game always triggers some weird and almost indescribable emotions from me, and I'm never sure if that's due to the unique score, the hauntingly vague story, my own nostalgia, or a mixture of all three.

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A great many people were enamored by Braid but personally it never struck a chord with me. I used to be an avid player of games on Newgrounds and I've seen all the mechanics in Braid on display and more refined in flash games of years passed. Its not that Braid is a bad game, I just don't feel that it brought enough to the table for me.

Braid is... Not For Everyone

The time twisting, puzzle platformer is brilliantly made, fantastically designed but a killer on the brain. The introduction to the game drip feeds you the information you are required to complete it, and its all down to you to apply the knowledge you have been given.

Now this is where opinions will divide; I enjoyed the challenge and that inspired me to push on. You could argue this game is actually really boring, I would disagree, but essentially it is advanced jumping with time elements. The story is strong, the character is great, albeit eccentrically odd, and the mechanics are near flawless. If you are a naysayer, play this in chunks and it'll win you round.

I think compared to other indie titles this game is perfectly priced at £5 - £10. If you don't enjoy the art style, then anything below that and you have got a steal and its worth a shot.

Notes
Steam Achievements, No Trading Cards, Full Controller Support.

Sometimes, when watching a film or reading a novel, you feel a burn of emotion deep inside your chest. Something that affects you so profoundly that it moves beyond being just a form of media. It is internalized and remembered forever.

Braid is one of those things. But it isn't just an example of art in gaming, it's a game full of pure genius as well.

The game, at first, comes off as a platformer. There are relatively little instances of hardcore platforming in the game, and they usually only serve as a medium to allow you to interact with the puzzle that you're dealing with. Make no mistake, this is a puzzle game at heart.

The puzzles here are incredibly good, and very well scaled from level to level. The first two levels are relatively easy and will only take you a few minutes, the third is a bit harder, and the last puzzles will make you feel like your brain is deflated. The amount of time that you'll have to put into each puzzle may be debilitating for some, but the sheer joy and pleasure of solving one overcomes any sense of stress that staring at your screen racking your brain may cause. These aren't just run of the mill puzzles, either. There are a number that are, in my mind, some of the best puzzles that I've ever seen in a game.

The art direction is beautiful. The backgrounds are watercolor constructed, they're vibrant and bright, and dark and brooding. The soundtrack is perfectly placed and flooded with beautiful violin work. Each are augmented by an incredibly written preface that comes prior to starting each level. The story is written so broadly and so metaphorically that it can literally be translated to represent whatever the player would like it to. The ending represents one of the epic twists in video game history, and does so in game -- a puzzle in itself.

I literally cannot think of one thing that I dislike about this game. It could be longer, but length can't really be expected from a game that costs so little.

There is so much value stuffed into the 10ish hours that you'll spend playing this game, it's hard to put it into words any other way than just to spout off the cliche of "buy it and experience it yourself". It's an experience to be had, and it's one of the most artistically beautiful exhibits in gaming history that is guaranteed to affect you in a most profound way.

(Full review follows below)

• Game Name: Braid
  
• Original Release: 2009
  
• Genre Tags: Puzzle-Platformer; 2D; Time-Warp
  
• My Overall Grade: B+
  
• Estimated Playtime (Campaign): 4-6 hours
  
• Multiplayer Aspect: None
  
• Recommended To: Established fans of the genre; Those intrigued by the genre; Puzzle game aficionados

Braid is a short and sweet puzzle/platformer with an quasi-innovative time-manipulation aspect. The ability to rewind time not only allows for intriguing gameplay, but also provides a good way for there to be challenging puzzles without the game becoming unnecessarily frustrating. If you like puzzle/platformers, this should be high on your list of games to try.

The game mixes elements of puzzlers and platforming to form its identity. And there is a comfortable familiarity to the game which should feel inviting to most gamers. It starts off mostly focused on thinking-based puzzles and then a little while into the game there does start to be some platforming aspects sprinkled in, where your reaction time and precision abilities will be tested. But for the most part it's pretty mild and not that hard. Again, the time-manipulation also helps alleviate some of the difficulty of the platforming sections. It works out so a large majority of people should have an easy time enjoying Braid.

And as you progress through the game you will unlock different time-manipulation abilities which will need to be used properly to complete your quest. So the gameplay evolves throughout the campaign, keeping things fresh and keeping your mind active.

There isn't much of a story to be mentioned, but the game doesn't really need one. There is a strong influence of old school platformers (i.e.: the early Mario Bros. games). In that vein, there is a basic purpose to your actions, but no need for a sprawling narrative. Your quest in Braid is to traverse hostile lands to rescue a kidnapped princess, what else do you really need to know. Also, there isn’t that much of an immersive atmosphere either. The ambiance feels very nondescript and purely functional. However, none of this is a bad thing; Braid is simply a game that is focused on gameplay, purposefully minimizing the other distractive aspects.

And so I definitely recommend you check out Braid if you’re a fan of the puzzle/platformer genre and are looking for a new game that focuses on gameplay. Also if you are someone who loves a real challenge, the speed-run achievement can give you a nice "run for your money.”

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An intellectually stimulating combination of symbolic game design, brilliant visuals, an immersive soundtrack, and a post-modern story that will leave you pondering its implications for months. I consider this the best videogame ever made.