Braid
Review
Artistically Innovative
by Chris Scott
reviewed on X360
Manipulate the time... (cntd.)
Fortunately, the game does not punish you for not figuring out a puzzle piece as it offers a very non-linear approach to platforming. So, if you are stumped on one puzzle, you can always move ahead to another one. Ultimately, each puzzle can be solved by using the core gameplay mechanics at your disposal and the answer is always logical, although never cheap. Stick with it and you should eventually solve it, leaving you with a highly satisfying experience.
Sombre mood
Braid is a very sombre game, and despite looking like a painting come to life, the mood is very depressed. This all ties into the story, which some will undoubtedly find overly pretentious (and maybe it is) but while the gameplay in Braid could have worked in a different setting or story it is the serious nature of Braid’s narrative that makes everything work so well. The story is told through a series of books that can be read before fully entering each world. At its core Braid’s story is about mistakes and how one deals with them. It’s a serious story that every player may not understand, and I’m not entirely sure I even understand it fully, but it is also a perfect fit for this game.
The music in the game is outstanding. It is somewhat understated at times but it does a fine job of creating an emotional, sombre link to the story. If there was to be one complaint about the sound it would have to be that the sound effects get very repetitive especially if you happen to be working on a puzzle for an extended period of time. Graphically, Braid is gorgeous; it looks like a painting come to life. The colours are vibrant yet have an amazing ability to feel depressed, fitting in perfectly with the sombre attitude of the rest of the game.
Some irritants
As great as Braid is, a couple of mitigating factors need to be looked at. The first is the length of the game. Braid is not a very long game - it may take some players longer to solve it than others, but most players will probably finish the game in about four hours or so, after which there isn’t much else to do (although there are speed runs). Four hours is not very long, especially when you consider the irritating second factor being the price. Braid costs 1200 Microsoft Points ($15 USD), which is a slight premium over the average XBOX Live Arcade release. Is the game worth the price? That is something that you will have to answer for yourself.
Game of art
What I can tell you is that Braid is a great game. Taken alone, each aspect of the game is tried and true and not exactly original or innovative, but much like puzzle pieces falling in place, the end result is something special. Braid pushes the video game medium to a new and exciting level while making the best case for games-as-art to date.
9.0
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time
