Ifafudafi
August 19th, 2008, 12:04 AM
For the uninformed, Braid a 2D puzzle/platformer recently released on Xbox Live Arcade that emphasizes time manipulation. At any point, you can reverse time; an obvious effect is that rather than having a life/continue system, you simply rewind to the nearest safe position if you die. However, as you progress through the levels, extra effects are added: for example, some objects will remain stationary despite your time reversal. It's also underlayed with some excellent writing to advance the story, which I greatly appreciated.
The platforming part is simple. Just run, jump, and climb. The only notable features are that you can use enemies to gain extra height (the faster you're falling, the more you'll bounce off an enemy) and keys to open some doors. But that's not the main draw. The game truly shines in its ingenious and quite difficult time puzzles. For instance, there's one world where the flow of time depends on the direction you're moving. Move back, time reverses; move forward, time continues. You have to guide an enemy through time-resistant traps, have him grab a time-resistant key out of a small alcove you can't enter, go grab the key yourself once he's brought it out, rewind with the key until the enemy is alive again, and use him to bounce up to the door.
These aren't your grandma's puzzles, as you can tell; compared to most problems, the above is quite simple. For some, this might simply prove to be infuriating, but for me, it further emphazies (to quote a certain wise man) "that OH LOOK AT ME I DIDN'T HAVE TO CONSULT GAMEFAQS feeling," which is quite a sensation.
Graphically, Braid doesn't try to be complex; opting instead to use bright watercolor-style backgrounds and hand-drawn animations. Screenshots don't do the game justice; you need to see it in motion to truly appreciate the visuals.
Overall, it gets my seal of approval and win for being inventive, innovative, and intellectually stimulating. If you've got 1200 Microsoft Points on hand ($15 bucks) and enjoy a bit of thought on top of your Geometry Wars diet, then definitely go check it out.
The platforming part is simple. Just run, jump, and climb. The only notable features are that you can use enemies to gain extra height (the faster you're falling, the more you'll bounce off an enemy) and keys to open some doors. But that's not the main draw. The game truly shines in its ingenious and quite difficult time puzzles. For instance, there's one world where the flow of time depends on the direction you're moving. Move back, time reverses; move forward, time continues. You have to guide an enemy through time-resistant traps, have him grab a time-resistant key out of a small alcove you can't enter, go grab the key yourself once he's brought it out, rewind with the key until the enemy is alive again, and use him to bounce up to the door.
These aren't your grandma's puzzles, as you can tell; compared to most problems, the above is quite simple. For some, this might simply prove to be infuriating, but for me, it further emphazies (to quote a certain wise man) "that OH LOOK AT ME I DIDN'T HAVE TO CONSULT GAMEFAQS feeling," which is quite a sensation.
Graphically, Braid doesn't try to be complex; opting instead to use bright watercolor-style backgrounds and hand-drawn animations. Screenshots don't do the game justice; you need to see it in motion to truly appreciate the visuals.
Overall, it gets my seal of approval and win for being inventive, innovative, and intellectually stimulating. If you've got 1200 Microsoft Points on hand ($15 bucks) and enjoy a bit of thought on top of your Geometry Wars diet, then definitely go check it out.