This surely has to be the most overrated 'indie' game of all time. Although somewhat innovative in its much-hyped time-manipulation mechanic, even though this was merely an elaboration on Prince of Persia's system, the rest of the gameplay falls woefully short. Much of the game's challenge comes not from the puzzles, most of which are blatantly apparent; but instead from the extremely fiddly nature of how your character controls, and the nigh-on unavoidable trial-and-error nature of both solving puzzles and fighting enemies. As such, the central mechanic of the game becomes its greatest hindrance - as the game is designed around time manipulation, and the ability to go back and fix errors, it also becomes a nightmare of micro-managing the character's actions, to the point where in some cases if the character is more than a few pixels off the intended route, or strays just a bit too far in a given direction, he is killed, forcing a rewind. Despite the easily solvable nature of most of the puzzles, several are far too vague, and at least for myself, required consulting GameFAQs.com more than once. The purpose of the jigsaw puzzles is not explained during the game, and neither is the fact that completing certain portions actually makes certain parts of the game inaccessible, necessitating a restart of the game from scratch if the player wishes to see these parts. Also, the plot of the game is deliberately vague, misleading and utterly pretentious and overblown - totally out of place, considering the game's rather cutesy, whimsical style and direction. Although great care has obviously been lavished on the graphics and music, both of which are a joy to behold, they feel lost on such a teeth-grindingly irritating core game. There are many better examples of progressive platforming/puzzle games with deep and innovative gameplay and great graphics and sound, most of which don't cost a penny, such as Iji, Within a Deep Forest, Knytt, Knytt Stories, Fancy Pants Adventure, Nevermore 3, Eternal Daughter and many more. I realize most will not agree with my take on the game, but I honestly could not believe there's a single negative review of it anywhere with what to me seem like such apparent and fundamental flaws in how the game plays.… Expand

This is a wonderful game. Quite possibly the best indie game of all time. Life changing with its genius in gameplay and story.

This is probably the most surprising and satisfying game I've ever played. Be prepared though- this game is intensely cerebral, in both puzzles and plot. To those who claim the game is "just trial and error," and that the only challenge comes from controls, I say you are simply playing the game wrong. Once you find the correct solution to a puzzle, it is generally fairly easy to execute. If you don't mind deconstructing the abstract, allegorical plot (which is indeed rather poignant), or not being able to figure everything out right away, this game is for you.… Expand

Simply one of the greatest games I ever played to this day. Even though it could be longer this game left me absolutely speechless while playing and showed me that you don't need a big budget or a big team to achieve such a wonderful experience.

This game is stunning, it creates challenges that out wit & out smart games such as portal. it creates challenges that are actually beautiful (yep that's how i describe them, beautiful) and only few particular deranged people with no lives *cough* Fred X *cough* Seamus B *cough* don't understand or enjoy

Everything Seamus said was wrong about the game is the reason why I love it. Yes, there is trial and error, and you have to rewind many times, but the game made it so easy and seamless that the payoff and satisfaction you get when you finally nail it at the end is immense and genuine. I think the only way your gaming experience will be hurt is if you consult gamefaqs or some other guide, and rob youself of that satisfaction. Some of the hardest puzzles in the game had the easiest answers, none of them were "vague," it was just a matter of looking at it in a different light (except for the stars, but those are not integral to finishing the game (wait, can the game be finished?)). The only flaw I saw with the game is its short length and nil replay value,,,,but that has changed with the implementation of the level editor, which I hope will create a thriving Braid level-making community.… Expand

Pure genius! Jonathon Blow has created a truly remarkable piece of entertainment!

If you don't love the amazing artwork, the brilliant soundtrack, the ingenious puzzles, the emotionally destroying story and how much care it's been crafted with, you have a heart made of cold granite.

Very nice little game, should be a little longer but it is nice at all.

Wonderful story, and great mix of classic and new elements.

the perfect time killer; fun, puzzling, great music, and very well put together.

Not knowing much about this game apart from the praise, I looked forward to this "innovative" indie game coming to PC, but after playing it, I've come to realize that most of the praise is just hype. I generally like 2-D scrollers and puzzle games, but this game still didn't grab me. The only going for it is actually the graphics in the background (I don't like the chubby/compressed nature of the "sprites"). Gameplay is just tedious trial and error, which I get sick of pretty quick. They've tried to make everything vague (story and gameplay) just to make it more interesting, but vague isn't the same as interesting, to me it's plain boring. This does not feel original, it feels contrived, and just isn't fun.… Expand

Braid is an unforgettable experience with its unique art-design, fantastically original puzzles, simple yet captivating story, very responsive gameplay, and its absolutely amazing soundtrack. This games soundtrack is in my top 10. Definitely buy this game you will not regret it.

Braid is nice platform game, old school simple yet avantgarde in the way it blends art, gameplay and FUN. I think it has been a bit hipped and some have been taken in by the " oh its art i don't have to explain it" It does have some drawbacks as it is not a long enough game yet it already starts to feel repetitive at the end. graphics may confuse you a bit, the combination of apparently bland sprites with breathtaking animations and environments, but you kinda forgive the game for the sprites as this does seem to have been a conceptually delivered choice, and the technical and artistic process are well ratified throughout the rest of the game.… Expand

Ingenious time mechanics, beautiful art direction and music, fresh take on old gameplay and mind-blowing twist ending makes this a memorable gem among video games. However, the game is too short and storytelling is just too vague and feels disconnected from the game itself. It just looks like the author didn't want to care much about it, so he just put together random metaphors between the levels and said, "Well, this is good because it's so mysterious." No, it isn't. Even letting players guess he meaning has its limits and Braid is very close to that limit.… Expand

Puzzle/platformers aren't really my thing but I thought this game was amazing. Possibly the first one I've played where it's obvious that the developers were seriously trying to identify and make use of the singularity of the video game medium.

One of the best games I have ever played, and one of my favorite games I played last year. There's a few things you have to realize before going in, and that it's a deep puzzle game first of all. Don't think it's purely a platformer, because if you do and don't expect to really use your brain and have good patience with the game then you won't like the game (as some of the puzzles are absolutely clever in their design with intricately simple solutions even if it seems complex). Also the story, while brilliant and more meaningful than many classic 20th century novels for me, is extremely ambiguous in it's presentation and slightly pretentious. It is a story that REQUIRES afterthought and "watercooler discussion" with others to really get anything out of it. If you can deal with the above, then you have probably come across one of the greatest games ever made. No one's seen a progression in game design ideals done so well in a game before since Braid.… Expand

The game got nice graphics nice music and a good layout. Too bad the good stuff stops there. The gameplay is regular platform, jump here, jump there, Jump on the evil guys, watch out for the man eating flowers from the pipes. We seen it done before and I could say Braid improved on it, if there was anything to improve on. Braid is just like super mario on this part. So here comes the part that Braid tried to make new, the time concept, which in itself is a great concept but in practice means you do the same thing over and over again till you get it right. The puzzles aren't so much puzzles as "what am I thinking about" questions, where there is only one right answer that doesn't have to be logical at all. The game is nice with its strange atmosphere and time modifying parts, but never do you get the feeling you actually accomplished anything, In fact you don't actually have to accomplish anything at all, if you didn't menage to get that piece of the puzzle you can just skip it. No strings attached for you to actually finish getting that last part of the puzzle unless you want to play the last 6th world, at which point my patience was well over already. I think Ill just stick to I Wanna Be the Guy, a game which at least doesn't try to hide you will get annoyed as hell on it.… Expand

I am gaming since 20 years and I have never seen a piece of art like this. .sith ekil tra fo eceip a nees reven evah I dna sraey 02 ecins gnimag ma I (This was an insider ;-) ) It's just an awesome experience for both your brain and soul, don't miss the final of this game!

Game reminds me of portal, you feel like a genius when you beat it and the story telling and atmosphere were great. Be warned that this is a puzzle-platformer not a puzzle game disguised as a platformer. Because of that, a lot of the later levels end up being more a problem of timing rather than intelligence. The storytelling really shines in the epilogue, i wont give it away but the ending race is mindblowing. Still, I'm not sure I got quite 15 dollars worth of gameplay but i'm very impressed overall.… Expand

Simply a masterpiece. Although, I admit that this game is extremely difficult to beat. In fact, I am still working on it at the moment.

I loved the game. It's design is adorable and the story is awesome.

This side-scroller is one of the most mind expanding (and best) experiences I have ever had from a computer game. Be sure to give it the attention it deserves; just because you reached some sort of conclusion does not mean you have seen everything this work of art has to offer.

Beautiful game, music that draws you in, and a game play mechanic that really makes you think; this game feels as though an exercise in logic/creative communication within the brain. The story had hidden depth that you may not realize until you examine it forwards and backwards, with interpretation left largely to the reader. In a word, this game is poetic. The only reason this does not receive a 10 is the amount of challenge presented in some areas. I ultimately had to look up hints for some areas -- and if you must get help, search for HINTS, not a walkthrough. You will enjoy it better that way. This game will NOT be rewarding for the impatient. If you can't slow down enough to think deeply, there are many aspects of this game that you simply won't enjoy. But if you can calm yourself and let your mind relax, especially when things get too hard, you can find a way through and feel a sense of pride for it. You know, kind of like life.… Expand

I love this game. It is fun, original and has brilliant puzzles. Some puzzles are very challenging, some a bit easier. With some patience you will be able to solve them all without having consult a walkthrough. And it's there for a great price. My #1 for this year!

Essentially Super Mario for the PC with different graphics - in fact when my girlfriend saw me playing she did a double take and said "oh I thought it was Mario!". The game has a great dreamy, arty feel, and the controls and gameplay are both something Miyamoto would be proud of. Support indie games and buy it off Steam!

This is truly an exceptional game. With its stunning, painted visuals, novel mechanics, and story that borders on literature, it is the kind of thing that could only come from an independent publisher, and a must have if want more from a game than jumping on the heads of little coconuts.

Purely amazing the innovation was in the presentation of it and the proof that the little guy with the big idea can make it in the game industry is an inspiration to independent game devs.

This game is fantastic, one of the most ingenious side scrollers I've ever played. I can honestly say that I have not experienced any of the negative effects that Seamus B. describes. The time manipulation is a joy, getting killed or messing up never was a problem to me as you can easily rewind back to where you were a second ago, you dont have to rewind all the way back to the beginning of the level or anything, you can rewind to the precise moment before you were killed and then adjust your movement so you can continue. Once you get in the flow of the game the rewinding becomes second nature, I wasn't even thinking about it at all. The puzzles are very good in my opinion, I just wish there were more worlds in the game and more content overall, but the graphics, music, sound, and overall presentation is excellent.… Expand

This game is a very special masterpiece. I loved it from the very moment I started playing it. The graphics are beautiful, the music fits totally into the atmosphere of the game. The game-idea itself is awesome. Every riddle you have to solve is unique and so cleverly done. There have been so many moments where I just though, "Ingenious!" Especially the star-hunting was very nice - even if I woulndt have found all stars on my own. This game is a very rare piece of art and for now, it's the best game I've ever played. Thank you for creating it! You did a fantastic job!!… Expand

Truly one of the great games off all time. It's not marketing or money that makes it good, it's gameplay in it's purest form.

Beyond brilliant, this game makes you a better human being for having played it. Those who rated it 'tedious trial and error' probably were not bright enough to appreciate it. Yes, the puzzles can sometimes be mind-bendingly difficult, but that's the fun. The storytelling is poetic, somewhat contrived, but very beautiful in a quiet way. I would say Braid is one of the best overall measures of both aesthetic and analytical genius one can create: if you love it, you're quite smart, and if you don't, well, then you're no better than Soulja Boy.… Expand

I thought this was really well worth it. This game was very lovingly created, with the art, music, play-control and game mechanics being of high quality. I really love the way the game requires exploration and interaction to learn the way it works. The only reason this is pleasurable, however, is because it is done correctly. The puzzles are each an exercise in understanding game mechanics. Once you see how it works, the solution naturally develops. Both the 'story' and game mechanics are 'explained' in the same fashion by trend and example with moderate ambiguity. I personally did derive something from some portions of the accompanying 'story' text, but really the author should be more clear since he was obviously trying to make a philosophical statement. It feels like he was driving at something, then just gave up on making it concrete, in the hopes that someone else would fill in the blanks. Don't toil too hard on understanding the text. ***SPOILER: Here's my take: The way I interpret this is that the 'princess' is any ambiguous objective. Several stories are told at once to show how people's personal 'princess' can create outcomes which appear ironically different in outcome than in pursuit. Neat game though.… Expand

Probably the best storyline of any video game I've ever played (Even better than Knights of the Old Republic). It's amazing how well the developer has done all of the aspects of this game perfectly, with no assistance of a big-name publisher. Hour's of fun (And frustration at times, but eh, it's a puzzle game) Definately worth the buy.

This game was just a very simple port of classic donkey Kong. It reminded me of the Game boy color edition. It was the same thing with a dif guy and brushed up graphics. Apparently, when people say its original, they obviously havent played games 10 years ago. Im sorry, but this deserves a 5

Great game, very good puzzles, but it's plot was a bit too vague to be compelling. While it was absolutely interesting, there's a point where a game can just be a little bit too incoherent. I paid $5 for this game on steam, and I got about 4 and a half hours of play time from it. While I couldn't exactly justify a $15 purchase, it's a charming, entertaining puzzle game/platformer that's worth experiencing.… Expand

Absolutely remarkable. The time and effort that has gone into such a simple, yet amazingly complex platform like this is amazing. I am completely enchanted. Braid has succeeded in reviving the wonder and captivation I had for the early video games when I was a young boy. Beautiful in every way.

Is this game a platform? Maybe, but for me was be one of the most best experience of my gamers (long) life. Simply poetry!

Best game of the year so far. Gameplay is innovative and challanging, while never frustrating. Hardcore gamers get their fair share of skill-based puzzles. Puzzle players will of course be satisfied. And just for the thrill of it even casual players could try it. The music is done well, too and the art style is unique and fits the overall atmosphere. Controls work fine on PC. Overall a must buy (especially for that price).… Expand

Not gonna lie, this game is a complete mind Fu** in many ways. On some of the worlds i literally exclaimed WTF? I really enjoyed the innovative puzzles that I have never seen before, but was very dissapointed that they didn't combine some of the "powers" together is later worlds, such as Using the ring, and the alternate universe trick. That would have been really satisfying. The story in it, almost makes no since whatsoever, and i feel as if some of it was just thrown in at random. another thing I have to complain about is that it was uber short. I beat the game in an afternoon, which i feel makes the game slightly overpriced. Despite my gripes, this is a very fun indi game that should not be overlooked. It way by far the most fun I have had in a while. I eagerly look forward to a (hopefully longer) sequel.… Expand

Braid is not just a puzzlegame (it's a puzzlegame mates, not a platformer), nor just and indie that crashed with success on the market scene thanks to it's original game mechanics and for the well hand drawn graphics. It's an artpiece and as anything worthy to be so called, it can be read at different levels: 1) a great puzzle game, build around a strong platform gameplay. What the author says it's real: there is no filler, every single stage adds something new to the game. Most jigsaw pieces are very easy to pick, but anyway they give you an insight on the game mechanics, so that when facing the hard ones, you have just to figure out how to use the skill you've learned. I can't but applaud the level design. It's very strange how the game develops: nothing seems to be compulsory, no one says you what to do, and the story content is only between a stage and the others written on books that are about glimpses of someone's life, not a real story. 2) A great puzzle game, with a very interesting story, with a shocking ending. In the whole game you read books about a love story between Tim (who it's obviously you) and a misterious princess. It's looks like a very strong, overwhelming love, that confuses both. But somehow it must be true, because you are going to save the princess... what else can a videogame be about? The whole story is oneiric for sure, the impressionist painting, you are in a suit but in a fantasy world, you assemble puzzle pieces togheter and every time you find out something more about this love story...every room is a metaphore of some aspect of life, and both the gameplay and the looks of the rooms reflect this... for sure it's a dream. So what is that about? You live it all just like you are saving the princess but in the end... you find out the real truth: you've lived the whole story backwards. You tough that you were running to save the princess, but the truth is that she was escaping from you. So you a madman whose love was not returned, and you've hidden the truth in the most remote part of your brain (the end of the game). As you arrive in the final stage indeed the last books reveal both the faces of the story: your point of view, and the point of view of the princess. But the story doesn't goes on, you remain in the loneliness of your solitude, the princess out of your reach. 3) At this point it was already a piece of art for me, but then I've played it again from the start, reread all the books with the new knowledge I've had about the story, found all but one of the stars, and noticed more details. For example the flags at the end of every stage are in naval flag laguage and say Tim that he should not go on. And there is some reference about the nuclear bomb, and the outside background seems like a great sunset, but maybe it's a bombed city... and some books describe Tim as a scientist... then I've reached the princess, and the nuclear bomb exploded. After that Tim is really alone in his dream/nighter, realising what he has done, learnt that in life some mistakes can be undone... but some can be not. You are one of those responsible of making the first nuclear warhead, you've lived an experience that can't be described. Maybe music could grasp the mood of this experience, maybe some painting could hint the feelings of it, maybe a movie or a book could tell the story... but Jonathan Blow tried to render the whole oneiric experience with an ambixious videogame. That's a great job, I'm really impressed... and I still had a lot of fun playing with it, as a lot of people who stopped and enjoyed with the first aspect of the game. hooray for Braid!!! p.s. sorry for my english, I'm waiting to emigrate from Italy to improve it.… Expand

Immersive and unique. The game's short length (seen as its only major flaw) actually works more in its favour, because it retains the element of lush quality without labouring the point. Seamus B: Also, the plot of the game is deliberately vague, misleading and utterly pretentious and overblown - totally out of place, considering the game's rather cutesy, whimsical style and direction. Ever heard of dramatic strengthening via juxtaposition? I think not.… Expand

A great blend of Calvino-styled fiction with amazing puzzles. The moments of discovery in this game are some of the most powerful moments I've had playing any game.

Wow, best puzzle game I've ever played. Super original and a unbeatable deal for 15 bucks.Some of the puzzles are hard, but you'll be glowing with pride once you figure them out.

Very few games deserve 10, which should be left for those certain games which you cannot find any flaws. Braid was one of the first games I'd actually give a 10 to. The story was poetic and compelling, the graphics are spot on, the gameplay is incredible, and the puzzles are some of the most well designed I'd ever seen. My actual score would be something like 9.6 or something. The only flaws were minor. First, there are some puzzles (2) where you will lose a key and there is no way to know which door will work so you have to try it all over again. These puzzles are early on so when the tough challenges come around you are going to be annoyed so much. Secondly, the story although incredible is much too abstract and empty. Even through all the bonus puzzles in the final level you still don't get any clear picture of the metaphors presented. Thirdly, the hidden stars which are the hardest in the game to find are only there for the experts of the game. There is very little chance that you'll find one unless you look EVERYWHERE and even then prepare to try EVERYTHING to find them, they are very hard to find. I disliked there design because they were put in places which are just ridiculous. (Watch videos on youtube to find out) Aside from those minor problems the game is a treasure. The demo doesn't do justice to the rest of the game though, so I do recommend buying it!… Expand

Briad is the best game I've played in a long time. The unique controls make it challenging without the frustrating exact timing requirements of many games. I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 simple because it was a little short. This game is money well spent.

Not quite what the hype would lead you to believe. It is an interesting game with several different variations on time control and platforming. The music is excellent but I found the sound effects to be quite poor in comparison. The detailed and stylistic art is beautiful and almost always a nice sight to behold. All in all the game falls short on value with fairly frustrating game play that doesn't lend well to replay. At 15 USD I feel it is a bit overpriced for what you get.… Expand

If I had to convince a non-gamer that games can be beautiful, artistic masterpieces, and I could only give them one game to do so, that game would be Braid.

Most of this score is dedicated to how thoughtful the game's 'plot' was, but how unobtrusive that plot was for those that just wanted the gameplay. It's guaranteed to make you think, and while the last level is a bit ambiguous in how it works, it is still a genius twist that really questions the heroics of every game character out there. The puzzles are absolutely genius, must've taken so long to come up with, but they provide you with much head-scratching, and a cheeky grin once you've solved them. If you can't, you might eventually feel like beating someone, since the last level requires you beat every puzzle, but if you're anything like me you'll just use an FAQ if something eludes you for so long it frustrates you. An in-game guide wouldn't have gone amiss really. But this game is still exceedingly clever, and very satisfying to play as long as you can work out the puzzles fairly competently, thus I dub it 'Best Indie Game Evar'. Oh, and I'd give it a 9.5 except I can't and I didn't think 9 was ample justice, so I rounded it up to 10 :).… Expand

What is Braid? Braid is well-crafted platformer, which uses a time-manipulating system on which puzzle-solving is based. It also has great music and graphical content, as well as amazing storyline, both inspiring and a food for thought. For me, game was a little bit hard on some of it's parts, but I have to say, even if you are not a fan of this genre (I'm an RPG-player, mostly), you should try Braid at least for it's story, well-done 2D drawings and music.… Expand

A great game, plays without a single flaw. Why give it 9 then? Well it has not got a great story, and can get a bit confusing on your first play through. It has great replay value, takes away all of the annoying niggles that are present in a lot of platformers and is practically just pure fun!

What these guys aren't telling you is the controls are non customizable (you NEED a 3rd party app to use a controller or to change buttons). The graphics, while stylized and a neat direction, end up washed out and blurry, and the platforming is as generic as the story. Yes there is a "twist" to it, but if you played Prince of Persia, you won't be seeing anything new. The music is good, the controls tight, the game itself is decent, but this is not the second coming of platformers everyone is making it out to be. It is a generic indie game that reached circlejerk overhyped status; this is not a bad game or a great one, it is an average platformer.… Expand

This game is perfect. There is not a single thing I can complain about. The story is amazing and creative. In the same manner as Inception and Donnie Darko it really makes you think and leaves a lot of details to your mind. However; I'm positive that more than 50% of the people who play this game will miss the story totally which is sad seeing it is the best story, by far, delivered by a game to this date in gaming history. Some people compare this game to Portal, this is however a very bad comparison. This game is way more. Portal was a fresh game but it was not a masterpiece in the sense Braid is. Portal will be remembered as creative and witty. This game will be remebered as so much more with amazing music, graphics, gameplay mechanics AND story. The game can be too hard for a lot of people seeing it requires A LOT of abstract thinking, problem solving and independent mind. This is because the gameplay depends on your mind and the story depends so much on your imagination. Even more so in the later levels of the game. This game can also be very hard at first try because it gives very little information to the player to why the player should solve all these amazing puzzles. And for someone like me who really wants to be "paid" for doing work in a game it was really hard getting the motivation. However I was so wrong. This game rewards the player so much when he finishes the game by revealing story parts and things that have been so apparent all the way but so well hidden. Thanks Jonathan Blow for making the most amazing game ever made.… Expand

The art style of this game is incredible. The music is great and neatly rewinds and fast forwards along with your time controls. Some of the puzzles in this game are CONFUSING! Which I think is a good thing, after sitting there for 10 minutes and you finally figure one out you'll have a "son of a **** moment but it should be worth a good giggle. I only gave it a 9 because the game is a little short even with the speed trials you can unlock when you complete the game.… Expand

An inventive & unique action puzzle game (controller/gamepad HIGHLY recommended) that revolves around the manipulation of time to solve various puzzles, with an interesting & thought provoking storyline that has hidden dark layers & undertones beneath the colorful semi-cartoony graphics. Progressing through the game & solving the variety of diverse puzzles is certainly brain-teasing, & while some may leave you totally stumped at times, Braid is the type of game where as you are running around experimenting the answer will hit you all of a sudden & keeps you coming back for more. You can't exactly "die" in Braid, but don't let that fool you into thinking this game is somehow lacking in difficulty. It's definitely quite challenging & just when you think you have solved it all there are secrets hidden throughout the game. While the game is not that long the experience will certainly leave its mark upon you. Thanks to Braid I now pay a lot more attention to indie games because there are some real gems out there. Can't wait for a sequel!!… Expand

Unique and interesting puzzle platformer. Six worlds, each offering a new challenge. Some of the puzzles are actually pretty difficult and can take a frustrating toll on your patience or more likely a trip to You Tube to figure them out. There is a story...kind of...but not really--I didn't really follow it. Overall, the game was enjoyable because it offered something different than the norm, but it is pretty short.… Expand

Challenging, fun and a beautiful few hours of game play. For the price it is a game everyone should play. It could be longer, but it is only a cheap indie game and a stunning one at that.

I usually hate puzzle games like this, but for a while it was pretty intriguing. The time mechanic keeps changing enough to keep up, and the boss fights are definitely fun. I guess I'm just not cut out for puzzles, since I just look up all of them in other games because I don't care about solving them.

Braid is Super Mario Brothers out for a bender and high on a hefty dose of Acid. The Acid trip starts slowly; the first few levels are quite normal and conform to the basic platform idea. Then some weirdness starts to sneak up on you… You can reverse time at your convenience!? There are no lives, just rewind until things are ok!?! A little bit further and it’s a one way slide down the rabbit hole as fundamental laws of nature are twisted back on themselves. At the peak you’re caught in the grip of powerful hallucinations that bend your mind and warp your perception of reality so forcefully that you feel a little discomforted and concerned. However when you come to the end you’ve learned to accept the new reality and it becomes the new normal; accepted, understood and fantastic. It’s at this point that it’s worth pointing out that Braid has a generous slab of puzzle game in it’s pedigree, perhaps an even greater portion than platformer. Things are set up such that you are not saved by the nimbleness of your fingers on the control pad but rather how well you have considered how to conquer the next obstacle. This is emphasised by the fact that you can’t die in the conventional sense. If you “dieâ€� then all you need do is rewind until before you did. This means that you will never be truly challenged by physical threats, rather it is the mental ones that you have to be careful of. With that being said though there is a need to have some platform skills, in the same way that a journalist needs to be able to type to write articles. Alright let’s cut to the chase about what makes Braid tick, and what makes it great. Fundamentally Braid is a platform game in which you get numerous powers with which you can manipulate time. It’s simple to say this, but the reality is quite impressive and hard to fathom without experiencing it. Manipulation of time gives rise to puzzles that have solutions you can’t expect, but that you can figure out quite readily. Each world behaves consistently with the rules that the designers gave it, it’s up to you to discover those rules and use them to solve the puzzles. Experimenting and exploring each world is important and nothing is placed without a purpose in mind, even though you may not realise it at first. Braid can be fiendishly difficult at times and it was frequent that I put the controller down to just look and have a think. However the difficulty isn’t ridiculous and there is something so very satisfying when you figure out each puzzle, especially one that has been bugging you for a while. Also the puzzles are varied enough that it never grows stale or repetitive, instead it stays fresh throughout presenting you with puzzles that are always challenging, novel and interesting. It’s brilliant and novel gameplay aside Braid is a complete and polished package. In particular I found the audio especially compelling. The music is atmospheric and gives the game a windswept and bleak feel and doesn’t become irritating if heard repeatedly. What’s really interesting however is that the all the audio is affected by your time powers as well. This really helps to enhance and reinforce the connection between the power and the effect it has on the game world. The story is probably the thinnest part of the package but it is easy to see that it was designed with a purpose in mind. The story doesn’t have a continuous narrative and is instead a collection of obtuse stories about the princess and the games protagonist. Each part is presented at the start of a new World and they seem to provide hints as to what rules will govern within. Overall the story is a disjointed set of vague anecdotes that come together with a nice internal consistency at the end, despite this it does feel a little unsatisfying and is the weakest part of the whole package. When you distill it down to its base elements Braid is like a crossword or Sudoku puzzle only far more visceral and engaging. Crosswords and Sudoku are one note constructs, they only provide one very specific challenge. Braid on the other hand has many and varied notes that it plays masterfully, combining them into a shower of sound that immediately captures your curiosity and at the same time confounds you with its delicious complexity. Summary: Truly groundbreaking gameplay coupled with a heap of polish makes this an experience not to be missed radman http://www.radmangames.com… Expand

Braid is like getting a beautiful present, and opening it to realize you’ve been given a jigsaw puzzle that’s missing a few pieces. While touting stunningly artistic graphics, a wonderful musical score, and a haunting story, the game also largely features puzzles that are difficult and annoying. Braid is a combination between a poor platfomer and a frustratingly non-logical puzzle game wrapped in a pretty package. If I want an artful puzzler, I will get something like "The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom." If I want a game to make me feel something, I will get anything made by Tale of Tales. If I want to be frustrated by puzzles that dont make sense, and an annoying touchy platformer, Ill get "Braid."… Expand

A great challenging game with equally great graphics & soundtrack. It was so good I bought it for two of my friends. And at a reasonably price, I can't see no one complaining.

Good and original mechanics, awesome art style, good music, challenging (but not impossible) puzles, nice story with a surprising ending. One of the best, if not the best, indie game I've ever played. It's not a superproduction but it's what a video game should be. In this age of clones of remakes of copies, originality and imagination is not dead yet thanks to games like this one.

Braid is an ingenious little puzzle/platformer, its core element is time manipulation in which each chapter has its own unique twist. The flow of the game is balanced, though sometimes depending on your platforming skills it can become a bit of a trial and error challenge, which may be tedious. The plot is a bit vague and confusing at first but the outcome is simply brilliant and well executed, exploiting the capabilities of the medium it's in. The visuals are aesthetically pleasing and the soundtrack is glorious. With roughly 10 hours of gameplay, its unique puzzles and mind-blowing epilogue, Braid is a must play.… Expand

Braid is yet another fine game I have played. I love the character design, the sytle, the story, the gameplay, the level design, and most of all the reversing feature. That feature became the most innovative feature on a platformer in my opinion.

Braid is such a cleverly designed game. The rewarding feeling of solving the puzzles is comparable, if not greater than the portal series. The different themes of power in each world makes it so that a specific power doesn't get overused. I loved the songs "Downstream", "Lullaby" and "Romanesca" which I still listen to after finishing the game. My complaints are that the game controls menu or "How to play" menu doesn't tell you how to speed the rate of rewinding time, which made one of the puzzles impossible to do without finding that out first. Secondly, to get the "proper" ending, you are supposed to collect 8 stars. The first star takes almost 2 hours of waiting around doing nothing, which is pretty tedious and the second star requires you to not complete world 3, which would have been good to know. I think the game should have had arrows pointing to the star in the rooms that contained them, as I find it hard to believe that people don't use guides to find them. Finally, the story ends by throwing loads of text at you, which left me feeling cold. That said, this was my first indie game and I loved it.… Expand

right this game is WEIRD. I see the resemblance to mario,, and while it has soothing music the whole "forgiveness...princess...non-manipulable" rubbish wehre it tries to be deep, is preposterous, annoying, silly, and stupid. The character looks EXTREMELY odd, his skull is 1/3 the size of his body. That's not a problem, just odd. The trying to be deep and philosophical part was rubbish and quite annoying. Played a few levels for like 20 minutes. I'll remember to always check the demo on games as I most likely won't be wasting my time with this odd game. HOW this got 10/10 on eurogamer I HAVE ZERO idea. people are probably idiotic stoners or into pseudo-philosphical games. The weirdness I don't mind. It just isn't something really fancy tha tmuch. couldn't get into ti. maybe the days of me playing the rubbish "save the princess" games are over. All I could think about was how BAD of a case of One-itis this programmer probably had for some chick that dumped him or that he got dumped by! The whole intro of the game wreaked of "forgiveness and getting back some princess and manipuable blah blah" the main character even looks like a chump. Blegh. Didn't like this much at all. One thing I noticed and really would like to remedy is it's CHALLENGING for me buy games I actually really want to play (like portal 2 and assass 2 have been on my top wishlist for AGES). Granted they're more expensive, but it's useless to me to waste money on crap titles like this. I may revisit this game later but highly doubt ever getting into it because it wreaks of some programmer getting dumped and then making an entire mopy game out of it! WTF!! How eurogamer gave this piece of slinky odd crap a 10???!!I have no idea. My respect for eurogamer plummetted upon hearing that. If you're into the extremely odd graphics, zen-elevator-muzak, and a game coded by some programmer who obviously had serious one-itis, well, then buy this game! If those aren't your preferences (and they aren't mine), then don't. I think I'm also realizing that if I put time into playing and beating a game these days I want to be a REALLY quality top-notch game, a to-be-classic game (portal series DEF falls in that category) and bioshock 1 did as well, assass sort of did. Anyways cheers.… Expand

This game looks like an impressionist painting. You get to warp time in various ways to collect puzzle pieces and find your lost princess. I played through it in under 6 hours with a couple hints on how to collect certain pieces. There are 6 worlds, each with its own method of controlling time. I don't intend to play it again, but it's worth checking out especially if you can get it for $5 like I did. If you get the steam version there are achievements you can collect for playing through the game plus one more for playing through it again more quickly.… Expand

You can be an innovative creator, have an original idea and good level design but it doesn't make your game accessible and fun for many people. That's a shame.... but entry barrier is too high for such a regular user as me. I've played it for a few hours and drowned in frustration... I could think about it more, I could watch the answer on the web but the difficulty level isn't the problem. It's the lack of motivation that prevents me from pursuing it...… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fresh, unique, puzzle game; one of the few things that have perished since Tetris. But not for Braid. The mechanic of time-warping is very perplexing, and the use of it will change the thinking methods of players as each level progresses. Highly recommended for players who have yet to discover a good indie puzzle game.… Expand

Braid (PC/Xbox360) Brief Review! (A-) Braid is a game that appears to be a Mario style platformer. The art/depth/challenge factor of this game is extremely high, so it's like Mario for geniuses. One of the most challenging games I've ever played with a very interesting visual style and backstory, Braid is a relatively short but intense affair that will keep you playing until you solve it or want to toss your machine out the window. The main gameplay gimmick involves your ability to manipulate time, and this mechanic is used throughout the game to solve its puzzles. The impressionist art style, the highly debated story, and the incredibly soundtrack add a lot of extras. There are challenge modes and "hidden stars" for those who enjoy pain and punishment and want to get replayability. Game costs about $10 and is available on the 360 or on the PC Via Steam. Well worth it. Here's the 1UP Review on the 360 version. http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165777… Expand

Such a breathtaking and beautiful game. It is truly a work of art. The music and the graphics were stunning and genuinely emotive. Amazing to play and I loved it. I would really like to know what Jonathan Blow was trying to convey with the paintings and what the character was truly seeking/running from. Part of me wonders if it might be something sinister from childhood, judging by the subject of the paintings.… Expand

Very good Indie game. Graphics, sound, music, controls and story are all well made. Maybe a little over-hyped but definitely good game. And even though it's short, it's also cheap, wich is good since that's not the kind of game I want to play for too long as it can get boring after a while. So I think game lenght is also made right. The game ends before getting tedious. The time manipulation feature is part of the game mechanic and essential to solve puzzles. There's nothing to compare to the "error correcting" time-rewind from Prince of Persia. And there's nothing that reminded me of any other game (Mario?... Donkey Kong?... had to be someone that don't actually play games to say something like that). Worth playing.… Expand

Amazing, amazing game! One of those you just need to play, and not read about :) Try it! It's not your usual side-scroller! ;)

Braid is a puzzle, not a game, and I admit I am not good at puzzles. In fact, if they are too intricate, I will have trouble solving them. Braid is one of those complex puzzles. It started out fun and intriguing, but soon, I lost patience as the puzzles became more unreasonable. The platforming is minimal and only actually found in the last five minutes of the experience. In Braid, you will be able to rewind and fast forward time in order to engineer your way through platforms, locks, and barriers. This appealing mechanic is used in a novel manner, and is implemented elaborately. The artwork is colorful and vivid, providing the player with a well developed background. Even if one does not enjoy the genre of music used in the soundtrack, the songs are fitting of the setting. Braid's plot is mildly interesting, even though it doesn't make much sense, nor does it provide much detail. You must appreciate and love puzzles in order to proceed and enjoy Braid thoroughly. I found the majority of the puzzles too complicated and impossible to solve without help. The overall experience is convoluted, jumbled, pretentious, and frustratingly complicated. This is a series of puzzles for puzzle lovers only. Even though the atmosphere of the puzzles along with their storyline are done well, it leaves me with an ultimate feeling of incoherence in the end. It's not that the puzzles are illogical, it's that they are overly complicated without needing to be. The process of solving these puzzles is not enjoyable nor satisfactory, and the ending is nearly pointless, being more of a continuation of loose fragments thrown together for no real reason. Braid is also very short and offers zero replay value. If you absolutely love puzzles or puzzles in games, give Braid a try. You might find it tolerable or even enjoy it. Personally, I feel that it is massively overrated and trite. Braid is about absolutely nothing at all. Its only purpose is to be self-important and pompous.… Expand

Technically, Braid is a 2D platform game, in which you can partially control time to solve each level, collecting pieces of a puzzle. The levels can be played sequentially or not, and you are not blocked if you can't complete a level. What makes Braid excellent is the non-repetitive nature of puzzle: each is unique and non-trivial. Some puzzle can be solved by speculation, others by trial-and-error. You will be coming back to starting levels to find out that what you've been playing just taught you how to progress further and solve puzzles you couldn't tackle before. Puzzle layout is in general very ingenious, and the possibility of going ahead without completing all previous puzzles helps to keep interest high; with experience, you will get back and solve everything missing. All the puzzles are organized along an inspiring narration. From the beginning, you get the feeling you're helping the character, not just playing him. All texts are well written, style is consistent and the whole storyline is very emotional. The ending was unique, in terms of gameplay and narration. Graphics are absolutely lovely: from Braid's official site you can even download the original spritesheets and some game assets. Music is very good, different for each world and well matched to the world's features. Playing Braid has been a very rewarding experience, from the start to the end. I would advise to play it to anyone who love videogames. Braid raised the bar for any game to come, thus I give it a 10.… Expand

Definitely a great game, it has a deeper meaning and the art and music are extremely well done, it has a nice combination of puzzle, platform and adventure, but the fact is that the game play itself gets boring at some point. Once you're done with world 3, which is the 2nd world as you start in world 2, it gets quite boring and repetitive. The puzzling outside the main play is a very nice touch and a much more fun way to tell the story as most people don't have the patience to read everything, even though it's fairly essential for the game. It has a lot of ups and downs, there were certain levels I did enjoy and once I didn't, it is a very innovative game and I have enjoyed playing it a lot, in the beginning. If you like puzzling and Mario, you might want to give this a try.… Expand

This game is not a particularly amazing game in-and-of itself, but it's beauty is in what it does FOR games as an industry and for the people who play it. This game is filled with all sorts of interesting concepts and magical moments of inspired solutions. While pretty short, each moment of triumph is immensely satisfying. Definitely play this game; it's totally worth it. And do yourself a favor: don't be quick to youtube the answers. Solving it for yourself is the whole point of the game and you will definitely not enjoy it if you miss out on that.… Expand

I feel like I put pocket change in a slot at the fair and unexpectedly had my mind blown, spending as much time trying to figure the game out after I beat it as I did while playing it. That's Braid, it's intellectual, poetic and problem-solving stimulation for pocket change. It starts as a fascinating yet mysterious puzzle solving game that finishes as emotionally moving, as well as a fairly grand metaphor for something which I wouldn't dare spoil for you. Believe the high rating, Braid is what happens when good poetry and a puzzle solving game are joined at the hip.… Expand

If you like puzzle games, bright and simple, but with a twist "strange", this is it. It has a very good visual appeal, some of the most difficult puzzles and interesting. With a striking and unusual history, different branches throughout the game. This is one of the few games that handles well the mechanics of the powers of time in an effective and fun. It's a great game, including achievements and Steam Cloud support (So you saved games remaining in the account).… Expand

Was I suppose to get an instruction manual or something? I had to search Google to figure out exactly how to play because figuring it out on your own is not as simple as you would think. I can only praise this game for it's creativity and beauty.

Ernst Gombrich wrote, -There really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists.- Not a bad way to describe what u become in Braid. With the use of the senses a computer can reach, you become the artist. The moment of inspiration triggers intellect and it is provoked by beautiful music and nice graphics. It could be intellectually challenging, but most important... it is creatively challenging. The tools you get may seem like a 2D platform game on the outside to the short of sight, but it wraps a use of thought to peel through the profound dimensional bending to create the enigmatic puzzles with thought provoking mechanics. It is certainly not for everyone, since it requires a creative and highly logical mind with enough space for a theoretical ruled world that lets you dream. It is not as difficult as it may sound, it should suffice to have a deep moment of though, but will stretch your common daily thinking to order events in a non continuous manner with the use of your ingenuity, logic and creativity, so much it seems you design the answer and not the developer. All in a beautiful metaphor of a story, as someone else said, -it is poetry.- But the poem needs a reader to understand it and feel it to be then considered great and not everyone is sensitive or sensible enough to grasp the essence always. You become the artist that completes the art cycle. So it comes down to preference, but from someone like me that has gone through a plethora of "big name" games, mmos and classic games, i recommend it as one fine jewel with emotional meaning in your drawer. The only problems this game has are; the non appealing art style to some (taste here), the idea that the way it looks could deceive you and make you believe it is a platform/ puzzle game and that it's -to my personal opinion-... way too short. It really makes you wanting more challenges and to feel that inspirational moment again over and over. As a puzzler... not the best, as a platform game... not great, as an art gallery, not good. The reason is that it is non, those are the just the mediums used... but not the object of art. So it may not be the most innovative, but it is surely the best at packing the characteristics that it offers... for you to unveil. As a conclusion, a $9.99 game that sometimes goes on sale for less than $3, that offers such an intimate connection to those that have the plugs is just ridiculous. Most +$60 dollar games haven't been able to scratch a bit of the itch that Braid cures. It is very much like comparing a great great poem to an long entertaining book in some cases. And... as a poem, it leaves you dreaming, thinking and understanding a little bit more of yourself... with few words, short and not hard to swallow.… Expand

Played this game a while back, and it's definitely one of the best indie games out there. Not a platformer in the traditional sense, as it is a puzzle solving game, but it's very original, challenging and a lot of fun. The reason I don't give it a 10/10 is due to the story and the soundtrack. The story is super fruity and given through text between maps. The music is some weird ambient stuff that got on my nerves pretty fast so I just turned off the music volume and played some Def Leppard over it. Much better.… Expand

Technically, Braid is a 2D platform game, in which you can partially control time to solve each level, collecting pieces of a puzzle. The levels can be played sequentially or not, and you are not blocked if you can't complete a level. What makes Braid excellent is the non-repetitive nature of puzzle: each is unique and non-trivial. Some puzzle can be solved by speculation, others by trial-and-error. You will be coming back to starting levels to find out that what you've been playing just taught you how to progress further and solve puzzles you couldn't tackle before. Puzzle layout is in general very ingenious, and the possibility of going ahead without completing all previous puzzles helps to keep interest high; with experience, you will get back and solve everything missing. All the puzzles are organized along an inspiring narration. From the beginning, you get the feeling you're helping the character, not just playing him. All texts are well written, style is consistent and the whole storyline is very emotional. The ending was unique, in terms of gameplay and narration. Graphics are absolutely lovely: from Braid's official site you can even download the original spritesheets and some game assets. Music is very good, different for each world and well matched to the world's features. Playing Braid has been a very rewarding experience, from the start to the end. I would advise to play it to anyone who love videogames. Braid raised the bar for any game to come, thus I give it a 10.… Expand

This is one of the few games I would consider as art. It makes you feel all kinds of emotion for optimism to sorrow. This game is truly life changing.

Best game ever made. It is so great in so many ways! - Story is probably the best in a platform game ever. Probably one of the best stories in a game ever. - The graphics are amazing. - The soundtrack may very well be one of the best soundtracks ever made for a game.

Very challenging puzzle game, lovely design and very innovative game-play! One of the greatest platformers or even greatest games ever, a real masterpiece.