A Virtually Perfect XBLA Experience
Gamers often complain that modern games do not innovate often enough. Platformers in particular are often cited as notoriously lacking in innovation and creativity. BraId thankfully does not continue this trend, but rather evolves the platforming genre in an artistically inspired manner (both literally and figuratively). Braid looks like a beautifully-realized platformer on its surface, but is truly a platforming/puzzle-solving adventure game at its core, with a moving, melancholy, and quietly subtle story driving the gameplay. This mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and emotionally-driven narrative is wonderfully executed, and an absolute joy to behold--whether as a player, or merely as a spectator. Save for two minor issues, Braid would be the perfect modern platforming experience.
The world of Braid, like many platformers, consists of several levels, each connected to an overworld via a series of doors. Each individual level is split into multiple sections, each featuring one or two platforming and time-based puzzles. These puzzles, once solved, open paths to puzzle pieces, which are used to complete a puzzle near the end of each level. The puzzles seem to share a connection with the game's story, but their meanings are open to interpretation--the game doesn't go out of its way to explain the pictures formed by solving these puzzles. Each puzzle must be solved to in order to unlock World 1, and to truly complete the game (players begin, strangely enough, in World 2).
The platforming puzzles are quite simple at first, but grow increasingly more difficult as players progress through the game. Some levels require extensive use of the rewind feature, others a shadow which mimics past actions, and still others require various other time combinations. Each puzzle's solution is incredibly challenging, but discovering these solutions without the aid of a guide is quite rewarding, both literally and figuratively (the game does award achievement points, after all). The puzzles of World 8 are far more difficult and time-consuming (pun intended) than those found in World 2, but are certainly possible, and do not require genius-level intellect to complete--despite the protestations of forum members on various gaming websites.
The narrative driving players' quest to solve the aforementioned puzzles is revealed through a series of books which appear before the entrance to each level. The story of Braid is a subtle one, revealing the story of Tim--the protagonist of the game--slowly and surely, giving players just enough information to let them work out their own interpretations of the game events. The game's ending is also quite ambiguous, playing off of the typical platforming convention of a hero saving a princess from a dastardly villain. Players will have to decide for themselves just who is the hero, and who is the villain. Is Tim really the kind of man one is led to believe?
Discovering the secrets of Braid is a joy, but not a perfect experience. There are two small black marks dotting the otherwise clean landscape that is Braid: the price, and replayability. The price is a tad high, and there is very little incentive to play through Braid a second time. The joy one feels upon completion of a puzzle simply cannot be duplicted on a second playthrough of the game, regardless of how much time has passed between each session. Perhaps this loss of replayability could be stomached if the game cost the usual 800 Microsoft Points; instead, Microsoft asks players to pay an extra 400 MS Points to experience Braid (cost translation: roughly $15). Some may find this a small price to pay for the kind of experience Braid offers, but most XBLA gamers will not be willing to pay $15 for any game--much less an "artsy-fartsy" side-scrolling platformer with simple (but beautiful) 2D graphics.
It is a shame that so many players may miss out on a top-notch game like Braid, simply because of its price tag. So few games bother to innovate beyond improving graphics and adding more levels; to see a game rework a genre so brilliantly, but be held back by its price, gives one cause for alarm. One can only hope that Microsoft will eventually lower the price of Braid to the more reasonable (and standard) price of 800 MS Points. Perhaps then, more gamers will be willing to take a chance on this wonderful game. Gaming experiences like this do not come along often, after all.
