A game you'll rewind time and time again.
On paper, Braid sounds like a typical side-scrolling adventure, with time control thrown in, but what makes this game a trip is the style, heart, and philosophy behind this game. This game was a labor of love from it's developers and it really shows.
Braid has a time control element to it. Time control may sound like a gimmick to games these days, but it's utilized to perfection in this game. You absolutely need it to solve puzzles and get past certain enemies, and Braid has allot of puzzles, which might be asking for trouble, from most gamers. For the most part, the puzzles are actually allot of fun. They don't beat you over the head with it's difficulty, instead they strike just the right balance to be fun, but not simple.
Don't think a game can't look beautiful and be mature also. This game has a dark story that holds up throughout the game until it reaches a very satisfying ending. Yes, the game is also beautiful to look at, the levels, back round all feel like its been hand painted.
Braid is a flagship for downloadable games which shows they can be a critical and financial success with gamers and should encourage more developers to delve into indie gaming.
Average Critic score: 9.2
