Braid review

Podcast here.

Transcript of podcast:

Braid is a side scrolling platformer available over Xbox Live. It pays homage to classics like Mario, but Braid itself is actually a puzzle game, with the puzzles based on time manipulation. You start out with an unlimited ability to rewind time, and each of the later worlds has its own unique mechanic. One world, for example, has your shadow carry out actions after you rewind time.

The storyline is the least successful aspect of the game. Initially it appears to be a simple tale of Tim, the protagonist, attempting to rescue a princess. However, this is actually a metaphor for something else. An extremely awkward metaphor. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that.

Graphically, Braid uses sprites with vibrant watercolor backgrounds, preserving an old school feel without looking dated. Sounds effects are minimal, and the soundtrack is composed of classical and folk music.

Braid uses an extremely simple control scheme. You use an analog stick to move around, one button to rewind time, and another to jump. The game requires some extremely precise jumping, but between the responsiveness of the controls and the ability to rewind time I didn't find it overly difficult. The true difficulty is in solving the puzzles, which are both challenging and intriguing.

Overall I enjoyed Braid, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys puzzle games. I give it a B+.