I’m sure most people have had something they needed to get done, but couldn’t because they couldn’t stop what they are currently doing. I ran into this all to familiar concept while playing the game Braid. Sure I needed to write a review so all my fellow peers would know if this beautiful game was worthy of its $15.00 price tag, but I couldn’t because the game engrossed me in a way I haven’t experienced in a long time.

Gameplay:

Right from the start of Braid gamers will know that they are in for an unusual treat because there is no “start screen,” just the hero, Tim, standing in front of a beautiful background. As Tim proceeds to the first door there is no clue to what the game has in store for the player. Upon entering the door labeled World 2 there are books resting on pedestals that explain the story (somewhat) of why Tim is in this “dream” world. Based on poor decisions, Tim has lost his princess to a monster and the only way to get her back is to reverse time to correct his mistakes. On the surface Braid is a 2-D side scroller reminiscent of Super Mario Brothers and on one level you play a familiar role that “Mario” stared in another game (I won’t spoil it any further). Unlike our plump Italian plumber in red bib-overalls, Tim is a redheaded man who wears a suit and red tie to jump on the baddies heads and solve brilliant puzzles. Braid offers the player only one unique skill that travels with the player from level to level and that is the ability to reverse time by pressing the X button. Have you missed a jump or became impaled? No problem, simply rewind to the spot where Tim’s mishap began and everything is back to normal. The game won’t punish the player for their unfortunate accidents, but rather gives them an infinite number of “mulligans.” This is wonderful because one of the tedious things about platformers is having to restart a level because you screwed up. Now Braid isn’t without it’s start over flaws, because if you don’t do the puzzle in the correct order on some levels you may have to start over to refresh it. As Tim progresses through the six different worlds he encounter something unique about each one. For example one world’s time is manipulated by which direction Tim walks and on another rewinding time allows for rip in time where Tim’s actions after rewinding still have an effect on the present time. The goal in each of these multiple levels within a world is to obtain the puzzle pieces needed to create a portrait of a time in Tim’s life. In order to acquire each of the puzzle pieces, the player must use his mind rather than skill to obtain them. Each puzzle is different and some require a bit of the old “try, try, and try again” until Tim lands the piece. So we know what Braid offers on top, but once the player really digs in to what the creator, Jonathan Blow, intended for you to feel you are left in a sense of awe. The story is deeper than any other video game I’ve experienced and will offer a different interpretations from each player. The game is not only meant for the gamer to think about solving the puzzles, but life’s dilemmas we have become all too familiar with. Braid is about decisions and consequences, not only in the gameplay, but in the main character’s life. I’d love to delve deeper into the meaning of the story, but I’d hate to spoil it with my interpretation rather than have you decide what the game means for yourself.

Graphics:

Braid’s art design is so beautiful that at times the player forgets they are actually playing a video game. The art designer, David Hellman, created another masterpiece to go with a brilliant webcomic he did called “A Lesson is Learned...But the Damage is Irreversible.” The water color art used for the background is absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end. The cartoon-y character design is a great fit with the splendid backdrops and level design. A couple of minute tearing issues are the only thing holding this category from getting a perfect score.

Sound:

The music of Braid sets a melancholy mood and expresses the anguish of Tim’s decisions. The score is extraordinary compared to almost any game and sets a bar that will be hard to reach for any Xbox Live Arcade Game. The moment that sold me on the music was during the last level when rewinding the whole mood changed....sort of like those records we all heard about as children that had hidden messages in them when played backwards. The sound affects are great as well and blend perfectly with the gameplay mechanics.

Longevity:

Can Braid go wrong any where? Well this is one area where it does fall short since there isn’t much incentive to replay the story more than twice. After beating the game the player is offered a new mode called Speed Run, where as the name suggests you have to beat a level within the allotted time frame (You have 45 minutes to speed run the entire game...good luck on that one). So if your in to the tedious type of joy coming from shaving seconds off your best time this mode will have you enticed for quite a while.

Overall:

Braid is to date the best overall game I’ve played from the Xbox Live Arcade. I say this not only because the puzzles are fresh and creative, but the story has a meaning that actually invokes emotions the way a good book or movie can. The art and music design fit so well into this game and actually set the mood more than the story during the initial gameplay. The game shines so bright that the minor flaws are easily overlooked and forgotten as you strive to obtain your next puzzle piece. So is hefty 1200 Microsoft points price tag worthy of a single player game, well I’d be lying if I told you that Braid wouldn’t be a pleasant and permanent addition to your game’s library.