Link has 52 chronicles

1. Braid Review
   

   Player Chronicle -- Posted on Jul 08 2009

   There's simply nothing else like Braid on the Xbox 360. Jonathan Blow's time-twisting puzzle game may look like a simple 2D platformer, with its numerous allusions to genre trailblazers like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros., but its temporal puzzle mechanics and mature, powerful storytelling help it pioneer its own path. In Braid, our hero Tim embarks on a quest to right a wrong, rescue a princess and manipulate the fourth dimension in exciting, creative ways.
   
   Is Braid worth your time?
   
   Braid is a puzzle game in platformer's clothing. Platforming difficulty is rendered nil with the game's rewind control, performed via the X button, giving you endless attempts to perfect jumps and landings. Tim, the main character, has the ability to rewind time, and subsequently fast-forward it, giving this game the ability to make the puzzles challenging, often maddening, yet rewarding. Braid's expertly crafted puzzles may make your jaw drop with their ingenuity. You'll also likely find yourself similarly stunned with your own genius, as you're forced to rethink how video games can be played and root out your own solutions to Braid's obstacles.
   
   Braid's Art style may even exceed the gameplay. Its painted environments, its cloudy hub world and dark basement dwellings are metaphorically suited for the game's heavy plot. With the Xbox Live Arcade library choked with bright neon visuals and retro stylings, Braid stands apart from the crowd with its unique visuals. The game's music and sound effects are beautifully warped by its time rewinding mechanics. Some of the prose may not agree with you, but its well written and easy to digest. Yet, The game's story seems to be out of place, but easily skippable, should you decide to do so.
   
   No game is perfect, and even Braid has its flaws, and I am in a position to complain. Really, the only bad thing about Braid is... it ends. You can expect to do everything you can do with Braid in about six hours, including completing the game and finding all of its puzzle pieces — not the easiest task. There's a speed run option that unlocks after you've completed the game, but there's not much left to explore when you've run through all six worlds. Consider this negative a roundabout positive, as we'd have loved to explore Braid's mechanics even further. Braid's heartbreaking ending makes the culmination of the experience that much sadder.
   
   Get Braid. Get it now. Don't even think about the cost (1200 MS points). Like the under-appreciated Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, it can be played and enjoyed in a group setting, as the game's puzzles will require one to modify one's perspectives on the genre. It's not only one of the best games to hit Live Arcade, it's one of the best games I've played all year.

   
   

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Link has 2 comment s on this chronicle.

1. Link
   Posted On Jul 10 2009

   There was no Snes version. I found that user-made graphic on a forum, of a guy complaining that the art style in Baid looked broken, like an SNES game ported to XBL. (He/She/It) is wrong.

2. BEN
   Posted On Jul 09 2009

   So I'm a bit confused. Was the XBL Arcade version of this game the same, or just based on the SNES version? I originally thought it was new IP, but why would that ever happen, lol.
   
   Nice video game review!