One of the Best Games of 2008
Gameplay: If you grew up playing 2DSuper Mario games on the NES and SNES, then Braid's gameplay will be immediately familiar to you. Tim has to jump on enemies heads to read higher platforms, dodge cannon shells, and even avoid carnivorous plants in pipes! Straight out of Super Mario Bros on the NES. And yes, the controls are super tight & responsive and never hinder your experience.
Puzzles / Time Shifting: Where Braid deviates from the Super Mario mold is that instead of being an action-platformer like Mario, it's a puzzle-platformer. The goal of each "world " is to collect all the puzzle pieces by manipulating time and then put the puzzles pieces together to create a painting. Braid is the kind of game that you actually have to play because screenshots and videos do not do the game justice.
There's an "OH SNAP!! NOW I GET IT !! " moment almost everytime you figure out a puzzle in Braid. Yes, it's awesome.
Audio Design: Superb orchestralsoundtrack. Flows great with the game. There's also a world where the music only plays when Tim is moving.....simply brilliant.
Graphics: Braid is very pleasing to the eyes. I honestly don't how to describe it any better than that. Not once was I disappointed in what was on my 61" 1080p LCD.
Story: Tim's musings before each world were very interesting to read. It gives a backstory on the hero's quest to save the princess.
HATED
Ending: I just didn't "get it", but maybe that's because I finished the game when I was tired. And I only played the ending once. Either way, the ending wasn't epic like I had heard it was.
Difficulty: OK, I know puzzle games aren't supposed to be easy. However, there are a few puzzles in Braid I would've never figured out by myself. Clever puzzles, yes, butsome will make you very frustrated.Thank God for the internet.
CONCLUSION
Braid is a prime example of the creativity that can be unleashed when you give indie developers a viable platform (XBL & PSN) for their games. Braid is an excellent game that stands amongst even the best retailgames (GTA IV, MGS4, Gears2, etc) of 2008. There is just not anything like it on the market.
Braid is not to be missed by any Xbox360 owner. If $15 is too much, then wait for another discount. But do not miss out on playing this game.