Shippin' Out August 4-8: Braid

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Aug 4, 2008 12:39 pm PT

Jonathan Blow's time-manipulating Xbox Live Arcade platformer leads a slim week of releases as Monster Madness arrives on PS3, GRID swerves onto DS.

With Soulcalibur IV and Geometry Wars 2 still keeping many a gamer busy and Madden 09 unofficially kick-starting the holiday gaming rush next week, it's time for the (refreshingly brief) 2008 summer doldrums.

The lack of AAA system-sellers this week might give some less-heralded games a chance to shine, specifically Jonathan Blow's Xbox Live Arcade platformer Braid. A platforming puzzle game with a time-manipulation game mechanic, Braid won the Game Innovation Award at the 2006 Independent Games Festival. The game has a distinctive style, from its self-described "painterly" visuals to its protagonist, a squat, red-headed man in a shirt and tie. Braid will sell for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15).

Beyond Braid, there are a handful of notable retail games, spearheaded by ports. The PC edition of Beijing Olympics 2008 is expected to finally clear its last hurdle and appear on shelves, where it will be joined by Monster Madness: Grave Danger for the PlayStation 3 and Grid on the DS.

As for the Wii's downloadable games, Nintendo is releasing the Sega Master System port of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Virtual Console for 500 Wii points ($5). The downloadable-game service will also see the addition of the Sega Genesis action game Splatterhouse 2, which will sell for 800 Wii points ($8). Joining those retro offerings will be Gameloft's original WiiWare game, Wild West Guns. Available for 1,000 Wii points ($10), Wild West Guns is a quick-draw competition for one or two players.

This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).

AUGUST 4, 2008
B-Boy (PS2)
King of Clubs (Wii)
Summer Athletics (Wii)
Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games (PC)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Wii Virtual Console) Splatterhouse 2 (Wii VC)
Wild West Guns (WiiWare)

AUGUST 5, 2008
Monster Madness: Grave Danger (PS3)
GRID (DS)
Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour (PS2)
Little League World Series 2008 (Wii, DS)
Rock Blast (DS)
Quick Yoga Training (DS)
The Cheetah Girls: Passport to Stardom (DS)
Professor Brainium's Games (DS)

AUGUST 6, 2008
Braid (Xbox 360)

AUGUST 7, 2008
Sony has not yet announced it's PlayStation Network releases for the week.

AUGUST 8, 2008
Fate: Undiscovered Realms (PC)

48 Comments

  • Lelio316

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 9:45 am PT

    "Y have i never heard of this game... lets think... maybe because its not good..."

    Now that's a reliable system for grading games.

  • PieCrusher

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 6:54 pm PT

    Y have i never heard of this game... lets think... maybe because its not good...

  • runstalker

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:26 am PT

    Braid is great. It will massage your brain. Don't miss it.

  • nickythenewt21

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 10:47 am PT

    This week looks like a great week to go to the movies. The Dark Knight, anyone?

  • TheVinster

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 10:22 am PT

    Beijing for PC? I can't imagine any keyboard will stand up to all the mashing, because my 360 controller barely did. What a trashy game.

    Other than that I will try out Braid, cool concept I just don't know if I am int he mood for thinking games at the moment.

  • Lostboy1224

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 10:03 am PT

    Still playing Bad Company so I don't mind the slim pickings.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:12 am PT

    OK, so MS plan worked with the 'month of arcade' stuff and I decided to look into braid. Other than it looking like a Wii game... sorry, 'nice talk' on: other than it looking like a game where the graphics do not appeal to me personally.

    It seems like it would be fun, but not enough to actually pay for it. Maybe the demo will convince me otherwise.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:11 am PT

    Not a cool week!

  • DeathHeart95

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 8:50 am PT

    Luckily when I get Gold on Xbox Live that will keep me busy... other than that... nothing good at all.

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 6:46 am PT

    Boring list for me.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:40 am PT

    Cheetah girls looks good maybe.....lol sarcasm

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:40 am PT

    1200MS is too much for an XBLA.

    Puzzle Quest - probably the best game on XBLA has recognised the need to cut its price to 800 to get the sales it deserves.

  • BeanTownBrown86

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:21 am PT

    this is why i hate microsoft's points system, im guna have to spend like $20 jus to get the amount needed for braid. i dont get it, if there going to sell xbla games for 400, 800, 1200 points why dont they sell exactly that amount?

  • scphan

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:31 pm PT

    GO WATCH BATMAN, GREAT MOVIE

  • theshadow1212

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 10:38 pm PT

    braid.. maybe Madden 09 in 1 week! woot

  • stziggy

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 8:51 pm PT

    What a sad week. We need something fun to do while the Olympics is going on.

  • km1498

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 8:44 pm PT

    Wow pretty bare this week.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 7:58 pm PT

    Aw nuts still no Turtles In Time or X-Men Arcade releases.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 7:53 pm PT

    Yah this week nothing to good but next week. Madden 09 and head coach ooooo ya baby.

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