Braid

Mr E

I've been interested in this game since I heard about it a few weeks ago... I've watched youtube clips of it in action (1 | 2 | 3), I've watched 1ups interview with creator Jonathan Blow and I was really looking forward to trying the demo.

I think after reading Eurogamer's Review this morning (

10/10!!

) I know I'll be buying this game tonight.

Looks like a stunning game, and a nice ying to Geometry Wars yang.

Its a great time to have an xbox.

FreeOSCAR

Got the best XBLA arcade game at E3. Bit pricy at 1200 points tho aint it?

Mr E

Yeah, that and the fact that supposed to take a few hours to finish (but its supposed to be a very enjoyable few hours). Finishing it unlocks a speed run mode too which will extend its life by an hour, but it has zero replay value after that.

If it was a €60 title, people would be up in arms, what about €15?

Burning Eclipse

Mr E wrote: »

Yeah, that and the fact that supposed to take a few hours to finish (but its supposed to be a very enjoyable few hours). Finishing it unlocks a speed run mode too which will extend its life by an hour, but it has zero replay value after that.

If it was a €60 title, people would be up in arms, what about €15?

Shortness could be a blessing; look at Portal. I think it's a deliberate design decision, so the game doesn't get stale.

Would be interested in this, but hope it will follow Puzzle Quest in the trip from 1200 to 800-land.:)

madrab

sounds interesting alright

Vic Vinegar

This looks really interesting! 1200 points is taking the piss a bit though.

I'm still gonna get it probably, that review on Eurogamer sold it to me!

chrislad

I fail to see how the price is taking the piss. Putting it in comparison with other forms of entertainment.

A cinema ticket is about 9.50 or so now. That gives you 90minutes to 180 minutes of entertainment. 1200 points is about 12 euro or so. Going from reviews, you'll get 4 or 5 hours of entertainment. It's all relative. I paid for the Penny Arcade game, it lasted me about 5 hours and I really enjoyed it. I don't see it as a waste or too expensive. From the length of time I enjoyed it, it was worth it.

Portal is going to be more expensive than this when it hits the Arcade, mind, and despite the quality of it, you're still going to get people whining.

Mr E

Don't worry Chrislad, I'm still getting it.

This guy has been working on Braid for 3 years now, and as gamers we have an obligation to support these little indie guys whenever they come up with the goods.

On the other hand, I have Orange Box and have no intention of getting Portal in the Autumn for a handful of extra challenge levels.

NunianVonFuch

Mr E wrote: »

This guy has been working on Braid for 3 years now, and as gamers we have an obligation to support these little indie guys whenever they come up with the goods.

On the other hand, I have Orange Box and have no intention of getting Portal in the Autumn for a handful of extra challenge levels.

I'll be picking this up too. Who else bought Lost Winds? Support small developers!

I think they're only releasing it for those who didn't get Orange Box. The extra levels should be a free patch or like 200 points or something. Seems a bit mad to sell us the whole game again when we already have it as part of the box!

Mr E

Went home for lunch and downloaded the demo for a quick game. First of all, it looks and sounds amazing... I played through the tutorial level and found it really easy. A couple of nice headscratchers even in the first few screens (the moving platform puzzle was pretty clever, as was the "Hunt" screen).

The problem is you'll finish the tutorial levels in about 5 minutes flat (they're that straightforward). Thats all you get in the demo.

I went ahead and bought it anyway, and the world after it is a very nice ramp up in difficulty. Nice puzzles around

items and platforms that are unaffected by the rewind function

which leads to some great "A haaaa!" moments.

Well worth it guys.... brilliant game, and very tricky in spots - don't be put off by the shortness of the demo.

Vic Vinegar

chrislad wrote: »

I fail to see how the price is taking the piss. Putting it in comparison with other forms of entertainment.

But i'm a tightwad!

Like i said it will still have to be got.

Is Penny Arcade good then? I have it but I haven't gone near it since i had a quick blast after buying it! (it was a bit slow and repetitive at the start imo)

FreeOSCAR

Just finished playing the demo and I was very impressed. I usually hate XBLA games but this one is really innovative. Will defo get it the weekend. Only missed one of the jigsaw pieces in the end but I have a fair idea what to do to get it now.

Mr. K

I downloaded the demo earlier, all the praise has me excited to play it now! In fairness, 2D platformers rarely last too long. Of course, someone will come up with an example of one that does now! Would SOTN count?

Mr E

I'm finding this TOUGH.... its very very tricky, but you get a brilliant sense of achievement when you solve a difficult puzzle. Braid is going to take a while for me to finish.

Fingleberries

I downloaded the demo and think it's quite good ... It's amazing how quickly you get used to the rewind function to undo a boo-boo. If you've mistimed a jump, or killed a baddie too early ... 'X' and give it another go. Good stuff.

There's a couple of the jumps that I haven't gotten the hang of yet, though - I must be able to get there somehow ... I have to finish the Jugsaw.

Nice to have a classy 2D platform for a change in a world that's gone 3D mad.

I like the little nod to the old Mario games at the end of the demo level - I wonder if it was intentional?

Lowering the flag when you reach the castle, and having a little fella say 'The princess is in another castle'

deadl0ck

I tried the demo last night as I was very impressed also - I'll be buying it at the weekend

Gerard_Smith

Curse the red ring of death! This will be my first download when I my xbox back.

mayordenis

1200 those seem steep but in fairness I'm pretty sure I've paid 60 or more on a game a retail that I've gotten less enjoyment from.

whitetrash

Just finished it there. Loved the game. The last level is great, especially the way it plays with your expectations.

Mr E

How many hours did you get out of it, whitetrash?
Are you going for the speed run now?

whitetrash

I would say I got about 4 hours or so. Any puzzle I couldn't solve initially really I went past and then got later. Some were easy and some required some pretty outside the box thinking.

I may try a speed run or two, but probably not for a while. I'd probably play through the whole game again when enough time has passed that I've forgotten enough of the solutions same thing I did with portal really.

It's highly recommended, at least so long as you don't solely measure a game's quality based on how many hours it takes up.

silvine

Eurogamer's reviewer seems to think it's "art"! High praise indeed.

whitetrash

DeVore

gotta love the 'arcade.

15 dollars isnt much for a good game. I've spent 60 euros on full games I didnt get 4-5 hours of enjoyment out of!! (Brunswick Bowling... I'm looking at you!)

DeV.

koneko

Well worth the money, don't let it put you off if you're considering it. I've only completed (all pieces) the first two worlds, but can't wait to get back and play more
The style is so lovely too!

FreeOSCAR

Finished it this evening, got all the remaining pieces after that. Tremendous game. Gonna try get the 8 stars tommorrow.

Gerard_Smith

whitetrash wrote: »

How much was their game again? :rolleyes:

Anyway my Xbox is repaired on its way home so hopefully I'll be diving into Braid early next week

mancduff

Is that 1840's western (as in the films) violins as a soundtrack or is that pretendety irishy plinky plonky music lah de da soundtrack my heads a wreck ah f*ck it. BOUGHT.

P.S **** Microsoft Points - i had to buy 1000 then 500 to get this so cost me 18 euros :mad:

Batesy

Got it, Love it, Worth it but how in the name of jaysus do you get the piece on the 'Hunt!' puzzle????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

FreeOSCAR

Batesy wrote: »

Got it, Love it, Worth it but how in the name of jaysus do you get the piece on the 'Hunt!' puzzle????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Its all to do

with jumping from a higher ledge onto one of them lil goomba lookalike things and then you should get enough air to get on the higher ledge.

Basq

Haven't played yet.. but sounds fantastic!

Will give the demo a download now so.

Mr E

Batesy wrote: »

Got it, Love it, Worth it but how in the name of jaysus do you get the piece on the 'Hunt!' puzzle????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

That one was easy... its the hunt a few levels after Jumpman thats impossible.

koneko

That one is a bastard alright, I think the trick is to realise

you can essentially double-jump if you use the faux-goombas, as they don't die when you're going in one direction, so jump then on the way down jump again to get extra height. You have to do them in a certain order for them not to "respawn"

Finished all pieces now Might go back and do the speedruns but I can see that getting pretty frustrating on some of the harder levels.

i_am_dogboy

Just cleared it last night, lovely game, just about my favourite since psychonauts to be honest. I absolutely love how the story is told, with the books and the jigsaws and the odd level progression. I'm also a big fan of if a game doesn't just spell out the story for you.

For those looking for some extra challenge,

there are a bunch of stars corresponding to the constellation above the garage in the street, I've managed to get two so far, really ****ing tough to get. On involves rewinding time so that a flashy green goomba bounces on your head twice all the while you're making sure a key is in the right spot for him to grab before he to a certain point on the platform above you.

djkeogh

Quite the game alright. Got the download and enjoyed so picked up my first batch of points and splashed out. No regrets either. It is a very satisfying puzzler. Some pieces you think you will never be able to get and even trying again and again until finally you twig what needs to be done and get the piece. Makes you feel good about it.

I do love the way just as you think you've seen everything the game has to offer it adapts and blows you away again.

silvine

I got this last night and am puzzled!

Is there a way to double jump (or even jump higher) apart from jumping on the little brown creatures?

Any advice on how to use the time controls eg what's the point of holding down X and the Right trigger?

DeVore

Got this last night. What an awesome game it is.

Its basically a platform game in 4D. You can reverse time which is handy if you "die" (you cant really die, as such, in the game... you always can go back as far as you like in time.)

Some things are not affected by time reversal (they glow green) and so when you reverse your time line, their's doesnt. Thats very important to know You can use that to align platforms, clouds etc. If you think thats head wrecking just wait till you get to the world where time moves forward as you move right and backwards as you move left!

There are a few points where you think... "you must have to come back to this when you can fly or something" but you can do them all when you encounter them (and no, you dont get to fly or double jump later on )

The music is one of the best original scores I've heard in a game too.

Great game, but it will *wreck* your head.

DeV.

Vegeta

Played the demo and think its magnificent.

Music, visuals, gameplay are all sweet. I have played it in groups because its such a head wreck that its fun for friends to shout advice at each other

Mr E

DeVore wrote: »

There are a few points where you think... "you must have to come back to this when you can fly or something" but you can do them all when you encounter them (and no, you dont get to fly or double jump later on )

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought this (for example, that piece up high after the first jigsaw puzzle).

Brilliant game, and definitely one that benefits from a second set of eyes and a second brain while playing.

grizzly

So what does it mean when things glow purple?

djkeogh

Yea, there's no double jump. It's sometime quite ingenius how you need to reach some of the pieces. Suffice to say it's all doable when you first reach the piece. I had been thinking at times that I'd come back and get that piece when I acquire a new skill. You don't

silvine

What's the point of fast forwarding time?

DeVore

silvine wrote: »

What's the point of fast forwarding time?

well.... there are times when you want to stand somewhere for a long time so that when you reverse time you arent really affected by your own recent movement. I felt soooo smart when I worked that out

DeV.

Burning Eclipse

DeVore wrote: »

well.... there are times when you want to stand somewhere for a long time so that when you reverse time you arent really affected by your own recent movement. I felt soooo smart when I worked that out

DeV.

Me too; in fact, the only other game to make me feel this clever was Portal. I finished it this morning, and it is a BARGAIN for 1,200 points. Everything about it is faultless.

I jumped out of my seat when I got the 60th piece.

Gaming perfection.

i_am_dogboy

DeVore wrote: »

The music is one of the best original scores I've heard in a game too.

Not actually an original score, multiple different artists from some website called magntatune. But the music is all listenable online and available to download very cheap. I really did love the music.

http://braid-game.com/news/?p=260

Mr E

I was reading the developers blog and it makes interesting reading.

Braid is now the highest rated XBox Live Arcade game out there (average of 92%)
He has more than 28.5k sales since it went live.

His walkthrough for Braid made me laugh too (don't worry, it doesn't spoil anything)

grizzly

grizzly wrote: »

So what does it mean when things glow purple?

Bump (cos it's on previous page now)

DeVore

djkeogh wrote: »

Yea, there's no double jump. It's sometime quite ingenius how you need to reach some of the pieces. Suffice to say it's all doable when you first reach the piece. I had been thinking at times that I'd come back and get that piece when I acquire a new skill. You don't

Actually I just played world 1 again there and the last two pieces of the cloud/jigsaw level arent doable for a while because

you need the other pieces to make the jigsaw for the platform

DeV.

DeVore

grizzly wrote: »

Bump (cos it's on previous page now)

I have finished 4/5 worlds and havent seen anything glow purple. It could mean that your tv's tube is shagged and you are seeing green as purple? (things that glow green are not susceptible to reversal of time).

DeV.

Burning Eclipse

Mr E wrote: »

I was reading the developers blog and it makes interesting reading.

Braid is now the highest rated XBox Live Arcade game out there (average of 92%)
He has more than 28.5k sales since it went live.

His walkthrough for Braid made me laugh too (don't worry, it doesn't spoil anything)

Awesome walkthrough, really in-depth and covers everything you need to know

Wouldn't have clicked if I hadn't finished the game... Speaking of which, anyone crazy enough to tackle the speed run.... Yowza...

Mr E

grizzly wrote: »

Bump (cos it's on previous page now)

Purple things can be manipulated by your shadow.