Braid

"Hidden depths."

I never write reviews. Others do it sooner, better, more knowledgably etc oh and plus I am lazy.

But this game has blown me away. I have never experienced such an original, innovative, challenging and 'grown up' gaming experience as provided by Jonathan Blows Braid.

A mind achingly devious platformer which develops in to a poetic, artistic, haunting mystery leaving you begging for answers whilst trying to manipulate time to achieve your quest.

The basic version first - 2D side scrolling platformer, collect the jigsaw pieces, jump on the heads of the bad guys, fight the boss, get to the end.

The more complex story? Well where do I start? This game delivers a beautifully thought out allegorical tale where *SPOILER* perhaps the princess you seek is not an actual princess, Tim the 'hero' may not be that at all, and slowly as the veil falls you are left with a stunning realisation of who and what Braid, Tim, Princess, etc is all about. It is still not 100% clear at the end by the way but that fits the symbolic feel of the game.

What impresses most is the level of care and attention that has been put in to every aspect of this game from the music, not specifically written for the game but lovingly selected to be interesting when affected by time and to fit the feel of the levels, really hits the spot. The artwork, colours palettes, feel and look are all lush and satisfying and fit the dream-like state that the main protagonist is in. The gameplay? Whilst maddening hard at times, and you will get brain ache from some of the levels, is superb, original and engaging.

Coupled with the triumphant return of time control in a game, and this does it soooo well, the game play, the music, the artwork , the text, the whole feel of this game smacks of pure class. It challenges all notions of what sort of experience can be offered to a gamer and delivers massively.

I am not joking and I am not usually prone to overstatement but this game could well turn out to be one of the most important titles in progressing video game ever.....

If only more people know, so go tell them. Some get this some do not but the ones that truly get this title will be gagging for more. This developer will be on my watch list for all time now. Seriously, it is genius, I loved it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/04/09

Game Release: Braid (EU, 08/06/08)