"The very definition of "sleeper hit.""

Braid is the kind of game that not everyone is going to like. With its numerous allusions to popular video game lore abound and challenging puzzles, many players will be almost immediately turned away from the experience. However, if you are able to appreciate the game for what it is, you may find yourself in love.

STORY- 9/10 The storyline- explained through mysterious books placed before each area of the game- is very well thought-out and brimming with a wonderful mixture of simple video game stereotypes- a princess captured by an apparent monster, for instance- and dark-yet-welcoming undertones- the question of "is it really possible to change the past?". Mix all of this together with an ending that changes your view on the very game itself, and you have something that most games these days seem to be missing- a story that actually delivers.

GAMEPLAY- 9/10 Taking on the role of a rather dapper-looking fellow named Tim, the player runs and jumps through six different worlds, jumping on goomba-like enemies, taking out one or two oversized boss creatures and solving a LOT of puzzles. Sound simple? It's not. As a matter of fact, this game has some of the most dastardly puzzles found in a video game to date- all thanks to the time-control mechanic. Using your ability to rewind time is simple enough at first- you can use it to correct a fatal slip up onto some flaming spikes, or a ruined puzzle solution- but as the game proceeds it manages to introduce many other ways to manipulate time. In one area of the game, rewinding time results in a shadow-clone of Tim to appear and mimic his actions before the rewind. You can use him to take out an enemy while in an entirely different place, or to hit a lever while you wait patiently by the hatch it opens. These bizarre mechanics never truly get old, and none of them could feasibly be considered a gimmick. Despite the simplicity of the initial gameplay, it manages to introduce something fresh around every corner.

AUDIO- 8/10 The music of Braid is made up of quite a few orchestral tracks, all of them pleasant to the ears and the majority of them just slightly eerie. Though the music itself is acceptable, it's the way that the player can actually interact with it that catches the ear- it responds loyally to the time-fidgeting, slowing down, speeding up and even reversing on cue. A simple but effective touch to the game.

GRAPHICS- 9/10 Made up of watercolor backdrops and quaint, detailed characters, the graphics in this game never fail to impress. Very bright and lively, they vary mildly from stage to stage- although the painted grassy fields in the background tend to make an appearance wherever you wander. Managing to catch the eye without distracting the player from the action on-screen, the visuals in Braid are very impressive- despite the somewhat migraine-inducing brightness of a few areas during the color-draining/blooming effects of time manipulation.

OVERALL- 9/10 With a wonderfully fresh premise, well-executed level design, visuals that could easily leave even the snobbiest art appreciator beaming and a story that satisfies, Braid is arguably one of the best releases for the Xbox Live Arcade to date, although not everybody will appreciate it's design.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/11/08

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