For a long time, Xbox Live Arcade was looking to become the place for crappy remakes of old arcade games. Of course, there were a few exceptions here and there: Geometry Wars, Cloning Clyde and the Prince of Persia remake come to mind. Fortunately for us, that is no longer the case. Developers started to realize the potential of the medium and there have been a handful of what I would consider to be triple-A downloadable games.
Braid is not only one of those games, but one of the best examples of what one person (or two) can accomplish now that an outlet for this type of experience exists. A game like Braid could not have been a possibility two years ago. If, by chance, a publisher did decide to publish the game, it would be cost-prohibitive to put it on store shelves. Instead it would have to be turned into something completely different just to fit into what is expected from a retail title.
I won’t get into details of the story or game mechanics in Braid as there are plenty of places to find that information. Besides, if you’re reading this (thank you, by the way) you’ve probably already heard of the game by now and have some idea of what it entails. Instead I’ll explain why I selected it for my top 5.
Braid is, essentially, a puzzle game. Yes, there are platforming mechanics, so timing and skills with the controls play a big part. But when it comes down to it, each level in Braid is a finely tuned puzzle with each platform, enemy and spike pit placed in a specific location for a reason. The trick to the game is mastering the time control that is unique in each world. Braid does a fantastic job of teaching you each mechanic and then tuning the difficulty in each level so that you have the mental tools required to solve each puzzle. That being said, you will need to think long and hard about many of the puzzles you will encounter. I have to admit that I did give up on (I believe) three levels and had to go to the YouTubes for assistance. (Hey, I’m no genius, I’m just a regular guy, give me a break.) But when you’ve struggling with a level for an hour, ready to give up and it finally clicks in your mind what you need to do, and you then execute it perfectly, the feeling of satisfaction you get is extremely rewarding. The thoughts of, “this level isn’t possible,” which you were inevitably thinking wash away and you understand how carefully crafted the Braid experience is.
In a time when 2D platformers are extremely rare, Braid is still one of my all-time favorites and can be named among the greats from gaming past. Add to it the excellent art style, graphics and soundtrack and you have not only the best example of what an XBLA game can be, but an experience that rivals full retail titles that cost four-times as much.
