Braid - on XBLA - Plus Interview by me..

[evil_genius]

Yeah there is a kinda puzzle with the green books in the epilogue to get alternate text.

On a side note, I was playing Super Adventure Island tonight. When I died I tried pressing the Y button to rewind. :(

[heybtbm]

On a side note, I was playing Super Adventure Island tonight. When I died I tried pressing the Y button to rewind. :(

I've done similar things in the past. It's the sign of a good game I guess.

[Oobgarm]

On a side note, I was playing Super Adventure Island tonight. When I died I tried pressing the Y button to rewind. :(

I've been doing that with every game since I started playing Braid, namely Geometry Wars 2.

[Nature Boy]

I've been doing that with every game since I started playing Braid, namely Geometry Wars 2.

Only somewhat related, I constantly want to rewind my radio when I'm driving in the car and I want to hear something again. I love my PVR/DVR!

[skaar]

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Great game. Short, but good.

[SegaAges]

Braid messed with my head.

I keep having dreams where I am doing normal things, mess up, and then rewind time.

That story the person figured out is awesome. Definately makes the game that much more deep.

[brykasch]

for those complaining about the price I give you this, pretty much sums up my feelings, as soon as I have extra cash I am snagging this game

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/8/8/

[evil_genius]

for those complaining about the price I give you this, pretty much sums up my feelings, as soon as I have extra cash I am snagging this game

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/8/8/

lmao good stuff

[blissfulnoise]

If it's not already clear, Jonathan Blow is kinda pretenious (we can detect our own). Good read though.

http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/game_designer_jonathan_blow_what

I doubt anyone can really sum up what Braid really means, and that includes Blow; it's officially too large and too unwieldy. It is now the video game zeitgeist du jour, for good or for bad, and nothing Blow can say will solidify Braid.

Though I'm very sad that no interview has asked about the 8 stars and the mindbending sequence in obtaining the 8th yet.

[FrakAttack]

I dunno, maybe I didn't experience the full depth of the game from the demo (as is the case with most demos) but I don't see what all of the fuss is about. It just looks like Super Mario meets Sands of Time to me. Nice idea, but hardly a revolutionary concept.

[Nature Boy]

I dunno, maybe I didn't experience the full depth of the game from the demo (as is the case with most demos) but I don't see what all of the fuss is about. It just looks like Super Mario meets Sands of Time to me. Nice idea, but hardly a revolutionary concept.

I think pricing it at $12 was brilliant. It got people talking about it like an $8 price point would not have.

[ianoid]

I like this title alot, had no problem throwing $15 at it, but then it has no resale value. Sux0r.

Seriously, it's neat to figure out puzzles and all, but I must have missed something in the tutorial. There are numerous pieces in world 2 (the first gameplay world) that I just can't figure how to get. I've tried numerous strategies. It looks like a great game, but sometimes I just need a little help to get started or get through a part I just can't figure out for whatever reason.

Like how do you jump higher than you can jump? Or longer? I must be missing something. I've tried all manner of rewinding and forwarding. Anyone recommend a strategy guide online I can use for the tough parts?

Sometimes gaming is getting in the mind of the developer as much as figuring out the actual game- it's like 'oh, so they do this with that' or 'I should look for that to get out every time'.

[blissfulnoise]

Like how do you jump higher than you can jump? Or longer? I must be missing something. I've tried all manner of rewinding and forwarding. Anyone recommend a strategy guide online I can use for the tough parts?

You never get any more powers than you start out with so virtually every puzzle piece is reachable at any moment (there are a few exceptions).

You can jump higher by getting 2nd and 3rd bounces off of enemies. Sometimes, depending on the level and the time mechanics, you can use the same enemy to accomplish this.

There are several FAQs available on www.gamefaqs.com that will detail for you how to get each puzzle piece. Its been said over and over already, but do try and get each puzzle piece on your own before resorting to the FAQ and try not to read ahead. The vast majority of the puzzle pieces are fairly easy to get once you understand the mechanics of that world and you give it a good think.

[Nature Boy]

You can jump higher by getting 2nd and 3rd bounces off of enemies. Sometimes, depending on the level and the time mechanics, you can use the same enemy to accomplish this.

That's what's cool about this game. It's all there for you to discover on your own, you just have to be adventuresome enough to try *everything*. And when you do figure it out it's awesome!

I managed to get through World 2 on my own after a second stab at it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Just completed the main portion of the game today.

By far one of the most nostalgic, inspired, creative and poetic games I've played in years.

I love its resolution in hopelessness.

One day in the near future I'll have to try the full-game speed run.

[GrandAmChandler]

FYI, Braid is 800pts this week only for GOLD members.

http://majornelson.com/archive/2009/02/22/the-return-of-the-deal-of-the-week.aspx

I am buying this NOW. Hear me publishers? I am buying it at $10 but NOT at $15!

[norkusa]

I am buying this NOW. Hear me publishers? I am buying it at $10 but NOT at $15!

Same here. I hope Braid sells like crazy at $10 and MS stops this trend of releasing $15 XBLA games.

[Richter Belmount]

FYI, Braid is 800pts this week only for GOLD members.

http://majornelson.com/archive/2009/02/22/the-return-of-the-deal-of-the-week.aspx

I am buying this NOW. Hear me publishers? I am buying it at $10 but NOT at $15!

mmm hmm you go girl!

[ProgrammingAce]

So i only just found out about the stars by reading this thread today... jeez. So i restarted the game and now i'm waiting an hour and a half for something, something, something. These stars are brutal.

[kaedesdisciple]

FYI, Braid is 800pts this week only for GOLD members.

http://majornelson.com/archive/2009/02/22/the-return-of-the-deal-of-the-week.aspx

I am buying this NOW. Hear me publishers? I am buying it at $10 but NOT at $15!

Agreed, +1 purchased at $10.

I love the way this game is making me think...

[PapaStu]

Same here. I hope Braid sells like crazy at $10 and MS stops this trend of releasing $15 XBLA games.

MS never started this trend. The developer did.

Do you think MS told Penny Arcade that Part 1 of their game had to sell at 20 bucks? Nooooooooooo. They did that to cover costs.

[norkusa]

MS never started this trend. The developer did.

Do you think MS told Penny Arcade that Part 1 of their game had to sell at 20 bucks? Nooooooooooo. They did that to cover costs.

Okay, okay, I should have said 'most' XBLA gmaes. The PA game is obviously an exception. SF2HD Remix even seems like a bargain at $15. But 1200 points for Death Tank?!? Lately it seems like more $15 XBLA games are being released then $10 ones.

[Porksta]

I went ahead and bought 1600 points and put Braid and Catan on my queue. Now I just wish Catan was 4 player same screen. My parents and I love that game.

[Xian042]

I got mine last night for the $800 pts. Any game that creates this much buzz is definately worth it. I think this game is worth if for the music alone.

[carlcarlson]

Well I just bought my first XBLA game. I still hate the idea of not having a physical copy (so much so that I will probably be a dork and make a case), but a few things made me take the plunge.

1. I wanted to support the creators of this beautiful game, and hopefully prove to other developers that this kind of game is viable. Go ahead and cancel your half-assed port of Solitaire, we don't need that.
2. Another "vote" for lower prices on XBLA games. I wonder, is this some kind of test similar to what Valve is trying on Steam? Or has there always been a Deal of the Week?
3. I played the demo and couldn't quit thinking about it. I love platformers, puzzle games, and art. Really, this was a no brainer at 800 points.

[Kroogah]

Though I'm very sad that no interview has asked about the 8 stars and the mindbending sequence in obtaining the 8th yet.

It's about the atomic bomb. ....basically.

http://www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?showtopic=190136%C2%A0

[ButtonMasher123]

This is a great game here and urge everyone here to take advantage of the deal. I think I personally love it so much because it advances video games forward while keeping it more simple than ever before. Thats a great change of pace from most modern games and I hope they make more games like it.

[ProgrammingAce]

I just got all of the stars last night... man is that brutal. Worth every second of the gameplay though.

[carlcarlson]

I "beat" the game today. I didn't get any stars and I have a feeling I am missing something in the ending too. I'm hesitant to look up solutions for the stars, but seeing as I didn't see a single one I'm guessing the methods for getting them are pretty obscure.

And what's with the speed runs? As far as I can tell they're impossible. The closest I got on any of them was like 20 seconds off. And 45 minutes for the whole game? I guess I won't be going 200/200 after all...

[kaedesdisciple]

I "beat" the game today. I didn't get any stars and I have a feeling I am missing something in the ending too. I'm hesitant to look up solutions for the stars, but seeing as I didn't see a single one I'm guessing the methods for getting them are pretty obscure.

And what's with the speed runs? As far as I can tell they're impossible. The closest I got on any of them was like 20 seconds off. And 45 minutes for the whole game? I guess I won't be going 200/200 after all...

Hint sans spoilers, if you completed all of the puzzles and haven't gotten any of the stars yet, you will have to start the whole game over if you want them all.

[carlcarlson]

Hint sans spoilers, if you completed all of the puzzles and haven't gotten any of the stars yet, you will have to start the whole game over if you want them all.

Yeah, I started over the other night. The great thing about Braid is, I actually wanted to play through it again immediately after finishing it.

[kaedesdisciple]

Yeah, I started over the other night. The great thing about Braid is, I actually wanted to play through it again immediately after finishing it.

Exactly, I had just finished a few worlds, solved the puzzles, learned about the star I needed, got a little frustrated but started all over again without a second thought. The game is THAT good.

[kaedesdisciple]

So, about 5 months later I come back to this game after being extremely frustrated by the last few puzzle pieces I needed. Lo and behold, it took me about an hour to figure those final puzzles out and now I have all the pieces. Just goes to show that sometimes you need a fresh perspective to clearly see what you were looking at too closely before.

Now it's time to work on the rest of those stars...