Game Review: Braid

I have a riddle for you: what popular Italian plumber is famous for his magnificent 'stache, rosy coloring, and jumping skills?

If you didn't say Mario... well, I have nothing to say to you.

If you did say Mario, then meet Braid's hero, Tim.

Now, it's easy to say Braid is a complete rip off of Mario. You have a hero trying to rescue his Princess, getting through 7 worlds to do so. He has to get through multiple stages in each world, jumping on the heads of goomba-like enemies that get in his way. Yes, it's possible to call Braid a Mario copycat, but these derivations are part of the game's charm. It takes these elements in such a way as to add humor to an otherwise somber story. There are also enemies that anyone would relate to piranha plants, not to mention the message you receive after getting through World 2: "The Princess is in another castle." Far from inspiring sneers, this obvious and smarmy copycating made me smile all throughout the levels, no matter how hair-tearingly difficult they were.

There are some crucial differences that give Braid its own flair, too: most noteworthy is Tim's unique power. Rather than being renowned for jumping, Tim can turn back time. This fits in perfectly with the story's theme of learning from our mistakes, because any mistake you make--an inaccurate jump, an accidental collision with a monster--can be rewound and corrected. This means you don't get multiple lives because you just don't die; the game pauses at the point of your death, prompting you to rewind. This isn't the only case in which Tim's power is useful, though. All the puzzles require the manipulation of time. Say, for example, you need the key located at the bottom of a pit. You jump down and grab the key, but can't get out. Simply rewind (some objects, like the key in this example, are immune to time manipulation, so they'll still be within your grasp) and you're out of the pit with key in hand.

With 7 worlds and multiple levels per world, this would get repetitive. Luckily, Number None included a clever twist: time works differently in each world. In the first two worlds, time works normally (aside from your manipulative power, of course). This allows you to get the hand of the game. But then the situation changes in each subsequent world: in one world, time moves forward only when you do, and backwards if you start walking the opposite direction. In another world, you can drop an object that will slow down any moving objects around it--including you. These twists mean that you are forced to reshape your mindset at the beginning of each world. This allows for gameplay that keeps your attention and puzzles that don't become repetitive. It also bumps up the difficulty, because you have to rework your thought process and continually solve puzzles in different ways. In addition, there are items you collect in each level. These aren't necessary to advance to the next level (and world), but you'll find yourself going back to previous levels in order to collect them all. Let me warn you now--some of the puzzles seem devilish and impossible. Some require very precise timing, creative thinking, or multiple do-overs. This is where the time manipulation is a life saver. For example, you may discover that to reach a high ledge, you needed to bounce off the monster you killed five minutes ago. No matter; you can simply rewind and bring the monster back. Don't worry about sluggish rewinding; you can rewind at 2x, 4x, or 8x speed. Braid has few dull moments.

The graphics and music are just as brilliant as the gameplay. Whereas other games will force you to listen to the same tune over and over and over, Braid's background music changes every level, helping to keep the experience fresh with pleasant, scene-fitting songs. When you first start out, a rather mysterious violin piece will play. In another level, a gentle lullaby plays. The music will play according to the direction of time, too. If time is passing normally, the song will play normally. When you rewind, the song plays backwards, and at higher speeds if you rewind at 4x or 8x. This is a nice touch and keeps you attentive even when you're rewinding back to the point you walked into the level. Not only is the music beautiful, but the scenery, as well. The graphics are breathtaking at any standard, especially for a 2-D platformer. They don't change as drastically as the music, but still remain fresh. One level, you're walking across a sunny field. In another, you're making your way through a dimly lit cavern. In another, a quiet snow falls. The colors are vivid and the images are crisp and pleasing. Braid surely does no injustices to the eyes and ears.

I played Braid on PS3 (though I believe it is available for Xbox 360 and PC, as well. I might be wrong) after buying it for $15 in the PlayStation Store. While the game is short--it can be completed in about 10 hours--it is a great buy. Once you start, you won't regret your purchase. The story, gameplay, graphics, and music are all terrific--there is little room for disappointment in Braid.