Braid Previews

The GiantBomb video review of Braid is excellent.

27 Comments

Ryan Davis of GiantBomb.com has done a video review of Braid. He does a great job of explaining the game, in just 3 minutes. If anyone out there is still saying stuff like, “That game just looks like a Super Mario rip-off”, point them at this video!

(It looks like this video is going to overlap the sidebar of this blog, but hey, I’ll embed it anyway.)

(An embedded player from giantbomb.com was here. It used Flash, which browsers no longer support.)

(Link to the original page, with user comments, is here).

27 thoughts on “The GiantBomb video review of Braid is excellent.”

  2. Comparing this game to Super Mario Bros. is like comparing Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker to Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker. Both performances are very unique just like Braid and Super Mario Bros., both games are unique but they are definately not the same. The only thing Mario and Braid have in common is that they are 2D Platformers and that is all. Braid is an awesome game and I’ve been telling all of my friends to buy the game because it is worth every penny. I definately prefer Braid over Super Mario Bros. anyday. Braid is epic!

  5. Jonathan, do you have any plans to release your game on WiiWare, PC, or Mac? I’m absolutely dying to play Braid after getting caught up in the whirlwind of listening to your talks, thinking about game philosophy, and reading rave reviews… but I have no plans to ever buy an Xbox360.

    Here’s hoping…

  7. dr- he said he is going to release it on PC in a bit.

    It’s an amazing game. I’ll be buying another copy for my laptop just to fiddle with.

  11. Maybe you should put a note at the top of the page: “Yes, a PC version is coming. Hold your horses.”

  12. So Jonathan, David — for the next game, are you working together again?? You guys seem to be complementing each other pretty well!

  13. That editing was the craft of Vinny Caravella, at GiantBomb. And yeah, it’s a pretty awesome review, for a fully 99 game.

  16. I find it frustrating when a reviewer starts off a by saying that he doesn’t like pretentiousness in games, nor that he wants to become involved in a ‘games as art’ debate. If games are to aspire to greater things then perhaps it could do with a little more open-mindedness and vision on the part of the journalists.

    Why does a game have to be considered pretentious as soon as it attempts to elevate itself in some way? If we were to have this same approach with other arts (or should that be ‘industries’?) would we have film reviewers who avoid Lynch and book reviewers who don’t have the attention span for Tolstoy?

    I’m glad that Braid is a great enough game that the reviewer can admit its importance, albeit grudgingly. 🙂

  17. Great review and they said everything I was thinking. I loved this game and am addicted to the speed trials (got #35 on the leaderboards for Leap of Faith!) and now I am going through the process of getting the 8 stars… tricky stuff.

  18. Nick, I know what you mean. But Ryan was expressing a feeling held by a lot of people, and saying “even if you feel this way initially, try to move past it; this game is really worthwhile.” So I’m glad he made that point. It’s addressed to an audience that might not be swayed by a reviewer who seems receptive or enthusiastic to “art games” by default.

  19. Hi David, I’m glad that the reviewer in question did come to that conclusion and I think you’re right: he probably did succeed in convincing a few people to overcome the initial inhibitions they feel as soon as the ‘art’ word is bandied about. I just find it very frustrating when people use words like ‘pretentious’ as an umbrella that covers any games (books, films, whatever) that they can’t be bothered to invest the necessary brain-power into.

    Great (GREAT!) job with the artwork by the way 🙂

  20. it’s funny how a lot of people like very little story in their games (like this guy ryan davis), whereas others see it as shallow and lack of effort to have simple story lines (like Ben Croshaw).

    I dunno…. I think there’s times to enjoy a simple storyline, and there’s times to enjoy a more complex and profound one. I don’t think people should shut themselves out completely to one way or the other, but simply accept both as methods of art, and try to enjoy them as best they can, even if in a moody way.

  21. Thanks again Jonathan for putting this game out there (on consoles) to show people what can be done with the art form.

    I wrote a couple articles on the game, and will be wrapping it up with one more when I ‘fully’ experience it (hopefully later this week).

  25. What is the meaning of the story?

    I completed the game and in the end I’m just confused.

    I read that the “stalker theory” is incorrect on Wikipedia, so what the hell?

    What is the purpose?

    Did you just throw random crap together? Sure seems that way.

    The puzzles were fun, but the story is poor.

    Why? Because it shouldn’t take this much effort for anyone to discover the meaning of the story, I’ve searched everywhere and to no avail, and even if I discovered the meaning now, as I said, it shouldn’t be so difficult, the meaning should be unveiled after the game is over, and/or the author should reveal it on the game’s website… it’s poor.

  26. hey guys i just heard about braid and i have been lookin at some videos and i have to say that braid looks like a masterpiece of game and i really wanted to know if you are releasing a mac port of the game thanks a lot. Dan

  27. @Onawa & Mr. Blow.

    What makes this game any more artful (or god forbid “more spiritual”) than Super Mario Bros, or any other game out there?

    Also, I have to agree with confused patron. Please explain?

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