Better late than never - here are some stages from Braid, in video form. The game was released last month on Xbox Live Arcade, and seem to be loved by everyone. The video itself shows some levels that wasn't playable in the trial version.
The demo was profoundly boring imo. Also i don't understand what's so artsy about this. It just has a different style. Now i can imagine that the music and painted look would fool some tards into thinking it's closer to art than other games but really...is it? I don't think so.
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:10:38 In reply to Megido
Posted by Megido
The demo was profoundly boring imo. Also i don't understand what's so artsy about this. It just has a different style. Now i can imagine that the music and painted look would fool some tards into thinking it's closer to art than other games but really...is it? I don't think so.
Can I just say though Megido, the art of the game isn't just in it's visual style. The art of the game is it's complex story/meaning and the way the gameplay is deeply linked to the story.
There isn't a straight narrative, this isn't just a copy of Mario with time features.
The bad thing about the trial is that the story begins off very simple to ease you into the game. The puzzles become increasingly interesting and difficult along with the story which becomes so much more than just "the princess is in another castle".
Combining the elements including gameplay, graphics and story it's one of the most complete pieces of art in videogames.
Well to me classifying anything as art and therefore classing it as good is complete bullshit. What i am interested in is the following: Is it a good game? Even trying to say what is and what isn't art is more or less impossible, so to drag a word such as art in to it is unnecessary to begin with. We can, however, quite easily establish that it is a game, and it should be judged as such and not under some pretentious idea of art.
As a game i was not impressed by the demo and as such i'm not going to fork out 1200 msp on it. At least not until i hear or see something more convincing than the "games are art" argument.
Perhaps i'll change my mind if i buy it, but won't know that until it happens ;)
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:19:35 In reply to Megido
I like that the idea of the game being so good that it is considered art puts you off the game!
Removing all other parts of the game but gameplay I'd say it's STILL a great puzzle game. In fact I'd go out on a limb and say that a lot of people ignore everything but the gameplay and still enjoy it. I had many a head-scratching moment (haha, almost on every level) but managed to solve every puzzle and was chuffed every time.
The whole "games as art" debate isn't meant to detract from games. It's about people taking games more seriously and recognising that more emotions can be felt than the joy of shooting someone in the face (which I enjoy anyway :P).
This is actually the first game that I reckon isn't kidding around with its arthouse status though. Lots of games can fall into sooortof this category, games like Katamari Damshi and Loco Roco, but those games are just kinda poor when you strip away their charm and message. Even Portal, which seemed to find a place in everyone's heart, was seemingly so busy having ANYONE finish it that it never really felt like a videogame. It left you with a good feeling but nothing like this.
Braid is incredible because not only does it weave meaning from video game conventions and symbolism, but on top of it it's a really frigging tough game to wrap your head around sometimes. Even if you don't respond to the meaning in here, the game is just SO DAMN CLEVER. It challenges you to think about what you're doing and to employ your theories and strategies, and if you miscalculated you just rewind and try again. There's nothing random about it, once you figure it out, it works.
Of course then if you think for two seconds about what the game is telling you on a whole, you have to be some heartless bastard not to be moved by it. It uses what you know - or think you know - about game mechanics and about video game stereotypes and speaks to you in a way that... really, only a game could.
I mean while Metal Gear and.. you know.. Halo or whatever take a break for story time and borrows from a completely different medium to get that across, Braid IS its story. "Braid the movie" COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE DONE.
So to be honest, whether you ultimately like Braid or not, you're really doing yourself a disservice if you don't just buy it and play it through. The worst possible thing I'd wish on anyone in this case is to be spoilt some day by someone on a forum who expects everyone to have played it already, and thus ruin what has to be the most mindbending final level ever.
Shinamano: i completed the first puzzle, and i got the available pieces on the 2 other levels that you are able to play in the demo. It's not THAT hard. Though some of the stuff made me go "ugh..." Particularly that one part where you have to use the painting as a bridge.
But yes, spending some more time with the demo (after my last post i played it some more) i can admit that some of the puzzles are pretty clever. I personally don't give much for the aesthetics of the game, but that's subjective, and well, the story, so far as i've been able to partake is really not my cup of tea.
The story, without spoiling anything, plays a lot on your own experience with relationships. Therefore it's not going to resonate as well with everyone. Luckily the game is great regardless.
The funny thing about the ending is that he (Jonathan Blow) only thought of it, and put it into action in the very final stages of making the game. If you're interested in hearing Jonathan Blow talking about the game listen to the most recent podcast from Destructoid. I found it pretty damn interesting.
I realise that I'm pretty much spamming this article, but I don't care, Braid is worth it.
Whereas a lot of modern games try and emulate films Braid tells a story through actually using video games' ability to be interactive. You interact with the story, rather than just watching/reading it.
My reservation about the game is that it's very much like a David Lynch film when it comes to interpretation, you can interpret it in any way you like because of the loose nature of the narrative. As much as this is a great thing (and very intelligent for a video game) personally I struggle with things that are left so open, but that says a lot more about me than the game.
Yeah but just how it's established at the beginning, story wise, I think makes it more accessible than the more "out there" Lynch films. I mean Braid definitely opens up more and more as it goes on, but you can still sort of follow the main thread established in the beginning throughout, aswell as apply the later "pieces" to a broader perspective.
I think it's clever that there kind of exists a story in there that people can pretty easily experience somewhat similarly and share their thoughts on, and then there's more in addition to that.
Commented on 2008-09-03 01:33:24 In reply to SimonM7
Posted by SimonM7
The story, without spoiling anything, plays a lot on your own experience with relationships. Therefore it's not going to resonate as well with everyone. Luckily the game is great regardless.
The story reminded me a lot of the Dream sequences in Lost Odyssey, but in my opinion, not done anywhere near as well, it didn't have the same emotional impact for me as Lost Odyssey did and a lot of it just made me just go "ugh.."
I also found the gameplay to be pretty dry and tedious, although I've never been a fan of the whole rewind time mechanic.
I won't argue with anyone who did enjoy it, but personally, I didn't enjoy the game much. Back to Castle Crashers for me :P
I think this is one of the year's most overrated games, without a doubt. The story sounds like it was thrown together by some 20-something wannabe writer that saw Eternal Sunshine 200 times. The gameplay though? Pretty solid. Not worth the price, but solid.
Commented on 2008-09-05 02:27:28 In reply to broman
Posted by broman
I think this is one of the year's most overrated games, without a doubt. The story sounds like it was thrown together by some 20-something wannabe writer that saw Eternal Sunshine 200 times. The gameplay though? Pretty solid. Not worth the price, but solid.
I disagree - very much worth the price. Few games these days put that much thought into gameplay. Plus, I love a game I can play in short intervals and still enjoy.
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All comments (26)
Commented on 2008-09-02 20:56:19One of the best this year. A massive part of the "games as art" debate.
Although I have to say, maybe it's a little TOO intelligent. Still, that's hardly the worst criticism you could hear about something.
Commented on 2008-09-02 20:57:39
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:07:21
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:07:48
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:10:38 In reply to Megido
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:14:35
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:15:59
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:20:11
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:33:55There isn't a straight narrative, this isn't just a copy of Mario with time features.
The bad thing about the trial is that the story begins off very simple to ease you into the game. The puzzles become increasingly interesting and difficult along with the story which becomes so much more than just "the princess is in another castle".
Combining the elements including gameplay, graphics and story it's one of the most complete pieces of art in videogames.
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:43:39Honestly, the ending is superb.
Commented on 2008-09-02 21:50:23
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:00:44As a game i was not impressed by the demo and as such i'm not going to fork out 1200 msp on it. At least not until i hear or see something more convincing than the "games are art" argument.
Perhaps i'll change my mind if i buy it, but won't know that until it happens ;)
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:02:14 In reply to MegidoAlso on the video...not an optimal run of those stages ;)
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:19:35 In reply to MegidoRemoving all other parts of the game but gameplay I'd say it's STILL a great puzzle game. In fact I'd go out on a limb and say that a lot of people ignore everything but the gameplay and still enjoy it. I had many a head-scratching moment (haha, almost on every level) but managed to solve every puzzle and was chuffed every time.
The whole "games as art" debate isn't meant to detract from games. It's about people taking games more seriously and recognising that more emotions can be felt than the joy of shooting someone in the face (which I enjoy anyway :P).
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:37:40Braid is incredible because not only does it weave meaning from video game conventions and symbolism, but on top of it it's a really frigging tough game to wrap your head around sometimes. Even if you don't respond to the meaning in here, the game is just SO DAMN CLEVER. It challenges you to think about what you're doing and to employ your theories and strategies, and if you miscalculated you just rewind and try again. There's nothing random about it, once you figure it out, it works.
Of course then if you think for two seconds about what the game is telling you on a whole, you have to be some heartless bastard not to be moved by it. It uses what you know - or think you know - about game mechanics and about video game stereotypes and speaks to you in a way that... really, only a game could.
I mean while Metal Gear and.. you know.. Halo or whatever take a break for story time and borrows from a completely different medium to get that across, Braid IS its story. "Braid the movie" COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE DONE.
So to be honest, whether you ultimately like Braid or not, you're really doing yourself a disservice if you don't just buy it and play it through. The worst possible thing I'd wish on anyone in this case is to be spoilt some day by someone on a forum who expects everyone to have played it already, and thus ruin what has to be the most mindbending final level ever.
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:49:28But yes, spending some more time with the demo (after my last post i played it some more) i can admit that some of the puzzles are pretty clever. I personally don't give much for the aesthetics of the game, but that's subjective, and well, the story, so far as i've been able to partake is really not my cup of tea.
Commented on 2008-09-02 23:54:27
Commented on 2008-09-03 00:00:08The funny thing about the ending is that he (Jonathan Blow) only thought of it, and put it into action in the very final stages of making the game. If you're interested in hearing Jonathan Blow talking about the game listen to the most recent podcast from Destructoid. I found it pretty damn interesting.
I realise that I'm pretty much spamming this article, but I don't care, Braid is worth it.
Whereas a lot of modern games try and emulate films Braid tells a story through actually using video games' ability to be interactive. You interact with the story, rather than just watching/reading it.
My reservation about the game is that it's very much like a David Lynch film when it comes to interpretation, you can interpret it in any way you like because of the loose nature of the narrative. As much as this is a great thing (and very intelligent for a video game) personally I struggle with things that are left so open, but that says a lot more about me than the game.
Commented on 2008-09-03 00:33:49I think it's clever that there kind of exists a story in there that people can pretty easily experience somewhat similarly and share their thoughts on, and then there's more in addition to that.
Commented on 2008-09-03 01:33:24 In reply to SimonM7I also found the gameplay to be pretty dry and tedious, although I've never been a fan of the whole rewind time mechanic.
I won't argue with anyone who did enjoy it, but personally, I didn't enjoy the game much. Back to Castle Crashers for me :P
Commented on 2008-09-03 03:43:44
Commented on 2008-09-03 08:11:33And the time feature is fantastic .. so many good ideas ...
Commented on 2008-09-03 08:42:39Music and visual art stand out from all the mediocrity I see these days! I want MORE!!!
Commented on 2008-09-03 08:43:25Endlich weiß ich wozu man dieses rückspulen gebrauchen kann. Nicht schlecht!
I love the musik in this game....nice.
Commented on 2008-09-05 02:27:28 In reply to broman