8 reasons why you need to download Braid

Destructoid's Reverend Anthony writes:

"Braid is finally out on XBLA today, and, what with it being beautiful, intelligent, and 400 MS Points more expensive than gamers might be used to, I'm a little worried not as many people will be playing the game as it deserves. A proper Destructoid review is forthcoming, but with Bionic Commando Rearmed coming out next week, I feel like more immediate measures need to be taken at this point.

It is with this in mind that I have crafted the following Top Eight list. Our review will be far more indepth and include commentary from Jim Sterling and Chad Concelmo, but this should hopefully suffice for now.

If you're on the fence about Braid, or if you've steadfastly decided against it because you refuse to pay more than 800 Microsoft Points for any Arcade title, then you should probably be aware of the following eight things, viewable after the jump, which might do something to change your mind."

[avacadosnorkel]

is 5 bucks more than people are supposed to pay for Live titles. Once one sneaks in the room at a higher cost like this your wallet will cry by this time next year as the days of a 10 buck game is over. 20 or 30 buck games will soon be the norm for small file games because there is no public outcry about price now.

[TOSgamer]

Instead of telling gamers to put out more money it should be an open letter to MS to lower the price. I'm interested but I won't buy until its on sale or MS drops the price permanently. But I'm sure it will garner plenty of sales even at an elevated price. I mean look how many people are willing to pay $80 for a plastic chainsaw gun that "makes real chainsaw action sounds!" But $15 is 3 game rentals (discounted price with Total Access) for me at Blockbuster and I'd rather have that.

[MazzingerZ]

The game Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty will cost USD 15 and without playing it nor reading any review I can already see a difference compared against the best PSN titles (that costs 5-10 bucks max)that justify those extra 5 bucks.

http://www.gametrailers.com...

I'm sure Braid might be worth 15 but the problem is that the developer already said to the press that they actually wanted to put it out for 10 bucks but Microsoft insisted in 15...that kind of make you wonder if good titles will now cost 15...then maybe 20 later on.

Over the PSN you find Elefunk for 5 bucks...and they put games often in sale for half price, last week were PAIN, PixelJunk Monsters and others...I think 5 bucks is the perfect price point for any game on XBL or PSN...I mean, you can find used games for 15-20 bucks... so 15 might sometimes sound really expensive

[The Lazy One]

M$ is probably going to concentrate on using the XNA community games as a replacement for cheap games. Standard XBLA games are going to see a shift towards a much fuller experience.

Many of the games on XBLA are favorably comparable to a full DS game, which you pay a lot less for.

[Viktor E]

*YAWN*Another Failure up for Download

[lagunatom]

You haven't even played it yet. And it's gotten stellar reviews. On Metacritic, only one PS3 exclusive has gotten a higher review.

[zethos56]

I wonder what you're new account will be named once you've lost all of your bubbles.

[Vicophine]

It's $15? I can understand $10, but $15 is a bit high I must say, only game that I felt justified a price close to that was Everyday Shooter, that game is pure art =D

It'd get much more sales if it was inbetween $5 and $10 IMO.

[fufotrufo]

I just hateeee i can't buy this game..xbox live says the stupid credit card info is invalid :@

[DevastationEve]

Open a new checking account and just use the debit card associated with it.

[navyguy21]

or just buy the points card at the retail store where you buy games!

[LossTheEarthbreaker]

Which isn't the whole of it.

The soundtrack is beautiful, the controls are excellent, the puzzles have variety, and the bosses are clever.

You must download at least the demo if you play your Xbox 360. It is better than most games released at 50 dollars.

[Shane Kim]

"Never, in the goddamned history of videogaming, has there been another game like Braid."

Poor guy, he can't have played lots of games can he.

[LossTheEarthbreaker]

You think a game reviewer hasn't played a lot of games...

Have you even played a game this generation? Probably haven't played Braid, either.

[RAM MAGNUMS]

ugly.
95% of xbox users only have 2 gigs to manage with & 60 leftover m$ points.
sorry but that's a whole lot of bread & way to many megabytes.
Better luck next time.
not bad braid. Maybe next time you release on psnetwork & cost
a reasonable real price & not some mystery m$ point.
Its no pixeljunk Eden but if your willing to part ways with logic, hopefully
braid is for you.
the hardcore gamers days are numbered till the fall update forces the casual
cack in your mouth. Better practice your gaggin reflexes!
Killzowned & teabagged!

[Ali_The_Brit]

iv watched loads of videos but i wont be getting it

Honestly microsoft cant compete with quality of games when it comes to PSN, sure they have more but thats just it, a huge libary of rubish games against a decent collection of incredible games

games like PAIN, the pixeljunk series, fl0w, elefunk these are the real inovative next gen downloadable games.

[Ali_The_Brit]

oh yeh and its $15 goddamn, it deffo isnt worth that, all the amazing BETTER games on PSN are $4.99

[DevastationEve]

We're talking about games here. Not Olympic triathletes. The whole superiority/inferiority game is getting old. Does inferior graphics stop DS/wii from selling? And by no means should 360 ever really be considered inferior.

Just say that you don't like the game/console. But at least be a decent person and do your research before bashing.

If you get your hands/eyes/brain on Schizoid I'm sure you'd turn around pretty quick! And then there's Geometry Wars, which I didn't think could possibly get any better than what the previous one achieved. All I can say is whoa, they sure stepped it up a notch!

With this game I expected less, and they delivered WAY more.

[LossTheEarthbreaker]

Pixeljunk is good. Super Stardust and Everyday Shooter are good.

But so are Ikaruga, Rez, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Soul Calibur, Braid, and Geometry Wars 2 (the game super stardust and everyday shooter wanted to be).

The difference here is that Braid really delivers a new experience. It's the best game on either XBLA or PSN.

[DevastationEve]

Ikaruga, one of my favorite traditional Japanese vertical scrolling shooters! Hey, does anyone remember G Darius? Or better yet Einhander? Yeah, those two games were AWESOME! Not vertical shooters, but what the hell they were great games. Einhander I think was one of the finest, it really had a great weapons system and the environments were spectacular.

Oh, here's nostalgia for ya. KLONOA!!! Great game! Oh crap, here's another one: WILD 9!!!!!

Damn, those were the good ole days. I wanna see those games one more time.

[TheMART]

Britty

Your posts are just this negative because there is only one PS3 exclusive that scored higher then this game.

Which is pretty funny. A XBL downloadable game is better then most full retail games.

[CR7JUVE1897]

Bottom line, it is worth the extra money.

By far the best XBLA title out there, and next to my personal favorite, Super Stardust HD, the best downloadable game on any console.

Using time manipulation to solve puzzles is nothing short of brilliant

[DevastationEve]

It's good stuff people! I have purchased

Schizoid (whoa...good game)
Geometry Wars (i should have waited for the new one)
Switchball (a pretty good game really)
Small arms (smash bros wannabe, but who can't live without smash bros, right?)
Sonic 2 (brings back childhood memories)

There's a few others I have, plus one xbox originals game (guilty gear x2).

All in all, it's a great service and something that I'll keep an eye on more in the future.

If there's any ONE game I'd love to have though (something I'm really jealous at PSN for) it'd be Loco Roco. I'd really like to see that game on XBLA!

[thenickel]

I felt kind of ripped off by schzoid but will give it another run through anyway. I'm just looking forward to XNA games coming this fall I hope and having a great time with Braid.

[LossTheEarthbreaker]

I've heard Schizoid was average. I've not played the demo, even.

Rez, Ikaruga, Soul Calibur, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 stand with Braid as the best of XBLA.

[DevastationEve]

my one major gripe with Schizoid is that there's no restart level option. for a game THIS hinged on perfection you'd think that they'd know how many restarts you're going to go through.

it's a simple game that get's EXCRUCIATINGLY difficult on its higher levels. but i find that the easiest way through the levels is to maintain the same space as your counterpart. if you can mirror the moves of your friend you can effectively be there when he's chased by blue objects (his weakness, your enemy) and slightly double back when it's followed by red objects (your weakness, his enemy).

when playing by yourself (you control BOTH guys) it's a real test of analog coordination and environmental awareness. so you do kinda have your brain split in two. and when the enemies start coming in groves, it's like the 300 Spartans. back-to-back fading out and letting your friend take the hits and then doubling around again to cover him! but the rule is to never have them too far apart, keep them tight.

of course, there's no way to plot out each level move for move, so im sure you'll do your own fair share of improv.

[darthmaul]

Downloaded the demo first and was instantly hooked. Bought the game without hesitation. Its very refreshing, innovative and just plain fun. The game actually makes you use your brain. Imagine that. Highest possible recommendation.

[Snukadaman]

I like the premise but will wait for castle crashers and bionic commando.

[Bangladesh]

Braid is certainly the most artistic game that I have played in my 28 years of gaming. And that's without even thinking about it's water-color art style. Like the guy mentioned the game is chock full of metaphors. Just a little hint, you aren't trying to save the princess...you are searching for "the" princess. But yeah, it's certainly an "artsy fartsy" game. I like it though, you would probably be suprised after you got a little further into it.

[Snukadaman]

I wont be getting it right now since I have those 2 titles that I really want to get and will spend most of my time with....but in the future i will grab this game...I like to support people with great ideas and this game truly has them.

[Bangladesh]

lol yeah I'm looking forward to Castle Crashers myself.

[PoorDroids]

yeah. looks like another bionic commando. all art and no gameplay.

but who knows. ill need to see some video reviews.

[Rhezin]

something the ps3 knows nothing about, except in the trash japanese JRPG crap! WHICH IS ALL THE PS3 IS GOOD FOR.

[The Wood]

if its good get it. Ten extra reasons not not reasons. This applies to all games you personally like.

[NMC2007]

I am so sick of people pitching reasons to buy and play Braid, WTF?!

[DevastationEve]

What about MGS4? Or Halo3? Well, that's what happens when a really good game comes out. We get that feelgood hit and then poof! The fire spreads, and it's on everyone's mind. Just feel it...

[DevastationEve]

You know something? I had my little nostalgic moment and then I realized something...the one thing that keeps us gaming is the GAMES! Go out there and play, don't let someone get you down for not liking what they like. Everyone eventually sees the light and we ALL go back to playing. It doesn't matter what you have. It really shouldn't.

[ReBurn]

I'll have to try the trial version.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Do you realy need 8, when 1 will do?

[outlawlife]

i played the trial and found it pretty engaging, defintiely unique and kinda challenging in spots

don't mind the price on the game at all, seems more than fair...it is a very high quality qame

if i weren't saving my points for castle crashers i'd be all over this but i may pick it up later one