A quick look around the web will show quite an uproar over Braids relatively high price. It's possible to get an Xbox Live Arcade game for 800 points that has vastly more replay ability, such as Puzzle Quest. So why get Braid? A 5 hour game for 5 dollars more sounds like a rip off compared to a game that has provided thousands with upwards of 30 hours of game play.
1. Braid is a game that is pushing the boundaries of gaming. Its art style and the simplicity of its design make it a game that can appeal to almost anyone. If a game is going to get people talking about games as art, Braid is it. Bioshock was too bloody, but Braid can hit the right notes with a mainstream audience the Bioshock never could. Braid will make people who don't play games question what they thought they knew about our hobby.
2. Another complaint that you will hear everywhere is that Braid will start a trend. Higher prices for every game. 1200 will become the new 800. But if I may go back to the example of Puzzle Quest, which is a game that released at the high price of 1200 points. The Xbox Live Arcade did not see a rise in the prices of games that resulted in an influx of 1200 point games. Just the same prices as usual. But, I will admit. Things may change. And if they do, there will be a time to begin revolting and boycotting Xbox Live. If Microsoft decides to release a 1200 point Pac Man game, I will begin to believe that we are being taken advantage of to a point that the system needs fixing. But we shouldn't boycott a game as different and as worthy of the higher price as Braid.
3. Not enough bang for your buck. I hear this a lot. I will go out on a limb and say that roughly 90% of those who bought the game are satisfied with their purchase. That means that just because the game was 5 dollars more, they don't feel cheated out of their money. Many have easily gotten 8 to 10 hours of game play from Braid. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say that there's a lot more to collect than puzzle pieces.
4. Finally, I'm sure a lot of you out there know this, but the developer has to make his dues. Some of you don't care, and that's fine. But most of us can at least admit that he was on to something with Braid, and if he doesn't earn back what he spent, we won't see any more games from Mr. Blow. And if this game doesn't sell well, we won't see many more games like it. Developers are cautious enough as it is with their ideas, only releasing shovelware because they're afraid that if they take chances, it won't prove to have been a good idea. Most end up spending more than they can afford on their games, and they have to price them higher to be sure that they make back what they spend.
Braid is a truly innovative game in a time when it isn't profitable to be innovative. There are many reasons why this game matters, and that may be the largest of them all. An innovative game that sells well means that we can expect more innovative games, not only from Jonathan Blow, but from developers everywhere who will finally be able to take a chance on games that they've wanted to make for their entire lives.
Braid is a game that deserves to be played by anyone that can. And it's a game that anyone can afford. It's just a matter of whether or not it's a worthy investment.
Braid is a worthy investment.
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While I wouldn't go as far as say Braid is a most buy. As you really can't say that about any game (due to different tastes). I do think gamers should at least download the demo and give the game a chance.
I agree that no game is a must buy. Especially since there are obviously people who haven't liked the game. But I do think that there are many people out there who are on the edge about whether or not to buy the game, and I just wanted to point out that Braid is worth buying.