Braid

I rarely post about computer games, which is odd considering that I’m constantly in awe of them for the intricate level of detail and creativity that is engineered into them. As a testament to this, I often find myself trying to explore parts of a level that were probably supposed to be bypassed or stopping to admire a graphic designer’s handywork on the in-game Art Deco furniture (plenty of this to be had in the Bioshock series).

Once in a while, a game comes along that captivates me to the point that I end-up floating in a perpetual storm of binge-gaming. Braid is one of those games. It is packed with delicious backdrops, curious characters and evocative worlds. The graphic style is uniquely lo-fi and almost reminiscent of the early platform games for the Amiga. Its illustrative look draws on the talents of web-comic artist David Hellman to add painted impressionist edge that somehow prevents the environment from feeling too structured.

The game itself is full of enigmatic puzzles that have to solved by using the game’s time mechanics; a nifty addition that allows the character to reverse time and so on. It’s fun to play, it has a simple learning curve and I can’t think of anything else that looks like it. Although it’s been out for a while, I would heartily recommend it to anyone who has become jaded with the samey look and feel of the games world.