Braid

[Khaldun]

I started playing this last night. As a puzzle-based old-school platformer, not bad. Certainly I've had to think right from the outset. Nice art direction. Good music.

And I appreciate the attempt to tell a story that goes above Mario needing to get Princess Peach back from Bowser's rape farm for the fiftieth time.

But on the other hand, some folks seem way too impressed with that aspect of the game. The melancholy about a past relationship was fine in the first round, but by the third "world" I wanted to go take the thesaurus away from the writer--the overwriting started to become pretty obnoxious.

Anybody else playing this?

[MisterNoisy]

I've only got a few puzzle pieces left to pick up.  I really dig the game, but the reviews floating around are a little too glowing.  It's good, but not the all-conquering messiah of indie gaming it's being made out to be.  That said, I don't regret spending the $15 at all.  There's a post here that goes pretty deep into the story as an allegory for the Manhattan Project. (note:  Spoilers!)

[OcellotJenkins]

I must be pretty dumb, because I found the puzzles to be downright annoyingly difficult.  It was fun up until about world 3ish and now I'm almost too frustrated to play.  Maybe I just need to get a better grip on the rules of the time rewind.   

[KallDrexx]

Take a break if you are stuck.  I found that stopping playing for 20 minutes and then coming back made me see things I didn't see before.

That said one of the phantom world puzzles was one that everyone I knew (and me) had to youtube the solution for.

It's a pretty good game, kinda short though.

[Big Gulp]

It's a pretty good game, kinda short though.

I enjoy a good puzzle game, but I've heard way too much about the "artiste" emo bullshit present throughout the game.  Just out of general principle I refuse to support that kind of crap.

[caladein]

You don't even have to read the story.  All the books are found at the stage select of each world and are independent of the platforming.

That said, I liked the story for the most part.

[Samprimary]

I enjoy a good puzzle game, but I've heard way too much about the "artiste" emo bullshit present throughout the game.  Just out of general principle I refuse to support that kind of crap.

You're being stupid, then. It's a fantastic puzzle game and it doesn't force you to pay attention to the storyline even just a little bit.

[Big Gulp]

You're being stupid, then. It's a fantastic puzzle game and it doesn't force you to pay attention to the storyline even just a little bit.

Actually, I wish I'd posted in the other thread instead of this one, but the current conversation you're having about the douchebaggery of Jonathan Blow is a good reason I'm not buying it.  I absolutely can't stand that kind of "I'm an artist!  You plebeians couldn't understand my vision!" bullshit, and this fucknut sounds like he's brimming with it.

I also won't blow $15 on yet another short, overpriced XBLA game.  Microsoft seems to think that $15 is the new sweet spot, and I have no intention of helping add to that impression.

[Samprimary]

Your loss.

[taolurker]

I foresee there only being a single thread, when one of the people with mod powars realizes there are two of this thread.

[Rasix]

Effort. 

[DeathInABottle]

Actually, I wish I'd posted in the other thread instead of this one, but the current conversation you're having about the douchebaggery of Jonathan Blow is a good reason I'm not buying it.  I absolutely can't stand that kind of "I'm an artist!  You plebeians couldn't understand my vision!" bullshit, and this fucknut sounds like he's brimming with it.
I also won't blow $15 on yet another short, overpriced XBLA game.  Microsoft seems to think that $15 is the new sweet spot, and I have no intention of helping add to that impression.

What do you spend on movies?  Books?  Why is something that has the advantages of traditional storytelling coupled with interaction worth less?  Also, don't you think that avoiding a game because it opens itself up to interpretation is just a little closed-minded?

[Big Gulp]

What do you spend on movies?  Books?  Why is something that has the advantages of traditional storytelling coupled with interaction worth less?

It's worth what I think it's worth, and in this case, it's not something I was aware of or anticipating months ago.  Coupled with that, I find out that it's got a thick patina of pretension surrounding it, and it's now worth approximately one shiny nickel.

Also, don't you think that avoiding a game because it opens itself up to interpretation is just a little closed-minded?

Who ever said I was open minded?

[Chenghiz]

Actually, I wish I'd posted in the other thread instead of this one, but the current conversation you're having about the douchebaggery of Jonathan Blow is a good reason I'm not buying it.  I absolutely can't stand that kind of "I'm an artist!  You plebeians couldn't understand my vision!" bullshit, and this fucknut sounds like he's brimming with it.

I also won't blow $15 on yet another short, overpriced XBLA game.  Microsoft seems to think that $15 is the new sweet spot, and I have no intention of helping add to that impression.

The author made it pretty clear that he was making a game for himself. I doubt if he cares at all whether you "get it" or not. I haven't played the game but I've heard it's good, and I intend to play it when he decides to release a PC version.I think the mistake you're making is taking someone else's opinion and accepting it as fact. I hear there's a demo; why don't you try it and see for yourself?

[schild]

If he didn't care whether you "got it" or not, he would've kept his fucking gob shut. As it stands, he really wants you to get it, but he's being a dick about it.

[Rishathra]

I'm all for a game that tries to expand the experience and opens itself up for interpretation.  However, I can't stand artfag douchetwats, so it makes it really hard for me to want to give this guy money.  I probably will anyways, because the game does seem pretty interesting.

Also, what Schild said.

Heh, artfag douchetwats passed the spell checker, but Schild didn't.

[Margalis]

My fucking God, 1up FM has another half hour of Jonathan Blow bitching about how people didn't get it.

Best part: him claiming that he's been staying away from internet discussions because the game speaks for itself.

[MrHat]

I've enjoyed it so far.  It's worked my brain quite a bit to figure out some of the puzzles.

[Khaldun]

Yeah, he's coming off like a very pretentious Serek Dmart. Seriously, once you release something? People do with it what they will, EVEN books, art, TV, etc. Beware the cultural creator who gives a shit what happens  to something they've made, or who tries to control its interpretation. It is what it is, it is at the moment it leaves you something alien and strange to you. It's not you anymore and you don't get any say over it. So shut up and make more, if  you're happy about making things.

[Soln]

it's in the public domain -- authorial intent only matters if you get on Oprah. 

[LK]

Ok so someone explain the story to me because it sounds like Jonathan Blow might actually have been on blow.

[Moaner]

Awesome.  I thought I was the only gamer on Earth who thought Braid was pretentious and boring.

[ahoythematey]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise.

Just got this as a gift in steam, and while I'm still unsure on how I feel about Blow's opinions on games in general, I think his little game is pretty sweet.  I was awfully impressed by the selection of music.

So far I do think the "actual story" is a bit too vague based on what is written in the game.

EDIT: That ending...uh, what the fuck?

EDIT pt. deux:  I'm pretty proud of myself for beating the game without using spoilers.  Seriously, though, being succinct is not a bad thing.

[fuser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSXofLK5hFQ