Braid was remembered to be one of the best inspirations for the argument of video games as an art form back in the days of gaming on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Video games like Braid, Fez, Journey, and many others helped show that video games can be more than what they appear at the surface. With the release of the remaster, we get a brand new coat of paint, but also a lot of new content.
Story and Gameplay
You play the title character as you navigate a complicated story about love, a troubled relationship, and being on a personal journey told through the perspective of the protagonist through diaries at the start of each world. Even though the game is 16 years old at this point, I will still not talk about the story directly, but it still holds up as well as it did all those years ago.
WIth brand new content in the form of developer commentary and custom levels made within the commentary world, there is more to do in the game if you are eager to continue playing even after the credits roll. There is even a secret ending to unlock
The story has a lot of depth, emotion, and character to it, which really is told brilliantly without the use of any dialogue. This is easily my favorite aspect of the game and why I thoroughly enjoyed going through all of the worlds one more time.
The game has a formula akin to 2003’s Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Braid has the power to reverse time to undo his death, a missed jump, or any other fault made throughout the playthrough. As you go from one world to the next, they each present their own unique use of his powers and solving puzzles around them.
One example is a world where time moves forward when you do, but moving backwards reverses it. This will really make you put your thinking cap on when solving puzzles in that world, as a lot of mechanics you have known may not be as useful as before.
With a combination of platforming, puzzle solving, and equal parts of collecting all of the puzzle pieces in each world to get the ending, Braid is a game that rewards thinking outside of the box and making the most of what you have at your disposal in each world and its unique challenges presented to you.
Graphics and Audio
The graphics are still as beautiful as ever, and with the tap of the right analog stick on the PS5, you can toggle between the original graphics and the modern graphics, as with a majority of modern remasters. The developers have given the game a whole new life with the visual upgrades that look sharper, more detailed, and give players a far crisper game to look at.
If you are a fan of the oil painting/watercolor aesthetic, you will find a lot of charm in the art that is in the background of each stage, and there is a lot to admire if you stop and admire the vivid sceneries as well.
The soundtrack is mellow and very relaxing and it has moments where the tempo picks up to complement the puzzle on the screen which could require being quick on your feet.
Feedback
As a fan of puzzle games and platformers, I thoroughly enjoyed Braid when I first played it 16 years ago, and I enjoyed it even more when I got to revisit this indie gem. The offering here is plentiful for new and returning fans alike.
Verdict
A classic indie title that was once locked to a console generation and thought to be lost has been brought back to modern day with a brand new coat of paint, a slew of new content, and maintains the same challenge and difficulty as it did in the past. Braid is a must play for fans of the indie games genre, and if you have fond memories of the original, it is even more compelling to play on a modern system.
With narrated commentary, new stages after the main game, and trophy support, Braid is a shining example of one of the best indie games that has stood the test of time!
