Braid: Anniversary Edition (Thekla, Inc.) is a classic indie puzzle-platformer known for its innovative time-based gameplay, in which the player rewinds time to solve puzzles. These puzzles often require a combination intuition and precise button timing to accomplish. Since I’m not great at platforming and suck at precise time-based actions, some of these sections were a challenge for me. In other cases, I could manage the platforming, but struggled with the puzzle, so I unabashedly looked up hints as needed.
Most of the narrative is presented at the beginning of each level through a series of pedestals holding books. As the player passes each one a passage opens, revealing pieces of the story. It’s a lot of text up front, and I can imagine some players skipping most of it. However, I like the way the gameplay elements (specifically time manipulation) reflect the game’s overall themes regarding memory, regret, and the desire to do things differently. The final level — essentially a boss fight — also provides a twist on expectations, demonstrating the unreliable narration of the player-character up until this point.
