Ya está disponible para PC el tan laureado Braid, nombrado por muchos el mejor juego independiente del año pasado. Los usuarios de XBox 360 pudieron disfrutarlo en agosto del 2008 y ahora, para satisfación de todos, lo podemos adquirir para ordenador. Mucho se habló en su tiempo sobre Braid, la mayoría de la crítica estaba de acuerdo en que se trataba de toda una demostración de innovación e imaginación. A pesar de que toma de manera descarada (más bien en forma de homenaje) elementos de otros juegos, Braid es único.

Desde la pantalla de presentación el juego te embauca, está claro que estás ante algo distinto y que consigue atrapar. Un acertadísimo apartado artístico para tratarse de un juego indie y una banda sonora sublime capaz de embelesar a cualquier jugador y hacer que se sienta a gusto en el universo creado por Jonathan Blow. Si tuviéramos que encuadrarlo en un género, el título estaría más cercano a los puzles que a cualquier otro. A pesar de contar con la mecánica típica de un plataformas 2D, el desarrollo de los niveles no será lineal, sino que manipulando el tiempo tendremos que realizar diversas acciones en una misma localización.

Si hubiese que emparentar su estilo con algún juego anterior, podríamos nombrar los geniales Abe Odyssey de PSX, el anterior Lost Vikings o el maravilloso Cat Trap de la Game Boy, del que sin duda ha heredado el aspecto de jugar con el tiempo para corregir fallos sobre el nivel. De lejos también podría hacer guiños a  Prince of Persia: Sands of time o Timeshift, en el sentido de que también son juegos donde la manipulación del tiempo puede ser importante. Otra de las influencias de Jonathan ha sido sin duda el Super Mario Bros, no sólo por la mecánica plataformera y el acabar con enemigos saltando sobre ellos, sino porque directamente hace guiños a momentos de la aventura del fontanero, como el ya mítico “La princesa está en el otro castillo”.

Por tanto, de manera totalmente orientativa se puede concluir comentando que Braid es un híbrido entre plataformas y puzles, donde podemos manipular el tiempo enmendando errores cometidos, aderezado con numerosos elementos del escenario como son enemigos, interruptores, puertas, llaves etc, siendo algunos de ellos inmunes a la manipulación del tiempo, sabremos que un elemento tiene esta particularidad si brilla con un color verdoso. El objetivo es ir recopilando piezas de puzle diseminadas por los escenarios, para luego reconstruir un cuadro con el que podemos dar  por finalizado ese mundo. El juego está formado por siete mundos (si contamos el epílogo).

Tim, el protagonista del juego, nunca muere. La base de Braid no está en mantener con vida al personaje, sino estrujarse los sesos para conseguir resolver los puzles y conseguir todas las piezas, por eso nuestros principales quebraderos de cabeza no serán por mantener con vida a Tim, sino por llevarlo hasta las piezas. El manejo del mismo es exquisitamente fácil y simple. Un botón para saltar, otro para activar objetos y otro para retroceder en el tiempo, que combinado con otro hace que retrocedamos a una velocidad más o menos rápida. Hacerse con los controles es facilísimo, y aunque hay momentos que requieren pericia plataformera, el coco es lo que más se usará en la aventura, por encima de la habilidad.

Aunque a priori Braid sea simple, esconde un aspecto precioso y efectivo. Pasa lo mismo con el argumento. La única manera que tendremos de saber algo sobre el hilo de la historia es leyendo unos libros que se encuentran antes de comenzar los niveles de un determinado mundo. En ellos se narra una historia de amor, de errores, arrepentimiento, y ganas de hacer bien las cosas. Se trata de un precioso paralelismo con la mecánica de Braid. Al mismo tiempo que tenemos que hacer uso del tiempo, la historia de Tim con la princesa se ha visto empañada por unos determinados fallos, que quizás pudiesen haberse evitado volviendo atrás e intentando afrontarlos de una manera distinta.

La lectura de estos libros invita a la reflexión y proporciona un transfondo bastante sentimental a la historia. Cuestiones sobre si castigar a alguien por un determinado comportamiento o dejarlo pasar sabiendo que la persona ha aprendido de los errores. Realmente bonito, corto, sencillo e ideal para hacer que Braid tenga ese toque emocional agridulce de no saber que puede pasar con la relación de los personajes, siempre con la dificultad de mantener contenta a tu pareja. Parece mentira que un juego de las carcaterísticas del mencionado logre arrancar sensaciones similares a las de grandes “superproducciones” como Shadow of the Colossus, ICO o algún Legend of  Zelda.

El videojuego ya puede considerarse arte, y dentro de las propuestas más arriesgadas o emocionales que se alejan de los tradicionalismos, también es importante crear nuevas estructuras, que nos hagan replantearnos el porqué los juegos siguien siendo iguales generación tras generación. Tocando un tema tan filosófico en plan “¿cómo hubiese transcurrido el universo ante un determinado acto?”, Braid logra hacerse un hueco artístico dentro de una cuestión con la que se ha jugueteado mucho en el cine, Regreso al Futuro, Donnie Darko o el Efecto Mariposa son claros ejemplos del “¿Y que hubiera pasado de no haber hecho las cosas así?” sobre el que se sustenta Braid.

Braid no debe pasar desapercibido para ningún jugador con ganas de probar cosas nuevas y que a la vez mantenga el sabor de los juegos de antaño, sin florituras técnicas y sin complicaciones poligonales ni texturas hyper-realistas. A veces las pequeñas cosas son las que más importancia tienen. No me canso de repetir que Braid es bonito, igual de bonito que el que pudiésemos realmente manipular el tiempo en la vida real, o quizás no tanto. Pero si sería bonito que las personas aprendiesen a perdonar, que reflexionasen sobre los errores y que diésemos segundas oportunidades.

Quizás suene un poco exagerado, pero Braid es uno de los juegos más inteligentes, frecos, bonitos y emocionales que se hayan programado nunca. No me cabe duda de que el tiempo lo pondrá en su lugar y no sólo eso, sino que es posible que haga reflexionar a muchos desarrolladores sobre una nueva forma de plantear los juegos. Totalmente imprescindible.

]]> http://oxcgn.com/2008/08/14/braid-xbla-review-lets-look-at-xblas-brilliant-platformer/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:49:25 +0000 suttondagger http://oxcgn.com/2008/08/14/braid-xbla-review-lets-look-at-xblas-brilliant-platformer/

Braid Review XBLA’s Brilliant Platformer

Too often we’re preoccupied with the destination & forget the journey.

by Sutton Dagger

©2008 Steve Sutton:

“`How do you begin to critique an experience like Braid, based on puzzle/platforming elements, yet with far more profound connotations? At its core, Braid is a puzzle/platforming game and has no hesitation in  paying homage to its roots (“Im sorry, but the Princess is in another castle”, is a classic line your all familiar with).

The gameplay handles like you would expect from a traditional 2D platformer, you are able to move both left and right, whilst jumping up to, or descending down to higher/lower levels respectively. Though there is certainly more to Braid than this simple premise, for those who wish to explore such avenues.

Essentially, you control the protagonist Tim, through a series of worlds with varying time manipulation themes. At a base level, you are simply asked to reach the next door to progress through each sub-stage, though puzzle pieces are scattered throughout and present the real challenge, obtaining them all is no small undertaking.

This time manipulation theme begins with the simple feature of being able to reverse time, missed jumps or premature death can instantly be reversed, you might think this diminishes its difficulty but this is not the crux of Braid.

Each progressive world has a spin on this time manipulation idea, It might be reversing time only to find a shadow of your former self mimicking your previous actions or the creation of a ‘time bubble’ to slow the flow of time within its radius.

All these time control elements are used to solve the various puzzles you are faced with, acquiring a key to open a locked door might not be as straightforward  as it seems.

Braid does a sensational job of presenting you with new and unique challenges as you progress through the different worlds, throwing in concepts such as, objects that don’t get effected by the reversal of time and even stretching this to involve the character himself.

Locked doors may be irreversibly opened and keys permanently damaged, all these ideas make for a brain straining challenge, though the pay-off is well worth the mental involvement. If you’re after a pure platforming experience Braid will certainly please, though beyond this superficial exterior you will find a game with insightful suggestions that are unmatched in the interactive entertainment medium.

The story is presented in books as beautifully crafted prose pieces, writings about the intimate thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, Tim. These are viewed, at your own discretion, in the space between the world doors and sub-stages. From the outset we can gather that Tim is looking for his princess (not very original, though this adds to its brilliance) and that he once had her, but his “mistakes” drove her away.

From there, Braid is a personal experience, it’s startling that a game can outwardly project its core ideas and involve the player in its message. Some people will be completely enthralled by the tale, while others may find nothing but a decent platformer, its all about ‘Perspective’.

Flowing on from the strong gameplay mechanics and inspiring story, Braids graphics are as equally competent. A wash of watercoloured backgrounds provide a clear distinction between the backdrops and the sprites of the main character and his opponents. The backgrounds fluctuate in colour as time is revered or fast forwarded, dulling and brightening to add a visual flare to your actions.

The sound undergoes the same transitions, effectively mimicking the process of reversal, with notes becoming warped under the strain of time manipulation. Unlike most platforming musical scores, Braid has a sweeping soundtrack, incorporating string instruments (especially the violin and cello) to enhance the flow and mood of the gameplay.

Perhaps (unfortunately)  Braids most talked about factor, is its price point. At 1200 MS points, roughly $18 Australian dollars, Braid is one of the more expensive Xbox Live Arcade releases, though is this price point justified? Though the game might not take long to finish, the whole experience is worth every cent.

To put it in perspective, a trip to the cinema to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster would set you back approximately the same amount of money, though comparing  their value on monetary price is folly.  Others will have varying opinions, as they should, though how can you put a price point on something that defies the usual boundaries of where a game can take you. Perhaps the most profound and rewarding gaming journey in years, Braid is a masterpiece.

©2008 Steve Sutton:

“9.8/10

Click any thumb for full view:

I decided to buy Braid yesterday after watching some gameplay videos, namely the one I covered 2 days ago. For 1,200 MS Points ($15) this game is a steal, despite appearing generic in videos on the Internet I must say the quality of the high-res graphics really came through once I played it in HD. Everything animates fluidly and the “painterly” quality to the hand drawn graphics looks great. Paired with a haunting soundtrack it has top production values.

Initially the game starts off easy enough where you jump around levels Mario style and collect puzzle pieces which you use at the end of a world to piece together a jig-saw puzzle. Not too long into the game though you will find the genius puzzles integrated into the game, but to avoid spoiling the fun of finding them out for yourself I will make no mention to any of them, but trust me they are cool! I am now on the 3rd world and have really enjoyed it so far, the puzzles now have a time reversal element to them where if you move to the right, enemies and objects move normally, but as soon as you move toward the left of the screen everything reverses in time (like rewinding a movie).

Platformer fans will no doubt love the easter eggs thrown in the game making references to others in the genre. This is a no doubt buy for anyone reading this website right now, if you like traditional, beautiful hand drawn platformers with a sense of artistry and puzzles Braid is just your fix. Before you go comparing it to other time altering games, just trust me on this one….Braid does it best and like no other out there. Expect a review of the game once I have completed it.

This Wednesday the Xbox Live Arcade is treated to a unique puzzle-platformer called ‘Braid’. The game has been in development for over 3 years now by ‘Number None Inc’ and it incorporates familiar gameplay coupled with a new unique twist on the genre. Each game world presents you with a unique way to manipulate time from something as easy as rewinding time to parallel worlds. This is what creates the unique puzzles found throughout the game. The kicker is that you actually never die, as you have free usage of your time abilities, as the game is more about the accomplishment of finishing puzzles and levels than trying over and over after falling to your death. The games art is all hand drawn along with a rich symphonic music score which all fits together to create a truly unique experience.

Be sure to check out the above gameplay video to get a taste for just one of the puzzles in the game. Braid will be available on August 6th for 1,200 (yes 1,200) Microsoft Points exclusively on the XBLA. For more info on the game check out the official Xbox.com Braid page

Braid

Number None inc.

A Must Have

Worth it?

• Addictive and rewarding.
• Very unique in gameplay and story.
• Play this game before someone spoils it.

Not Worth it

• Very short
• Limited replay value
• steep £10 price tag

Braid is not for everyone, and it’s not game to be taken lightly. For most, spending 1,200 Microsoft points on an action platformer with roughly 5 hours of gameplay is a waste of time, money and stress pills. However, for those willing to take a leap and enter into the mysterious worlds of Braid, you will be rewarded. Maybe not exactly as you’d like, but you will have definitely experienced something outside of the mental debauchery that is today’s games market.

The story starts with Tim a colourful sprite from the Amiga generation sporting a strapping tie and blue-suit combination. Well, technically, it doesn’t really start at all. In Braid, there is no logical start-to-finish storyline apparent and everything takes place in the form of these mystical ‘worlds’ which can, to an extent, be attempted in any order you like. The first world is, confusingly, the house in which you start and so you actually begin your journey in world 2, labeled Time and Forgiveness, introduces you to the core concepts of the game.

Braid, at its core, is an action platformer with a gimmick. The familiar foes with springy temples, the elusive princess, the inexplicable reason for everything in sight trying to eat you with a satisfying *crunch*. However, what braid does is turn the familiar on its ass. The ability to alter the flow of time is introduced and what was once familiar disappears. Dying no longer matters, you can fall into a spiky pit; be treated to a wall of flame and spring into the unknown with no consequences, everything can be immediately rewinded by holding the X button and using the bumpers to alter the speed of time travel. This is not revolutionary, other games have attempted this, however, in Braid, it really takes a form of its own. Braid’s time travel has no limitations inside of its own world, no clunky ball-and-chain bullshit that many, more mediocre game designers would adopt. By removing the danger associated with platforming, the action is solely centred on correct execution of the puzzles, which are crafted so meticulously, with such attention to detail, you’d think that Jonathan Blow was the architect behind the Holy Grail temple.

If You’d think that freely traversing time would make the game easy. You’d be wrong. Very. Fucking. Wrong.

Each world has its own form of time manipulation, which I shall not spoil here, half the fun is finding out what you can do! After a brief introductory level, you are thrust into the complex, often controller-smashing puzzles. Braid never takes your intelligence for granted and never makes any preconceptions as to what you may understand and the game is better for it. The puzzles are solved by gaining puzzle pieces to make a picture. Once you have completed the world’s puzzle, the world is ’solved’, although you can traverse the world without gaining a puzzle pieces for a fairly pointless achievement.

The story, although interesting, is my major gripe with the game, it feels a bit… tacked on. The story comes in little book podiums that you can read before levels but once in the world, the main goal is to get the puzzle pieces. The puzzles don’t directly affect the story and only unlock your ability to progress, it’s all just a bit shallower than I expected and the story seems separate from the game. That said, the mood of the storybooks preceding a world will ultimately affect how you perceive the world, maybe giving it a darker tone or making the background art and music more meaningful. To be honest, anything making the music more meaningful is welcome, the music is a fairly banal mix of genres including some classical and nursery rhymes and gets annoying very quickly especially when you have to listen to it over, and over and over again. But, like everything indie, it’s impossible to blame them for trying.

After visiting all the worlds and piecing together fragmented bits of the story, you can get a general sense what is going on. The joy in Braid’s storytelling lies in its abstractness. Like a good poem or novel, much of the interpretation is left up to the participant. In fact, after many hours of pondering and discussion, you may even find it hard to believe that this is a video game story. When I talk to my friends about it, the conversations divert into the realm of the metaphysical and complex notions of time and its affect on us. I’m not completely sure if this was the creator’s intent or whether he was just dicking around. I think both are entirely possible.

It would have been nice to have a more immediate and complete story, but the inherent whimsicality of Braid makes that impossible. The whimsicality that is present from the moment you enter the world. These dreamlike worlds that are so separate and distant from the theme of the first world in which you start. The art is beautiful and befits the game perfectly and the score befits the art, it all comes full circle, it is complete. Unlike the castle that you have built from your dreams .

All of which I have said in praise of this game just leads to the ending, which I believe is possibly the most amazing ending to a game I have seen in a long time. It’s positively, absolutely mind-fucking to the point of making me almost wet myself with glee and despair at 4:30 in the morning, covered in chocolate and Cheetos. I won’t spoil it.

Braid, like all serious puzzle games suffers from a major downfall. The inherent inability to replay the game. Once you’ve completed the game, all the difficult puzzles become ingrained in your mind and the game will forever be easy and the original times when you threw down your controller in frustration will be an amusing memory. So, I implore you, do not play this with the aid of a guide, of which there are many. This problem is somewhat alleviated by speed runs, which you must complete certain levels or the entire game against a challenge time, this is an interesting addition but is limited and it won’t be long before you’ve completely finished everything the game has to offer.

It is not the game for the average inhabitant of Xbox Live. Or at least the inhabitants I am accustomed to, screaming down the microphone like banshees having unanaesthetized leg amputations; hurling often racial abuse at innocents as if they’d sexually assaulted their grandfathers and unable to stop twitching unless they’re shooting large guns. The game requires a great deal of patience and a certain amount of natural ability, however, for your effort, you are greatly rewarded with a spectacular ending and some of the most satisfying puzzles ever created.

There we have it. Braid, a landmark in independant game design. It’s not a game for everyone, but everyone should play it, at least once.

P.S. This is probably longer than all of the coursework I have ever written. Combined.