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News -
Xbox 360
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Written by Duff
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Wednesday, 13 August 2008 07:37 |
 Give me a second while I put on my flame retardant vest and prepare for the inevitable onslaught that I may be setting myself up for... ok... where was I? Oh, yeah... Braid. What is it with this game? Every review that I have read has gushed over the game; some websites are posting nothing but stories highlighting the greatness of the game. My friend's list is filled with people playing it constantly... the whole world seems to love (and get) this game, but I don't.
Before you start flaming me and calling me an idiot, hear me out. The first major issue that I have with the game is the price point but that is pretty much a moot point. I whole heartedly acknowledge that the price shouldn't be the basis of which I am judging this game but it is something that is sticking in my head every time that I see the game mentioned. I won't dwell on this topic though because some of the other staff on our site are addressing those issues and I will leave it in their hands.
 Secondly, I don't get what is so groundbreaking about the game. Granted, the concept of manipulating and altering the passage of time as it relates to a platform game is a good idea, but this isn't the first game that has done it. I seem to remember, specifically, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and Blinx: The Time Sweeper both being heavily anchored in this same gameplay mechanic... and I am sure that there are others that I am not ever aware of. What is it about Braid that makes the concept so novel this time around? I am posing this question to the community seriously because I am personally failing to see what separates this apart from the games that have done it in the past.
 Granted, the only experience that I have with the game so far is with the demo, but shouldn't a demo sell you on a game. The last time that I checked, the word "demo" was derived from "demonstration". The purpose of a demonstration is supposed to be to sell you on the full show / version. When a company creates a demo, I would expect them to create one that highlights the truly innovating and high-points of the game. The demo that I have played for Braid has done nothing but show me an indy-developed sub-par platformer that has a price tag that makes it seem like it is much better than it is.
 Go ahead flame on... but I just needed to vent. I just don't get the hype that this game is getting and I find myself sitting here pondering how long it will last. My personal feelings are that we won't be hearing much about this game after this week, if not today. I think that this game is just another flash in the pan that has the eyes of the gaming world on it at the moment, but they will move on when the next "great" game hits, which could be today with Bionic Commando Rearmed. When it comes to Braid, I could think of much better ways to spend 1200 MS points... just none that involve Space Giraffe.
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