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Braid Anniversary Edition is out today for practically every platform, sales available

nicoreese

nicoreese

Member
Jan 18, 2018
751
Braid Anniversary Edition is a remaster of the classic time-manipulating platformer from 2008.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smk9Dc544_E

- 40 new levels
- New sound effects and music by Martin Stig Andersen (who worked on Control , Inside, Limbo) and Hans Christian Kock (who has done extensive film and TV work)
- New graphics (now in 4K, redrawn by the original artist with animated strokes)
- Toggle to instantly switch to old graphics, sounds, and effects
- 15 hours of developer commentary with interactive in-game elements

Out today on Steam, PS4/PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and on iOS and Android for Netflix subscribers. (Xbox version releasing May 15)
Depending on the platform there are various sales available, including 50% off if you already own the game on Steam. Otherwise its base price should be $20 across all stores.

Braid, Anniversary Edition

braid-game.com braid-game.com
 
JustTeaThankYou

JustTeaThankYou

Member
Aug 31, 2019
2,776
Holy shit it has new levels? I haven't played that game since it came out, but 40 sounds substantial in comparison to what is already there
 

Atom

Member
Jul 25, 2021
11,826
Jonathan Blow is so far up his own ass he's basically an endoscope but braid is a masterpiece.
 
OP
OP
nicoreese

nicoreese

Member
Jan 18, 2018
751
JustTeaThankYou said:
Holy shit it has new levels? I haven't played that game since it came out, but 40 sounds substantial in comparison to what is already there
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Yes, there's an entirely new commentary world according to the PSN trophies. In the trailer it looks like you can disable all of the documentary stuff though and just play the levels without having to care about that.
 
Hasney

Hasney

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
19,169
I'm really interested in impressions from new people, because based on my experience, this is the poster boy of that era for a game that just does not hold up.

Also Blow is a dick.
 
Celestial Descend

Celestial Descend

Corrupted by Vengeance
Member
Aug 15, 2022
3,550
JustTeaThankYou said:
In the sense that you didn't find the puzzles fun, or difficult, or engaging? Or more that you don't think it warrants the place in history that it holds, because in the context of today it's pretty basic?
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In the sense that the game controls like crap but also has a bunch of time-precision puzzles. Played it last year, pretty darn frustrating.
 
Hasney

Hasney

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
19,169
JustTeaThankYou said:
In the sense that you didn't find the puzzles fun, or difficult, or engaging? Or more that you don't think it warrants the place in history that it holds, because in the context of today it's pretty basic?
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I think it has a place in history, but more because of significance at a time and establishing how these indie games could be well regarded and do well on consoles. The puzzles aren't fun, the controls are not good enough and the nicest thing I will say about the art, even back then, is that it would be divisive. I do not like looking at it.
 
sugarless

sugarless

Member
Nov 2, 2017
722
I remember what a talking point it was that the game cost a whole 1600 MS Points ($20 at the time) despite being "only" a downloadable and relatively short game. In that sense it has a place in history for heralding the future of digital-only indie gaming reaching its audience for a fair price to the developer.

I recently played the original via backwards compatibility and found the gameplay held up but the pretentious story stuff didn't at all for me. I might bite on the new edition on sale on PSN at some point, though.
 
SanTheSly

SanTheSly

The San Symphony Project
Member
Sep 2, 2019
6,755
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Despite all the praise for this, I wasn't huge on it when I finally played it. Found it to be a frustrating experience. Was never that hot on the art style, but that's personal preference and I appreciate the artist returning to fix it up as well as the ability to toggle back to the original for anyone wanting to.

Story/Theme spoilers below but also was not a fan:

I'm okay with the general deconstruction of the damsel in distress archetype but the story slips into actual pretentiousness territory with everything related to the nuke metaphor for the hidden ending. Just so far up it's own ass and didn't say anything of worth that even remotely connected with the rest of the game's primary themes and messaging for me, other than being crowbarred in to fit.

All of this combined with Jon Blow's notable and repeated recent history of being an anti-vaxxer and a rampant misogynist, I'd strongly urge anyone to think twice before buying this.

Not sure I'd personally enjoy more levels of gameplay I wasn't huge on, and the dev commentary is obviously not a selling point here either.
 
JustTeaThankYou

JustTeaThankYou

Member
Aug 31, 2019
2,776
Hasney said:
I think it has a place in history, but more because of significance at a time and establishing how these indie games could be well regarded and do well on consoles. The puzzles aren't fun, the controls are not good enough and the nicest thing I will say about the art, even back then, is that it would be divisive. I do not like looking at it.
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Heh, I definitely have mixed feelings about the art. I remember not liking it initially, but it did grow on me a bit over time.
 
JigglesBunny

JigglesBunny

Prophet of Truth
Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
31,443
Chicago
Cannot imagine giving Jonathan Blow a dime in the year of our lord 2024.

To be frank, I always thought of Braid as a game with a few novel mechanics that wore off their welcome pretty quickly so even if the money weren't going to an absolute prick, I don't know if I'd want to re-up. I just never clicked with it.
 
Lemony1984

Lemony1984

Member
Jul 7, 2020
6,820
SanTheSly said:
I'm okay with the general deconstruction of the damsel in distress archetype but the story slips into actual pretentiousness territory with everything related to the nuke metaphor for the hidden ending. Just so far up it's own ass and didn't say anything of worth that even remotely connected with the rest of the game's primary themes and messaging for me, other than being crowbarred in to fit.
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I'd be curious to hear what you think the storie's primary themes are. I think people focus too much on the Manhattan project reference in the ending becuase it's a reference that's easy to cling onto nd take literally, when it's really just a very mild metaphor for unintended consequences as a creator.
 
Cheesy

Cheesy

Member
Oct 30, 2017
2,304
SanTheSly said:
Despite all the praise for this, I wasn't huge on it when I finally played it. Found it to be a frustrating experience. Was never that hot on the art style, but that's personal preference and I appreciate the artist returning to fix it up as well as the ability to toggle back to the original for anyone wanting to.

Story/Theme spoilers below but also was not a fan:

I'm okay with the general deconstruction of the damsel in distress archetype but the story slips into actual pretentiousness territory with everything related to the nuke metaphor for the hidden ending. Just so far up it's own ass and didn't say anything of worth that even remotely connected with the rest of the game's primary themes and messaging for me, other than being crowbarred in to fit.

All of this combined with Jon Blow's notable and repeated recent history of being an anti-vaxxer and a rampant misogynist, I'd strongly urge anyone to think twice before buying this.

Not sure I'd personally enjoy more levels of gameplay I wasn't huge on, and the dev commentary is obviously not a selling point here either.
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Was it a deconstruction? Admittedly it's been a hot minute since I've played but all I remember was that you were actually the monster the damsel was getting away from all along or something like that, it wasn't really anything super profound.
 
dstarMDA

dstarMDA

Member
Dec 22, 2017
4,401
sugarless said:
I remember what a talking point it was that the game cost a whole 1600 MS Points ($20 at the time) despite being "only" a downloadable and relatively short game. In that sense it has a place in history for heralding the future of digital-only indie gaming reaching its audience for a fair price to the developer.

I recently played the original via backwards compatibility and found the gameplay held up but the pretentious story stuff didn't at all for me. I might bite on the new edition on sale on PSN at some point, though.
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Not that it wasn't a talking point, but it was actually 1200 MSPoints, when other games were 400 or 800.
 
sugarless

sugarless

Member
Nov 2, 2017
722
dstarMDA said:
Not that it wasn't a talking point, but it was actually 1200 MSPoints, when other games were 400 or 800.
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Ah right thanks. Yeah, it broke through the 800 point barrier in any case. These days with the death of the "normal" mobile game industry because no one is willing to pay decent upfront prices for anything, it feels like a different era altogether.
 
Feep

Feep

Lead Designer, Iridium Studios
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
4,640
I actually think the game is quite good (as is the Witness), but you'd have to give me a pretty heavy concussion before I support Blow these days.
 
Sangral

Sangral

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Feb 17, 2022
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sugarless said:
I remember what a talking point it was that the game cost a whole 1600 MS Points ($20 at the time) despite being "only" a downloadable and relatively short game. In that sense it has a place in history for heralding the future of digital-only indie gaming reaching its audience for a fair price to the developer.

I recently played the original via backwards compatibility and found the gameplay held up but the pretentious story stuff didn't at all for me. I might bite on the new edition on sale on PSN at some point, though.
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You are misremembering.
Braid was 1200 points like many others.
The real talking point was Minecraft when that one cost 1600 for the first time ever.
 
Hasney

Hasney

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
19,169
Sangral said:
You are misremembering.
Braid was 1200 points like many others.
The real talking point was Minecraft when that one cost 1600 for the first time ever.
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Looking at reviews from the time, it was either the first 1,200 point game, or the first one people cared about enough to consider paying. For one instance:

Braid's 1200 Microsoft Points price-tag is a source of controversy for some. For comparison, the vast majority of titles on Live Arcade are 400 or 800 Points. I imagine some gamers are simply uneasy that Braid's price is a sign that XBLA titles in general will gradually become more expensive. I can't say whether that's the case; all I can do is evaluate whether this particular game is worth the money. Personally, I think it is.
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The subtitle on that one was "how I stopped worrying and just paid 1,200 points"
 

bes.gen

Member
Nov 24, 2017
3,536
whoa shit! also wasn't aware of 40new levels thing.
that makes it an insta-buy, and probably couple more dips

15 hours of blow rant sounds more like a bug rather than feature though, lol
 
Gestault

Gestault

Member
Oct 26, 2017
13,546
When I went back to this game semi-recently, I was surprised at how poorly it aged in basically any way that matters.

Usually, the better I understand something thematically, the more I enjoy coming back to it and experiencing that "drip" of information again from the start. With Braid, it felt more like a pretentious facade had been pulled back, and I didn't actually enjoy what was there.
 
SanTheSly

SanTheSly

The San Symphony Project
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Sep 2, 2019
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Lemony1984 said:
I'd be curious to hear what you think the storie's primary themes are. I think people focus too much on the Manhattan project reference in the ending becuase it's a reference that's easy to cling onto nd take literally, when it's really just a very mild metaphor for unintended consequences as a creator.
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Sure, I just don't think it should have been there at all. Equating, what, game dev to the manhattan project? Typical Blow nonsense.

In terms of other theming, I mostly view it as a simple deconstruction of traditional hero narratives in the framework of gaming's history. Braid is very obviously modelled on SMB, and the expectations that come with a simple fairytale story like that.

It completely inverts them, but I'm not sure it does much beyond that from my memory; admittedly fuzzier now due to a lack of desire to replay. In 2024 it feels a bit weird that the inversion/commentary comes from Blow of all people, but it was one of the earlier games I can think of to pull this kind of move.

Cheesy said:
Was it a deconstruction? Admittedly it's been a hot minute since I've played but all I remember was that you were actually the monster the damsel was getting away from all along or something like that, it wasn't really anything super profound.
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Yeah, I mean I don't think it was the deepest deconstruction of all time by any means. It's still a deconstruction in my book though.
 
SanTheSly

SanTheSly

The San Symphony Project
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Sep 2, 2019
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mentok15 said:
So what's up with the creator, why is he so hated?
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www.nme.com

Jonathan Blow claims COVID-19 is manmade and seemingly promotes anti-vax rhetoric

Blow - who created 'Braid' and 'The Witness' - alleged that Covid-19 was made in a lab.
www.nme.com www.nme.com

www.resetera.com

Jonathan Blow threatens to boycott conferences that "disinvite speaker[s] due to "cancel culture"-style pressure" [UPDATE: He's a COVID truther too]

https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/1304892415744995329 https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/1304897455163469825 This is in response to Robert C Martin (also known as Uncle Bob) being disinvited to a conference (who then made a whiny blog post about it here) because of his political...
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com

www.resetera.com

Jonathan Blow (The Witness, Braid) thinks women are biologically less interested in tech than men

Bonus: Edit: https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/with_replies His recent timeline with all his tweets about it.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
 
mentok15

mentok15

Member
Dec 20, 2017
7,538
Australia
SanTheSly said:
www.nme.com

Jonathan Blow claims COVID-19 is manmade and seemingly promotes anti-vax rhetoric

Blow - who created 'Braid' and 'The Witness' - alleged that Covid-19 was made in a lab.
www.nme.com www.nme.com

www.resetera.com

Jonathan Blow threatens to boycott conferences that "disinvite speaker[s] due to "cancel culture"-style pressure" [UPDATE: He's a COVID truther too]

https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/1304892415744995329 https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/1304897455163469825 This is in response to Robert C Martin (also known as Uncle Bob) being disinvited to a conference (who then made a whiny blog post about it here) because of his political...
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com

www.resetera.com

Jonathan Blow (The Witness, Braid) thinks women are biologically less interested in tech than men

Bonus: Edit: https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/with_replies His recent timeline with all his tweets about it.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
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Wtf, yeah fuck him
 
Triggerhappytel

Triggerhappytel

Member
Oct 27, 2017
15,176
I am quite interested in trying this game again, but Blow is such a fucking ballbag that I don't want to send any money his way. Plenty of other indie creators I would rather support who aren't misogynists/racists/Covid deniers and unbearably pretentious to top it off.
 
TheAggroCraig

TheAggroCraig

This guy are sick of the One Winged Slayer
Member
Nov 6, 2017
5,989
This was absolutely incredible for the time, I remember buying into the hype at the $15/1200 point price (I completely forgot the MS store used to be in points and not dollars back then) and enjoying it overall but the price still stung especially back then because I was just barely making more than the state minimum wage. I'm definitely interested in revisiting it, but am in no rush to drop $20 to do it again, this is absolutely going to be a "maybe I'll buy it when it's half off" title.
 
JustTeaThankYou

JustTeaThankYou

Member
Aug 31, 2019
2,776
werezompire

werezompire

Zeboyd Games
Verified
Oct 26, 2017
11,645
The game is important for popularizing the whole puzzle/platformer indie craze, but also 15+ years later, there are so many high-quality games in that particular sub-genre that I'd rather play instead.
 
Ashes of Dreams

Ashes of Dreams

Fallen Guardian of Unshakable Resolve
Member
May 22, 2020
14,972
Yeah, I actually really liked Braid when it came out and on some levels I'm fine with an artist making an artsy game being up their own ass, but I have no desire to support Jonathan Blow specifically.
 
AgeEighty

AgeEighty

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,796
I would've been interested if Blow weren't such a raging, self-important asshole. As it stands he's not getting a cent from me. One of those people who actively turns "cancel culture" into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
Vlad

Vlad

Member
Oct 25, 2017
397
The new levels are definitely tempting, but yeah, all the stuff about Blow really makes that whole "seperate the art from the artist" thing more and more difficult.

Damn shame, too, since Braid and The Witness are easily two of my favorite puzzle games. In fact, I think it might have been long enough since I played Braid that I might just go through it again, since I might have forgotten the solution to a lot of the puzzles by this point.
 
DarthMasta

DarthMasta

Member
Feb 17, 2018
4,198
I quite liked Braid, and it helped pave the way towards the current indie scene. And Jonathan Blow is a very smart man who knows a lot about many subjects of the programming / computers kind.

Unfortunately, he thinks he knows a lot about all the subjects, and is very sure of his opinions.
 
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