Braid: Good Game, But the Price???

[admin_old]

You probably already know that Braid sounds at least interesting. Gramps and Brik seem to be having a lot of fun with it, and it’s mental stimulation sounds like a nice change of pace from the corridor shooter.But why does it cost $15? I mean, for $10, I would buy it, but $15 [...]

More... (http://www.8bitbrigade.com/braid-good-game-but-the-price/)

[Brikenjon]

He makes some pretty interesting points.

Braid definitely does seem to meet his intent of making it as small as possible. Every puzzle moves past the one before it. That's one of the most rewarding and frustrating aspects of it. You figure something out about a puzzle, you have that "ah ha!" moment, and you move on to the next puzzle... and BAM... you still need to figure out something else about how the game works. You don't get to coast on your laurels for a few puzzles like standard action puzzle games. A lot of those games will introduce a game mechanic and then present you with a series of puzzles that is really just the same mechanic, only progressively harder to pull off. Portal, which was very fun (thank you, Czar), is like that. In that whole game, you probably have less than 10 truly different concepts or game mechanics that just ramp up in difficulty as you progress. In fact, that's one of the reasons why the last few levels weren't nearly as enjoyable as the first several. Braid, at it's very basic, focuses on a different game mechanic in each of its five worlds. There are twelve puzzle pieces per world and nearly all of those twelve puzzles use that game mechanic differently or require a unique combination of minor game mechanics.

The second point he makes about the game is basic business. They figure Braid is going to be a love it or hate it sort of game, with a smaller customer base than a mainstream game, so they have to charge more per game to turn a profit. They figure those that love it will be willing to pay 1200 points (UncleGramps and I) and those that don't understand it or don't like the way the game feels won't pay 800 points for it, anyway. I'm guessing M$ wouldn't let them charge 400 points for it.

In pure entertainment value, time versus money, you still win out. $15 will get you into a movie or buy a DVD, but that's only going to last you 2-3 hours. You should be able to at least get ten hours of entertainment out of Braid, and I bet you could even get all the achievements within 20 hours... leaving you plenty of time for sex.

[UncleGramps]

Worth every damn penny in my opinion. :)

I've heard claims that the game can be finished in 2-3 hours. Anyone who can complete the entire game (all 60 puzzle pieces) in 2 or 3 hours is a goddamn genius. I've spent at least 3 or 4 hours so far and I'm still missing 9 pieces. You can get stuck on one of the puzzles for 30 minutes or more before something clicks and you have that moment of epiphany.

I'll have to more to say once I actually finish the game. :)

[Duster72]

and I bet you could even get all the achievements within 20 hours... leaving you plenty of time for sex.

My 20 hours/sex theroem only applies to 1000 points. For 200 points, you shouldn't need to invest more than 4 :wink:

[Brikenjon]

the entire game (all 60 puzzle pieces)

I think there's more to the game than just that. There's a whole new room in the attic that you open up when you find all 60 puzzle pieces. I have one piece of the ladder missing to get up there. If it's only credits in there, I'm going to be pissed.

Then, of course, there's the re-playability with the speed runs, which actually brings the leaderboards into play. If you check the leaderboards, it shows how many puzzle pieces everybody has, but you can also flip to see times for speed runs.

[Duster72]

I am going to buy it. Sounds fun.

The $15 cards at Target help.

[UncleGramps]

I think there's more to the game than just that. There's a whole new room in the attic that you open up when you find all 60 puzzle pieces. I have one piece of the ladder missing to get up there. If it's only credits in there, I'm going to be pissed.

Then, of course, there's the re-playability with the speed runs, which actually brings the leaderboards into play. If you check the leaderboards, it shows how many puzzle pieces everybody has, but you can also flip to see times for speed runs.
Just a hunch, but I expect that that room won't be a new playable level or anything, just some sort of closure to the story (based on the name of the achievement for completing the game). I'd be happy if I'm wrong about that, though. :)

And yes, the speed runs should be fun too.

[UncleGramps]

:lol:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20080808.jpg

[Shlugendah]

Someone find another Target coupon and I will get some points fpr this game. :)

[NJAsmodeus]

I want that tshirt.

[CzarCastic]

Someone find another Target coupon and I will get some points fpr this game. :)

I looked everywhere. Apparently the old coupon that was posted on DVDTalk and CAG has been universally banned in all Target stores. There are a couple of threads on CAG reporting that every person that's attempted to use the coupon has been rejected. The coupon did not expire until October, but the image has been removed from the Target website. Did anybody happen to save it? I didn't. I would certainly try it, but would not necessarily expect it to work.

Another option is to find a coupon for other retailer (TRU, Best Buy, Circuit City) and then price match the Target ad.

[fightclubjeff]

I saw the coupon posted at Target the other day with a sign...DO NOT ACCEPT.

[UncleGramps]

Even without a coupon, $15 for $20 worth of MS points is a good deal. I plan to get a handful of cards for my own use and for prizes in upcoming charity events.

[NJAsmodeus]

zero replayability. I have all but speed run achievement. You could buy this or psychonauts for the same price. To give you an idea of length of gameplay the speed run for the full game all pieces is 45 minutes

[UncleGramps]

zero replayability. I have all but speed run achievement. You could buy this or psychonauts for the same price. To give you an idea of length of gameplay the speed run for the full game all pieces is 45 minutes
Fair enough, but how long did it take you to find the pieces the first time? The speed run time is only possible after spending hours to solve all the puzzles the first time through.

[NJAsmodeus]

I will type moe when I have a keyboard, but bottom line is you can wait to buy this as long as you like because there is no multiplayer to miss out on.

And make sure you play the demos of all the games released for the summer promotion to qualify for the contest going on.

[UncleGramps]

Not sure I really understand where you're going with that, NJ, so I guess I'll wait for your upcoming post. Multiplayer doesn't make much sense for this game given the style of the gameplay and the story/atmosphere (the theme of being alone), and I doubt the price is going to come down anytime soon. Personally, I'd strongly recommend the game to anyone who likes puzzle games and platformers. The demo gives you a decent idea of what the full game is like, but the later levels really add some interesting new twists and make it a deeper game. The fact that it's a short game doesn't bother me much and I still feel it's worth $15.

[Brikenjon]

Just a hunch, but I expect that that room won't be a new playable level or anything, just some sort of closure to the story (based on the name of the achievement for completing the game). I'd be happy if I'm wrong about that, though. :)

And yes, the speed runs should be fun too.

The attic does have a new world with a new game mechanic and four doors, one of which is a "final boss" sort of puzzle.

The speed runs are more fun than I expected, but the challenge times are very challenging indeed. I haven't been able to beat any of the individual level times, so I'm guessing the whole game challenge run is going to be nigh impossible for me.

[Brikenjon]

zero replayability. I have all but speed run achievement. You could buy this or psychonauts for the same price. To give you an idea of length of gameplay the speed run for the full game all pieces is 45 minutes

As I just posted, the 45 minutes is the challenge time. On the individual levels, the challenge time is shorter than I've been able to complete, even after having solved the puzzles already.

Some of the speed runs, especially Crossing the Gap, added another layer of satisfaction to the game. I fumble-fucked my way through a solution the first time playing that level. To get a speed run even close to the challenge time, I feel like I really mastered that level and the concepts behind it. I had another "ah-ha!" moment even after "beating" the game when I discovered a big efficiency booster for beating that level. I even managed to get within a couple of seconds of the challenge time.

"Zero replayability" is definitely too harsh.

[UncleGramps]

The attic does have a new world with a new game mechanic and four doors, one of which is a "final boss" sort of puzzle.
-eek- Awesome!

I need to set aside some time tonight to try and find the rest of the pieces.

[NJAsmodeus]

They already have my money, so I can only give my view on the game.

I personally feel like I waste $15 worth of points. The game was interesting but not something I would personally recommend someone else buy.

The developers reasoning behind the pricing is bullshit. Space Giraffe didn't sell well because it's art/graphics design got in the way of gameplay instead of enhancing it. If the game is good, it should be able to stand out and sell at the 'standard' price.

Any platformer is going to draw comparisons to Super Mario Bros. and Braid is no exception. They even try and poke fun at it with The Princess is in the next castle. The one and only funny/witty moment. That moment then made me really focus on how it was similar to SMB and it is kind of sad. For an innovative game it really leans heavily on SMB. It is like they said "Well crap, Super Paper Mario went and used the 3rd dimension, I guess we will have to do something with time." It is like they didn't even try. "We will have Goombas, but instead of mushrooms lets make them look like walking heads." (done in SMWorld) "And lets keep Prianha Plants, I just love how they come out of pipes, but lets make them less round and the green kind..."

I stand by my Zero Replayability statement. It isn't fresh or new and barely even tweeked. It just adds a clock and the requirement that you get all pieces. (which is needed to get the "Closure" achievement anyway.)

The puzzles are mindbending and challenging, the gameplay is tight and cohiesive (until the attic), but overall I feel it underdelivered on gameplay to price compared to other Live Arcade games.

[NJAsmodeus]

I didn't find the last attic stage to be cool at all. It takes all the skills and puzzle solving that you used earlier and throws that all out.
spoilered incase you don't want to know anything abou the gameplay of the final stage (no story spoilers)
You can rewind time and that is it, and it isn't really required unless you make a mistake.

And the very last door... well that just makes you do everything perfectly with scripted events that falsly ramps up the difficulty, and then contains one part that goes against the entire game. Requiring PERFECT platforming skills and timing to barely get past.

The story is intersting, and the ending is worth the effort, but unless you care to stop and read before getting into the action you will miss it all.

[Music]

The coupon did not expire until October, but the image has been removed from the Target website. Did anybody happen to save it? I didn't. I would certainly try it, but would not necessarily expect it to work.


This one?

[Shlugendah]

No, it was a $10 off any xbox 360 software coupon.

[Music]

No, it was a $10 off any xbox 360 software coupon.

This one, but it expired in June.

[CzarCastic]

This one?

Yes, that was the one. That has been banned, but I might give it a try anyway.

The one that Shlug posted was only good on software, and Microsoft points are not conisdered software, unless you can convince a cashier to override the system. I couldn't.

[UncleGramps]

OMG SECRETZ!

Possibly a minor spoiler: I found a few links mentioning hidden stars scattered throughout the game. From Wikipedia:
There are also eight stars hidden throughout the world of braid that correspond to the stars in the constellation just outside the player's house. Each star is considered extremely difficult to find and are usually just off screen in areas that seem impossible to reach.Apparently there is an alternate ending if you collect all 8 stars. I'll have to check this out tonight.

[Lady Brik]

I played a little bit of Braid last night. I got through part of the second level before I got too frustrated.

[NJAsmodeus]

Braid just got a price drop today. It is 800 points now.

[Music]

Nice!!!

I almost bought this the past week too!

I would have been so pissed... ;)

[Music]

Actually, I don't know if it is a permanent price drop... probably not as it is listed as a Deal of the Week.

Also, still showed 1200 points until I clicked to Unlock it, and then it showed 800 points.


Hopefully they have a lot more "Deals of the Week". :music:

[NJAsmodeus]

Major Nelson said they were bringing it back. So expect more. They are also going to roll out more game add-on sales and the like.

[Music]

XBOX LIVE - Deal Of The Week - 8-Bit Brigade Forum (http://forum.8bitbrigade.com/showthread.php?p=115745#post115745)

[mendicantbias00]

Just picked this up this morning from Amazon. Frustratingly fun! :D

[blue rabbit]

Yeah, finishing it took me a while. I love puzzle games, but those last levels, ugh.

[Ang Colette]

Loved this game, this and world of goo was a great surprise. What was weird is I had to check a guide in the beginning of the game, like in the 1st world, but after that, I couldn't stop playing. I even liked the puzzle pieces.


Pretty innovative gameplay mechanics, the forward/backward and shadow stages were cool.

[Canis Firebrand]

'Braid' Soundtrack Available - G4tv.com (http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694948/index.html)



'Braid' Soundtrack Available
Posted by Raymond Padilla - Wednesday, April 22, 2009 3:31 PM

Number None has announced the release of the official soundtrack for Braid. Featuring two new remixes, the release should make fans of this excellent game (with excellent music) happy. Braid Blog has reported:
"To celebrate the PC release of Braid, we’ve worked with Magnatune to put together an official soundtrack. This soundtrack contains two new songs: remixes of the Jami Sieber tracks 'Maenam' and 'Undercurrent', made by Jon Schatz, that use the time-distorting ideas from the game to play with the music in interesting ways."

The soundtrack is available for download or on a CD (https://magnatune.com/buy/choose?sku=braid-soundtrack&sitePrefix=). The blog has an embedded version of the soundtrack if you'd like to give it a listen. If you do, leave a comment and let me know what you think of the tracks.