Xbox 360
Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is home to many superb titles, though the majority are either relics from past generations, or competent titles lacking the kind of depth present in more expensive games. You wouldn't expect any more from a game that sets you back the price of a Big Mac though, would you?
Granted, downloadable games don't need to be sprawling epics, and many are perfectly enjoyable without an overarching plot or flashy features. However, independent developer Johnathan Blow's first XBLA title Braid suggests the contrary. Developed on a reported budget of $180,000, which Blow scraped together himself, the game is proof that a mega-budget does not equal a mega-game.
Everything about the game feels right, from the perfect marriage of platform-based adventure and time-bending puzzling, to the haunting soundtrack and gorgeous hand-painted backdrops. Luckily, Blow's gamble paid off, as the game went on to make more than its budget, and scooped immense praise from critics around the world. The last level is a slice of genius, whipping internet forums and game sites into a frenzy as gamers and pundits tried to unravel the ambiguous conclusion (it really is a cracker!).
While the XBLA demo might be a good way to sample Braid before you buy it, it doesn't even come close to showing you the game's genius. Find a friend who has it, play it for a while, and you will see what the hype is about. Quite simply, this is the greatest 'little-big' game of the year, and a superb debut for Johnathan Blow. It's safe to say Braid's position at number four in our top ten—as voted by you, the readers—is well deserved; but what did the Square-Go team think of your choice?
Read our official verdict from earlier in the year here, then read our ever-insightful rantings below.
(Disclaimer..the games on our top ten list are from the start of November 2007 to November 10 2008)
Dave: Moving on to number four in our top ten, we have the gem in Xbox Live Arcade's crown, the awesome Braid.
Graeme: BRAID!! - It should have been number one in my opinion.
Kieran: Not played Braid.
Joel: Unless it's about braiding hair, I haven't played it.
Josh: Play it, sweet Jesus, play it!
Neil: There aren't enough superlatives to describe Braid.
Si: Braid is right up my street, but it's far too short for my liking.
Josh: True, but it's brilliant and it couldn't be any longer. It was perfect the length it was.
Dave: Very short Si, I agree. The puzzles are just superb though. The moment when everything clicks and you've figured out the conclusion is equal to figuring out a testchamber in Portal.
Si: I sat down for an hour at Graeme's on one of the first puzzles.
Craig: It was fun, even if you weren't actually playing it and just watching.
Graeme: The final level - OH MY GOD!
Dave: The final level was a right old mind-f**k wasn't it?
Johnathan: I love Braid, but the story and the music are starting to irritate me.
Phil: I loved the music. The story was a bit wanky, but who cares?
Graeme: The music was epic.
Dave: Yeah the music was ace, I downloaded it.
Craig: Music was ace, story was rubbish.
Phil: The plot was a nice homage to ye old Super Mario Bros-esque stories.
Neil: I loved the way that it didn't provide you with any answers, either in terms of how to do the levels, or in terms of what the whole thing meant. It was yours to explore.
Si: I definitely think it is the sort of game we need to see more of. Something new that really gets you thinking.
Dave: What did everyone make of world four with the 'walk forward to play', 'walk backwards to rewind' idea? I thought it was genius.
Graeme: Genius. It made you think by new rules and the only game that's done that recently was Portal.
Neil: Also voting for that game as genius, mostly for the way it took arguably the most recognisable gaming convention and messed with it in all kinds of funky ways.
Phil: I think it struck the perfect balance where it got annoying at times, so you tried to walk away from it. But then as soon as you put the controller down, you picked it back up again and had another crack at it.
Dave: Yeah, Braid is a real labour of love for both the player and for the developer. Would we like to see a sequel, or is it best left where it is?
Neil: Best left.
Craig: Best left.
Johnathan: Leave it.
Phil: Yeah, agreed.
Josh: Johnathan Blow should do something new again.
Phil: Definitely, he should go and screw with some other genre now.
Si: It's best left, but let's see more games like this coming along please.
Dave: I read that Blow has a new idea for his next game, but is remaining tight-lipped on it. Very intriguing. As a final question, what game displays the best use of time or manipulation a game that you've played?
Joel: Max Payne.
Phil: I wish NHL 09 had time bending.
Neil: Day of the Tentacle.
Craig: Max Payne 2.
Johnathan: Super Smash Bros: Brawl when it crashed and lost my 100% complete save file...
Dave: For me it's a toss up between Prince of Persia: Sands of Time or Braid.
Graeme: Braid or Day of the Tentacle.
Si: Day of the Tentacle, the wine puzzle was brilliant!
Dave: I really need to try Day of Tentacle now...
Check back soon to find out what made number three in our top ten of the best games from 2008 and to read more insightful ranting from the team...