<s>
Braid	B-Application
is	O
a	O
puzzle-platform	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Number	O
None	O
and	O
considered	O
an	O
indie	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
originally	O
released	O
in	O
August	O
2008	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
's	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ports	O
were	O
developed	O
and	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
in	O
April	O
2009	O
,	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
in	O
May	O
2009	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
November	O
2009	O
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
in	O
December	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anniversary	O
version	O
is	O
planned	O
for	O
release	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Mac	O
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
with	O
updated	O
graphics	O
and	O
developer	O
commentary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
story	O
elements	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
unfold	O
as	O
the	O
protagonist	O
,	O
Tim	O
,	O
attempts	O
to	O
rescue	O
a	O
princess	O
from	O
a	O
monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
these	O
abilities	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
progresses	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
finding	O
and	O
assembling	O
jigsaw	B-Application
puzzle	I-Application
pieces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
preliminary	O
version	O
of	O
Braid	B-Application
(	O
without	O
the	O
final	O
artwork	O
)	O
won	O
the	O
"	O
Innovation	O
in	O
Game	O
Design	O
"	O
award	O
at	O
the	O
2006	O
Independent	O
Games	O
Festival	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
received	O
additional	O
accolades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
eventually	O
becoming	O
the	O
highest	O
rated	O
title	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
had	O
total	O
revenue	O
nearing	O
$6	O
million	O
,	O
,	O
which	O
Blow	O
used	O
to	O
fund	O
his	O
next	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Device
Witness	I-Device
,	O
a	O
3D	O
puzzle	O
game	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
is	O
played	O
by	O
solving	O
physical	O
puzzles	O
in	O
a	O
standard	O
platform	O
game	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
theme	B-Application
is	O
also	O
used	O
in	O
later	O
worlds	O
to	O
denote	O
objects	O
unaffected	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
time	O
manipulation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
stage	O
contains	O
puzzle	O
pieces	O
that	O
must	O
be	O
collected	O
to	O
create	O
jigsaw	B-Application
puzzles	I-Application
that	O
tell	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
unlock	O
the	O
last	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
also	O
eight	O
stars	O
hidden	O
throughout	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Braid	B-Application
that	O
correspond	O
to	O
the	O
stars	O
in	O
the	O
constellation	O
of	O
Andromeda	O
just	O
outside	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
's	O
house	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
one	O
progresses	O
through	O
the	O
six	O
worlds	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
,	O
storyline	O
text	O
at	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
each	O
world	O
provides	O
further	O
insight	O
into	O
Tim	O
's	O
quest	O
for	O
the	O
princess	O
,	O
and	O
alludes	O
to	O
the	O
overarching	O
gameplay	O
mechanic	O
of	O
each	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jonathan	O
Blow	O
created	O
Braid	B-Application
as	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
deconstructed	O
current	O
video	O
games	O
trends	O
,	O
"	O
bringing	O
together	O
the	O
abstract	O
parts	O
of	O
a	O
complex	O
puzzle	O
,	O
revealing	O
deep	O
moral	O
and	O
philosophical	O
questions	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
came	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
Braid	B-Application
in	O
December	O
2004	O
while	O
on	O
a	O
trip	O
to	O
Thailand	O
,	O
and	O
started	O
development	O
work	O
on	O
it	O
in	O
April	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
wanted	O
to	O
include	O
significant	O
consequences	O
of	O
rewinding	O
time	O
,	O
not	O
found	O
in	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Prince	B-Application
of	I-Application
Persia	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Sands	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
,	O
Blinx	B-Application
:	I-Application
the	I-Application
Time	I-Application
Sweeper	I-Application
,	O
and	O
TimeShift	B-Application
in	O
which	O
rewinding	O
time	O
creates	O
few	O
or	O
no	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
noted	O
that	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
puzzles	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
would	O
have	O
been	O
more	O
difficult	O
or	O
impossible	O
to	O
solve	O
in	O
any	O
other	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
used	O
Rod	O
Humble	O
's	O
The	B-Application
Marriage	I-Application
as	O
an	O
example	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
Humble	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
related	O
his	O
feelings	O
of	O
being	O
in	O
a	O
marriage	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
developing	O
game	O
concepts	O
first	O
and	O
adding	O
the	O
story	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
concept	O
that	O
he	O
used	O
for	O
Braids	B-Application
development	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
presentation	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
referenced	O
Jeff	O
Minter	O
's	O
Space	B-Application
Giraffe	I-Application
,	O
pointing	O
out	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
never	O
communicated	O
the	O
purpose	O
of	O
playing	O
the	O
game	O
upfront	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
citing	O
that	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
reasons	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
poor	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
was	O
developed	O
to	O
promote	O
this	O
non-verbal	O
communication	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
explaining	O
the	O
fundamental	O
rule	O
of	O
each	O
world	O
at	O
its	O
start	O
and	O
allow	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
that	O
rule	O
throughout	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Commenting	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
his	O
following	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Device
Witness	I-Device
,	O
Blow	O
noted	O
that	O
he	O
would	O
run	O
into	O
difficulty	O
in	O
demonstrating	O
Braid	B-Application
through	O
video	O
footage	O
alone	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
show	O
"	O
what	O
happens	O
in	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
mind	O
during	O
the	O
puzzle-solving	O
process	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
problem	O
that	O
he	O
had	O
also	O
encountered	O
with	O
The	B-Device
Witness	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
recognized	O
that	O
the	O
puzzles	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
had	O
a	O
range	O
of	O
difficulties	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
puzzles	O
being	O
more	O
difficult	O
for	O
certain	O
players	O
than	O
others	O
,	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
any	O
set	O
difficulty	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
strongly	O
discouraged	O
players	O
from	O
using	O
a	O
walkthrough	O
to	O
work	O
their	O
way	O
through	O
Braid	B-Application
,	O
instead	O
encouraging	O
players	O
to	O
solve	O
them	O
on	O
their	O
own	O
so	O
that	O
they	O
"	O
will	O
feel	O
very	O
good	O
about	O
"	O
completing	O
the	O
puzzles	O
without	O
help	O
;	O
Blow	O
created	O
his	O
own	O
official	O
"	O
walkthrough	O
"	O
that	O
initially	O
appears	O
to	O
guide	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
but	O
then	O
instead	O
restates	O
his	O
insistence	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
work	O
through	O
the	O
puzzles	O
on	O
their	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
puzzles	O
pay	O
homage	O
to	O
other	O
video	O
games	O
;	O
one	O
level	O
features	O
a	O
Donkey	O
Kong-inspired	O
puzzle	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ending	O
of	O
most	O
worlds	O
tells	O
the	O
player	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
princess	O
is	O
in	O
another	O
castle	O
"	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
world	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
's	O
goal	O
was	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
would	O
"	O
be	O
mind-expanding	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
people	O
 [ would ] 	O
get	O
experiences	O
from	O
it	O
that	O
they	O
 [ had ] 	O
not	O
gotten	O
from	O
anything	O
else	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
opted	O
to	O
present	O
his	O
story	O
through	O
on-screen	O
text	O
instead	O
of	O
in-game	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
asserting	O
,	O
against	O
criticism	O
of	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
such	O
cut-scenes	O
,	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
was	O
"	O
conceived	O
as	O
a	O
videogame	O
with	O
its	O
story	O
presented	O
in	O
the	O
tradition	O
of	O
a	O
few	O
books	O
that	O
I	O
respect	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
also	O
refer	O
to	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
both	O
reference	O
to	O
the	O
hair	O
braid	B-Application
of	O
the	O
princess	O
Tim	O
seeks	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
intertwining	O
of	O
time	O
,	O
demonstrated	O
by	O
the	O
various	O
time	O
mechanics	O
explored	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalists	O
have	O
considered	O
Braids	B-Application
plot	O
to	O
be	O
interwoven	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
,	O
much	O
as	O
the	O
book	O
Dictionary	O
of	O
the	O
Khazars	O
and	O
the	O
films	O
Memento	O
and	O
Eternal	O
Sunshine	O
of	O
the	O
Spotless	O
Mind	O
interweave	O
the	O
narrative	O
into	O
the	O
work	O
's	O
construction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Others	O
have	O
likened	O
Braid	B-Application
to	O
punk	O
rock	O
,	O
designed	O
(	O
as	O
explicitly	O
stated	O
by	O
Blow	O
)	O
specifically	O
as	O
a	O
statement	O
against	O
the	O
status	O
quo	O
of	O
the	O
industry	O
;	O
it	O
is	O
considered	O
to	O
deconstruct	O
traditional	O
gameplay	O
concepts	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
jumping	O
on	O
enemies	O
or	O
rescuing	O
a	O
princess	O
from	O
a	O
castle	O
as	O
borrowed	O
from	O
Super	O
Mario	O
Bros.	O
,	O
and	O
rebuild	O
them	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
force	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
rethink	O
current	O
game	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
considered	O
Braid	B-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
about	O
the	O
journey	O
,	O
not	O
the	O
destination	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
overall	O
artwork	O
was	O
created	O
,	O
Blow	O
and	O
Hellman	O
broke	O
out	O
functional	O
pieces	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
used	O
in	O
Braids	B-Application
level	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
features	O
licensed	O
music	O
from	O
Magnatune	O
artists	O
Cheryl	O
Ann	O
Fulton	O
,	O
Shira	O
Kammen	O
and	O
Jami	O
Sieber	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Kammen	O
and	O
Sieber	O
received	O
favorable	O
feedback	O
from	O
listeners	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
their	O
works	O
 '	O
inclusion	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pieces	O
included	O
in	O
Braid	B-Application
are	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
Blow	O
withdrew	O
Braid	B-Application
from	O
the	O
2007	O
Slamdance	O
Guerrilla	O
Games	O
Competition	O
in	O
protest	O
after	O
the	O
controversial	O
Super	B-Application
Columbine	I-Application
Massacre	I-Application
RPG	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Several	O
other	O
developers	O
followed	O
suit	O
and	O
later	O
withdrew	O
their	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
thatgamecompany	O
's	O
flOw	O
and	O
The	O
Behemoth	O
's	O
Castle	B-Application
Crashers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
was	O
originally	O
developed	O
as	O
a	O
Windows	O
title	O
with	O
possible	O
console	O
versions	O
,	O
though	O
Blow	O
was	O
not	O
committed	O
to	O
releasing	O
either	O
a	O
PC	O
or	O
console	O
version	O
first	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
signed	O
up	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
release	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
in	O
mid-2007	O
,	O
with	O
that	O
version	O
officially	O
announced	O
at	O
the	O
2007	O
Tokyo	O
Game	O
Show	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
certification	O
process	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
believed	O
the	O
effort	O
to	O
meet	O
all	O
the	O
requirements	O
could	O
have	O
been	O
better	O
spent	O
on	O
polishing	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
he	O
would	O
likely	O
not	O
release	O
a	O
game	O
again	O
on	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
service	O
under	O
the	O
same	O
business	O
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
later	O
released	O
a	O
Braid	B-Application
theme	B-Application
for	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
;	O
though	O
he	O
wanted	O
to	O
release	O
this	O
theme	B-Application
for	O
free	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
required	O
the	O
theme	B-Application
to	O
be	O
priced	O
at	O
a	O
nominal	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	O
version	O
was	O
originally	O
slated	O
for	O
a	O
late	O
2008	O
release	O
;	O
but	O
as	O
Blow	O
decided	O
to	O
prevent	O
Braid	B-Application
being	O
overwhelmed	O
by	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
large	O
titles	O
that	O
were	O
scheduled	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
late	O
2008	O
it	O
was	O
pushed	O
to	O
early	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
version	O
benefited	O
from	O
the	O
work	O
by	O
Blow	O
to	O
create	O
Braid	B-Application
on	O
a	O
standardized	O
platform	O
like	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
order	O
to	O
finish	O
the	O
core	O
game	O
before	O
dealing	O
with	O
various	O
compatibility	O
issues	O
inherent	O
in	O
PC	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
Blow	O
had	O
priced	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
,	O
using	O
pricing	O
models	O
for	O
other	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Goo	I-Application
and	O
Crayon	B-Application
Physics	I-Application
Deluxe	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
this	O
was	O
priced	O
$5	O
more	O
than	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
version	O
,	O
leading	O
many	O
to	O
criticize	O
his	O
pricing	O
choice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
this	O
response	O
,	O
Blow	O
reduced	O
the	O
price	O
to	O
meet	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
cost	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
he	O
would	O
"	O
rather	O
have	O
people	O
talking	O
about	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
"	O
than	O
complaining	O
about	O
its	O
cost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hothead	O
Games	O
ported	O
Braid	B-Application
to	O
both	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Macintosh	B-Device
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Linux	B-Application
port	O
was	O
done	O
by	O
Ryan	O
C	O
.	O
Gordon	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
December	O
2010	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
second	O
Humble	O
Indie	O
Bundle	O
alongside	O
the	O
Windows	O
and	O
Mac	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
the	O
PC	O
release	O
,	O
Blow	O
released	O
resources	O
for	O
a	O
level	O
editor	O
for	O
Braid	B-Application
that	O
allow	O
users	O
to	O
import	O
new	O
graphics	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2020	O
,	O
Thekla	O
announced	O
Braid	B-Application
,	O
Anniversary	O
Edition	O
,	O
a	O
remastered	O
edition	O
of	O
Braid	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blow	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
remaster	O
will	O
be	O
faithful	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
remarking	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
will	O
not	O
get	O
the	O
"	O
Greedo	O
shoots	O
first	O
"	O
treatment	O
(	O
a	O
reference	O
to	O
a	O
change	O
made	O
to	O
Star	O
Wars	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
its	O
release	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
,	O
Braid	B-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
aggregate	O
review	O
score	O
of	O
93/100	O
at	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
top-rated	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
game	O
and	O
the	O
10th	O
highest-rated	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
was	O
purchased	O
by	O
more	O
than	O
55,000	O
people	O
during	O
the	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Blow	O
,	O
Braid	B-Application
was	O
the	O
second-largest	O
selling	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
title	O
in	O
2008	O
and	O
sales	O
were	O
"	O
very	O
profitable	O
"	O
,	O
making	O
him	O
more	O
money	O
than	O
if	O
he	O
had	O
been	O
working	O
at	O
a	O
high-paying	O
job	O
for	O
the	O
time	O
it	O
took	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2014	O
,	O
Blow	O
had	O
stated	O
that	O
sales	O
of	O
Braid	B-Application
brought	O
in	O
more	O
than	O
$4	O
million	O
in	O
revenue	O
,	O
much	O
of	O
which	O
he	O
used	O
towards	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
his	O
2016	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Device
Witness	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
has	O
been	O
considered	O
a	O
masterpiece	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
highly	O
praised	O
for	O
the	O
unique	O
puzzles	O
it	O
presented	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
connection	O
between	O
the	O
puzzles	O
and	O
the	O
overall	O
presentation	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
favorably	O
received	O
;	O
Tom	O
McShea	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
stated	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
was	O
"	O
the	O
rare	O
game	O
that	O
will	O
make	O
you	O
rack	O
your	O
brain	O
trying	O
to	O
solve	O
puzzles	O
one	O
minute	O
while	O
challenging	O
you	O
to	O
come	O
to	O
terms	O
with	O
its	O
mature	O
tale	O
the	O
next	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sam	O
Roberts	O
,	O
game	O
director	O
for	O
the	O
Slamdance	O
Film	O
Festival	O
Guerrilla	O
Gamemaking	O
Competition	O
,	O
was	O
impressed	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
did	O
not	O
"	O
feel	O
immature	O
"	O
as	O
it	O
"	O
expects	O
 [ as ] 	O
much	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
as	O
any	O
other	O
form	O
of	O
media	O
and	O
"	O
does	O
n't	O
short	O
you	O
in	O
any	O
respect	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braids	B-Application
artwork	O
and	O
presentation	O
were	O
given	O
high	O
regards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nick	O
Suttner	O
of	O
1UP.com	O
commented	O
that	O
Braids	B-Application
artwork	O
"	O
juxtapose	O
old-school	O
design	O
sensibilities	O
with	O
impressionist	O
backdrops	O
and	O
lovingly	O
hand-painted	O
environments	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
McShea	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
visuals	O
were	O
"	O
eye-catching	O
but	O
never	O
distracting	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wireds	O
Jean	O
Snow	O
wrote	O
that	O
Braids	B-Application
"	O
beautiful	O
symphonic	O
melodies	O
contribute	O
to	O
what	O
is	O
already	O
an	O
impressive	O
and	O
unique	O
vision	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
soothing	O
tunes	O
are	O
probably	O
the	O
reason	O
you	O
never	O
really	O
lose	O
it	O
when	O
facing	O
particularly	O
tough	O
puzzles	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
others	O
compared	O
Braids	B-Application
short	O
experience	O
to	O
similar	O
criticisms	O
with	O
Portal	B-Application
in	O
that	O
its	O
length	O
"	O
can	O
be	O
disregarded	O
in	O
the	O
face	O
of	O
its	O
unique	O
approach	O
to	O
storytelling	O
and	O
expansive	O
ideas	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
price	O
was	O
also	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
negative	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
though	O
McShea	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
Braid	B-Application
is	O
worth	O
every	O
penny	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
others	O
—	O
including	O
new	O
media	O
academics	O
—	O
have	O
disagreed	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
philosophical	O
complexity	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
John	O
Finlay	O
Kerr	O
writing	O
"	O
Jonathan	O
Blow	O
's	O
Braid	B-Application
is	O
the	O
sort	O
of	O
ontological	O
labyrinth	O
that	O
Jorge	O
Luis	O
Borges	O
might	O
have	O
made	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
faithful	O
"	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
retaining	O
the	O
same	O
content	O
without	O
adding	O
any	O
new	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
commented	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
benefited	O
from	O
keyboard	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
port	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
initial	O
support	O
for	O
optimizing	O
the	O
graphics	O
display	O
for	O
one	O
's	O
computer	O
,	O
either	O
through	O
larger	O
screen	O
resolutions	O
or	O
turning	O
off	O
certain	O
game	O
effects	O
,	O
was	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
drawback	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
is	O
expected	O
that	O
patches	O
will	O
be	O
released	O
to	O
add	O
these	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Macintosh	B-Device
ports	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
Hothead	O
Games	O
were	O
found	O
to	O
be	O
easily	O
accessible	O
on	O
the	O
system	O
and	O
retained	O
all	O
the	O
innovation	O
and	O
challenge	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
winning	O
the	O
Independent	O
Games	O
Festival	O
award	O
in	O
2006	O
during	O
its	O
design	O
,	O
Braid	B-Application
was	O
selected	O
by	O
GameSpot	O
for	O
their	O
2008	O
awards	O
in	O
"	O
Best	O
Original	O
Downloadable	O
Console	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Platformer	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Licensed	O
Music	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
for	O
their	O
2008	O
awards	O
of	O
"	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Soundtrack	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Ending	O
"	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
"	O
Indisputably	O
Incredible	O
Runners-ups	O
to	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
was	O
awarded	O
the	O
"	O
Casual	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
12th	O
Annual	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
five	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
2008	O
awards	O
,	O
winning	O
one	O
award	O
in	O
the	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
Best	O
Innovation	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MacWorld	O
included	O
Braid	B-Application
in	O
its	O
2009	O
Game	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
named	O
Braid	B-Application
the	O
8th	O
best	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
game	O
in	O
a	O
September	O
2010	O
listing	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
25th	O
best	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
game	O
in	O
a	O
September	O
2013	O
listing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developers	O
have	O
cited	O
Braid	B-Application
as	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
their	O
game	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Japanese	O
video	O
game	O
developer	O
Goichi	O
"	O
Suda51	O
"	O
Suda	O
,	O
developer	O
of	O
killer7	B-Application
and	O
No	B-Application
More	I-Application
Heroes	I-Application
,	O
stated	O
that	O
playing	O
Braid	B-Application
made	O
him	O
want	O
to	O
try	O
making	O
a	O
2D	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tim	O
can	O
be	O
unlocked	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Meat	I-Application
Boy	I-Application
,	O
a	O
game	O
designed	O
by	O
independent	O
game	O
developer	O
Edmund	O
McMillen	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
created	O
Gish	B-Application
and	O
the	O
original	O
character	O
designs	O
for	O
Braid	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
has	O
also	O
garnered	O
academic	O
interest	O
and	O
acclaim	O
for	O
its	O
complexity	O
,	O
with	O
narratologists	O
saying	O
"	O
Anyone	O
who	O
thinks	O
...	O
the	O
unique	O
constraints	O
of	O
game	O
play	O
cannot	O
possibly	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
best	O
structure	O
a	O
story	O
has	O
probably	O
not	O
encountered	O
Braid	B-Application
,	O
which	O
marries	O
pure	O
mechanics	O
and	O
story	O
into	O
a	O
philosophical	O
platform.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Braids	B-Application
use	O
of	O
narrative	O
elements	O
and	O
puzzle-making	O
has	O
been	O
compared	O
to	O
similar	O
techniques	O
of	O
"	O
imperative	O
storytelling	O
"	O
in	O
novels	O
such	O
as	O
Life	O
:	O
A	O
User	O
's	O
Manual	O
and	O
Through	O
the	O
Looking-Glass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
is	O
considered	O
the	O
definitive	O
title	O
that	O
launched	O
wide	O
interest	O
in	O
independently	O
developed	O
video	O
games	O
starting	O
around	O
2008	O
and	O
onward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Joshuah	O
Bearman	O
for	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
called	O
Braid	B-Application
the	O
"	O
Easy	O
Rider	O
moment	O
"	O
,	O
showcasing	O
how	O
a	O
small	O
developer	O
can	O
be	O
as	O
successful	O
as	O
a	O
large	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Indie	O
game	O
studios	O
Playdead	O
,	O
Supergiant	O
Games	O
,	O
and	O
Amanita	O
Design	O
stated	O
that	O
Braid	B-Application
was	O
not	O
unique	O
as	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
newly-created	O
digital	O
distribution	O
services	O
alongside	O
other	O
successful	O
indie	O
titles	O
like	O
Castle	B-Application
Crashers	I-Application
,	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Goo	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Meat	I-Application
Boy	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
they	O
continued	O
,	O
Braids	B-Application
financial	O
success	O
without	O
aid	O
of	O
a	O
publisher	O
showed	O
that	O
small	O
teams	O
could	O
achieve	O
mainstream	O
success	O
,	O
paving	O
the	O
way	O
for	O
many	O
future	O
indie	O
games	O
developed	O
out	O
in	O
a	O
similar	O
manner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Others	O
saw	O
Braids	B-Application
legacy	O
in	O
its	O
art	O
form	O
;	O
Sam	O
Machkovech	O
for	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
The	O
Beach	O
Boys	O
 '	O
Pet	O
Sounds	O
,	O
a	O
transformative	O
work	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
that	O
used	O
familiar	O
elements	O
in	O
a	O
new	O
manner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Braid	B-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
Jonathan	O
Blow	O
's	O
insight	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
was	O
featured	O
in	O
Indie	O
Game	O
:	O
The	O
Movie	O
.	O
</s>
