3 mo. ago • 100%

Braid Anniversary Edition has ‘sold like dog sh*t’, creator Jonathan Blow says

www.videogameschronicle.com Braid Anniversary Edition has ‘sold like dog sh*t’, creator Jonathan Blow says | VGC

Sales of the remaster have been “utterly terrible” since launch…

41 comments

I absolutely adore this game, but imo it's a terrible candidate for a remaster. The graphics were already stylized so I doubt a graphics update would make much difference. It's a puzzle game so the replayability is already low. And I can't imagine that developer commentary get people excited about buying the game again.

I wish this was successful, but I can see why this went sideways.

59
This is probably one of the last games that needed a remaster. Everyone knew that besides Jonathan Blow it seems.

54
I played Braid ages ago, and it was okay. I can see it being influential when it first came out when there wasn't many indie games.

Don't think I really want to play it again though - it told it's story and that was that. Unless it adds tons more levels or something, I'm not sure what value the remaster adds.

It's sadly one of many "platformers with interesting mechanics but slow and clunky controls" that the industry has moved away from.

32
- I've only heard of the creator making official statements a few times - but they were all like "im the only person in the world making a game that completely innovates its genre every time" and "my remaster is selling like dog-shit"
  
  I took one videogame design class, and the lecturer was like - this guy is a massive douche, but his game is amazing, so he's allowed to be~
  
  10
  
  Having worked as a game designer, I humbly disagree with your instructor. No amount of brilliance or success makes it okay for someone to be ac douche
  
  14
I had no idea it was even released.

29
- Yep. Wanted to see if I wasn't alone with this
  
  10
Yeah this title wasn't begging for a remaster.

It was interesting, at the time, but far more interesting, thoughtful, and artistic indie games have popped up since.

It's artstyle isn't as unique as it was on release, nor is the gameplay. It's no small wonder it did not do well.

This guy must have been huffing his own farts thinking this was a good time and market to do it in.

It's never been tougher for indie games, and people are outright bored by linear narratives. Braid is presented with events out-of-order but it still tells a linear story.

Much more complex narratives exist now, and Braid just can't compete on that level.

21
I'm rather unfamiliar with this game and even I know a remaster would not have done well

13
- It has an engine that permits recording and "rewinding" gameplay, with a lot of interesting quirks, like elements that don't rewind. Puzzle platformer based on that.
  
  It was a fascinating thing technically, and the creator did a lot with that capability. But IMHO it's not otherwise exceptional, like graphically or such.
  
  12
  
  @tal @Jimbo truly something special back in 09 or whenever it was released. The twist ending and mind screwy real end were super unexpected back then .
  
  Today nothing really to write home about. It's all been done and built on already.
  
  7
That's fair. I played the game once and then had enough. Don't see a need to play it again

10
Tried braid and got bored real quick.

Tried fez and didn't even continue past the first 30 min

Tried Undertale, but basically knew the story already from spoilers, and it was kinda boring, uninteresting and too hard.

Played Crashlands and it was a grindfest that actually made me relieved that I finished the game, only to discover it was planet 1 of 3. 👉Uninstalled.

Really enjoyed fear and hunger despite being shit at the game and ended up just cheating. (Was still freaking hard 😭)

Finished and enjoyed Limbo.

I just want a game with a great story, a gameplay with medium low difficulty that isn't a grindfest and isn't too long ( usually caused by the endless grinding).

8
- Check out Spiritfarer. I loved it
  
  8
  
  I finished that last week, and yeah, it’s wonderful.
  
  5
- I just want a game with a great story, a gameplay with medium low difficulty that isn’t a grindfest and isn’t too long
  
  you've described like 60% of all popular indie games. are you coming here seeking recommendations? what genre?
  
  8
  
  Rpg or platformer.
  
  The only way I can access games is by pirating them and I don't pirate indie games unless they already pretty successful and it wouldn't hurt them. Yeah, even that 2.99$ is too much when you live in shitty third world country.
  
  2
- The Last Campfire
  
  Journey
  
  GRIS
  
  Night in the Woods
  
  Have fun!
  
  8
  
  Ooh Night in the Woods was good.
  
  Gregg rulz ok
  
  4
- I loved To The Moon, which fits your requirements, I think. The sequels are fine, but the stories are pretty well standalone, so you could play just the first one and leave it at that. And it’s only £1.70.
  
  4
- Would recommend Chrono Trigger, as the story progresses you get stronger as you progress naturally even though there is an XP system.
  
  3
  
  Chrono Trigger in fact is a grindfest as beating the game without doing all equipment related sidequests is very hard and for most people - impossible. Additionally I also consider figuring out and searching for stuff in jRPGs as a grind.
  
  8
- I never played it but you may as well add Firewatch to your list.
  
  Check out Kentucky Route Zero it seems to be what you're looking for, maybe.
  
  3
  
  I'm hit or miss when it comes to walking sim games but I really enjoyed firewatch
  
  2
- if you liked LIMBO you should definitely play INSIDE
  
  2
Always wanted to try this. I might have to grab this when i have an extra $20

6
- it's great as a piece of historical intrigue, but as others have said here, some of it just does not hold up. Controls are a little clunky, and the story is fine but no longer nearly as interesting or surprising as it was back in 2008. Nowadays, you can't go to Steam without tripping over 3 indie puzzle platformers with better controls and story. I think the puzzle design probably still holds up, but i haven't played recently so i can't say for sure.
  
  11
Dang, it has a dev commentary? I think that’s worth replaying for. I’ll have to pick it up… sometime!

3
- It's funny because that actually makes me want it less. Jonathon Blow is infamous for getting high off his own farts.
  
  13
  
  Oh absolutely, I just listened to the clip and he said they did commentary “at a much more thorough level than anybody’s ever done it” 🤔 I wonder how that could possibly be true
  
  9
  
  I was wondering where I recognized his name! He also made the Witness, and had similar complaints about his audience
  
  7
This news has definitely given him some sales for sure

2

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