Joystiq [Xbox]

Why we shouldn't care

And there it is, the elephant in the room: Braid costs 1200 Microsoft Points. That's 15 Earth Dollars. That's damned expensive for an Xbox Live Arcade game. On top of that, Braid isn't especially long, clocking in at around six hours, give or take a few depending on how quickly you "get" the various time mechanics. ( For what it's worth, there are also speed runs to extend the life of the game somewhat.)

For most, the price is the only real barrier, so let's break it down. $15 dollars is not a lot of money. Six hours of fun for $15 is a pretty good deal. There are plenty of retail games out there that offer less entertainment for four times the price. The fact that Braid is one of the best gaming experiences to come along in quite some time only makes it better.

Games like Braid don't come out often. At $15, it's a steal.

08/08/08