I loved all the different interactions that Braid uses to engage players. You’re trying to get through each level without getting killed, there’s text to read, and puzzle pieces to find and put together. It keeps you busy and for the most part not doing something right away does not hinder you from exploring the game further; even if you can’t get all the puzzle pieces in World 1, you can still push ahead and play in the second world. Of course, there came the point where I had to go back and finish what I had left off doing. The text is also vague (like not knowing Tim’s mistake) but I like how this allows the players to come to their own conclusion.
Not only is the text vague, but it is far from linear. The text switches between Tim’s experience after the princess is gone and when he is still with the princess. It also switches from the third to second person point of view which makes me wonder who is narrating the story. In the actually worlds, time isn’t linear either and is affected by what Tim does in the past and present time. Being able to reverse Tim’s actions is not only helpful to you as a player when Tim gets killed, but it becomes a key element to obtaining the puzzle pieces. Moving left can reverse time while moving right time progresses. Sometimes after going back in time, Tim’s “shadow” can repeat Tim’s actions. Later in the game you can also slow down time. Some things are not affected by changes in time at all, like objects that glow green. The text gives you a clues on how time will be affected in each level as well. In level 5, the text says that Tim’s ring causes people to be “slow to approach.” In that level, that sentence is translated literally and time slows down if Tim uses the ring. The music also incorporates the different places in time. Sometimes the music will stop if time is stopped or will speed up if time speeds up as well. Being able to manipulate time, I think, shows how much Tim is affected by the past and how he wishes to reverse the mistakes he has made.