OK all I gotta say is WTH did it mean??? Anyone can to share the general premise of this... everyoneis trying to figure out the puzzles but damn the story feels like a puzzle all on it's own!

P.S. The last world with the princess is the best, no theres no puzzle pieces... But for you people not there yet... Just know your gonna easily love it the most... It was for me the funniest world since the puzzles were so simple for me...

Please try not to spoil the story as it's really good to come upon as a surprise.  Use the light grey color when writing story elements so people only read if they want to.

Might want to add a spoiler warning to this somehow.

*Sigh* Let me begin by saying I'm overwhelmed. This game was... incredible. But the story... I'm confused, definitely. Especially by the ending's insinuation that we're the bad guy. Are we?

Well if people don't want to spoil it they wont click... Since it seems pretty clear by the title that it will only be story discussion... Besides the story doesn't really feel like it has anything to do with the game worlds, it feels like it was just an after thought put in for some sorta metaphoric reason why he is there... My question is, is the princess his girlfriend who he left and it's just some metaphor for him trying to save his crumbling relationship or something... There are very clear parts where talks about them as two different people "her" and "princess" Also it sorta annoys me that your character has a name but there is literally no name for any other character it's just some vague title... and then you got Tim... like really!

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

 Cougar24 wrote:

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

*contains spoilers on some level paragraph*
         *stop reading your warned*

.... XD OMG wow that puts a whole new light on things... So all those adventures are his deranged mentality, and your reading about the things that made him all stalker-ish or how he views the world differently, well the last world makes sense the last world makes sense, cuz I was confused how your running doing these crazy stunts while outrunning a fire wall  just to see it go in reverse and I was like why does it look like she is blocking the paths and there was no fire when it went in reverse... So it was like he woke her up at the window and then chased her via the underground and she keep closing things to avoid him.... When thatys put in to perspective I totally need to replay... it's sorta disturbing now... the name should of been Chester not Tim... Chester the Molester would of been great LOL!

 Cougar24 wrote:

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

 

Very well put.  What I've taken from the game is that Tim's quest for the Princess is analogous to science's quest for a unified field theory, and depicting a scientist as a stalker of Mother Nature strikes me as surprisingly fitting!  The Epilogue hints at this not so subtly: if you missed the reference, note the remark with the superscript, and whose name in the credits it points to - also Google that "now we are all..." quote if you must.  It pretty much comes right out and says just what the nature of the Princess is.

 

The emphasis in the story on the nature of relationships translates quite nicely as a metaphor for responsibility in scientific research; as we search for the "OOH SHINY!"s of the future (which we see in the metaphorical candy store), we're picturing the salvation of mankind, unlocking eternal youth/inexhaustible energy/real functioning magic/what-have-you and everybody living in peace and harmony forever without want - the proverbial castle in the sky - but the Princess remembers all too well how we couldn't be trusted with that whole Trinity test deal and is keeping the laws of the universe safely locked away, although she keeps showing us what is possible, encouraging us to keep the relationship going, to keep studying.  And so it is that we take the blocks we do have and slowly build our castle piece by piece.

 

In short, for you Portal fans, it's basically the exact opposite: The Princess is the Truth.  I want a T-shirt that reads "The cake is a lie; the Princess is the Truth" right now.

 

The emphasis of the gameplay on experimenting, determining what is possible and what isn't and hitting upon that "AHA!" reaction really drives the scientist approach home.  Like they said, it's not about the ending - the human race isn't there yet, and the whole story is about why that is - but rather the journey itself, the collection of the building blocks, the solving of the puzzles.

 

It also explains the suit and tie.  Formal attire for us professional researchers.

 

At least, that's how I see it.  In that context, I think the "outsides of things" line is probably the best in the whole game.  Of course you exist, Princess, and of course you're right in front of us, but we want to understand your inner workings.

 

I think the thing I understand the least is the title itself: what's the significance of 'braid'?  I'm failing to place it.  Something else, less important, that I want to know: what's with the 'WASD' movement keys on the bathroom shelf?  :)

 

Anyhow, if instead of my usual "for the love of sanity" I start saying "for the love of the Princess", you'll know why.  - ZM

---

Darkness lessons learned/Avenging golden tresses/Yellow flower blooms
- "(dedicated to Millia Rage)", original haiku

 Zotmeister wrote:

 Cougar24 wrote:

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

 

Very well put.  What I've taken from the game is that Tim's quest for the Princess is analogous to science's quest for a unified field theory, and depicting a scientist as a stalker of Mother Nature strikes me as surprisingly fitting!  The Epilogue hints at this not so subtly: if you missed the reference, note the remark with the superscript, and whose name in the credits it points to - also Google that "now we are all..." quote if you must.  It pretty much comes right out and says just what the nature of the Princess is.

 

The emphasis in the story on the nature of relationships translates quite nicely as a metaphor for responsibility in scientific research; as we search for the "OOH SHINY!"s of the future (which we see in the metaphorical candy store), we're picturing the salvation of mankind, unlocking eternal youth/inexhaustible energy/real functioning magic/what-have-you and everybody living in peace and harmony forever without want - the proverbial castle in the sky - but the Princess remembers all too well how we couldn't be trusted with that whole Trinity test deal and is keeping the laws of the universe safely locked away, although she keeps showing us what is possible, encouraging us to keep the relationship going, to keep studying.  And so it is that we take the blocks we do have and slowly build our castle piece by piece.

 

In short, for you Portal fans, it's basically the exact opposite: The Princess is the Truth.  I want a T-shirt that reads "The cake is a lie; the Princess is the Truth" right now.

 

The emphasis of the gameplay on experimenting, determining what is possible and what isn't and hitting upon that "AHA!" reaction really drives the scientist approach home.  Like they said, it's not about the ending - the human race isn't there yet, and the whole story is about why that is - but rather the journey itself, the collection of the building blocks, the solving of the puzzles.

 

It also explains the suit and tie.  Formal attire for us professional researchers.

 

At least, that's how I see it.  In that context, I think the "outsides of things" line is probably the best in the whole game.  Of course you exist, Princess, and of course you're right in front of us, but we want to understand your inner workings.

 

I think the thing I understand the least is the title itself: what's the significance of 'braid'?  I'm failing to place it.  Something else, less important, that I want to know: what's with the 'WASD' movement keys on the bathroom shelf?  :)

 

Anyhow, if instead of my usual "for the love of sanity" I start saying "for the love of the Princess", you'll know why.  - ZM

Dude pass that sht, I want what youre smoking.  Hahaha just kidding.

Interesting to say the least.  Did you by chance make this game lol

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Don't forget all the references to Tim being an avid scientist and how he sees the Princess in glimpses by discovering things about the natural world.  The Castle he builds at the end is also supposedly built to house and possibly to hold hostage the princess.  The building blocks to create the castle are all old memories and experiences, possibly mistakes he's "fixed" or discovered.

The only Braid reference I could find was in her turning away in disdain and his shocked dissapointment at her reaction.  A symbol or talisman that he or (humanity) has not approached nature in the manner that would lend us to blend in harmoney and nature in revulsion at our rabidity to grasp it's secrets turns away out of scorn.  We obviously did something wrong and we need to fix it before we can approach her again.

I've tried everything I can with the WASD and I keys shown in the bathroom.  Was this a shout out to the old PC game platform?  Who knows... I've tried copying the button presses by pressing directions and then the Y key as it matches in color but got nothing from it.

I like the Princess is Truth idea.  She's like the holy grail of science.  The answer to that ever looming question, "Why are we here?"  She is the truth of truths.

 NightStalker666 wrote:

Dude pass that sht, I want what youre smoking.  Hahaha just kidding.

 

We've been over this: I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs... I play video games, and I think Braid pretty much proves it's far superior an addiction than any of those other ones.  It be good for the brain.  :)

 

Interesting to say the least.  Did you by chance make this game lol

 

I wish, man.  I wish.  But I've got my own ideas...  - ZM

---

Darkness lessons learned/Avenging golden tresses/Yellow flower blooms
- "(dedicated to Millia Rage)", original haiku

 WandreCanada wrote:

I've tried everything I can with the WASD and I keys shown in the bathroom.  Was this a shout out to the old PC game platform?  Who knows... I've tried copying the button presses by pressing directions and then the Y key as it matches in color but got nothing from it.

 

I've got a chatpad - I've found nothing.  - ZM

---

Darkness lessons learned/Avenging golden tresses/Yellow flower blooms
- "(dedicated to Millia Rage)", original haiku

I just figured the game was all about memories with some insanity involved.  The title of the game (Braid, which is only mentioned once in the game to talk about the last thing he remembers is her braid as she turned away from him) leads me to believe that the story is about a guy who somehow ruined his relationship with his girlfriend, forever changing his future.

The game talks about forgiveness, and I think that's what Tim is after.  You're going through the game and back in time in order to collect memories in the form of puzzle pieces.  Tim is grasping at straws pretty much.

The princess, I believe, is a metaphor for the purity in his past relationship.  The way things were before he told the awful lie that ruined their relationship.  He's desperate to return back to how their relationship was before she turns away from him and all he is left with is a memory of her....braid.

 

just an idea

 

 

 Zotmeister wrote:

 Cougar24 wrote:

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

 

Very well put.  What I've taken from the game is that Tim's quest for the Princess is analogous to science's quest for a unified field theory, and depicting a scientist as a stalker of Mother Nature strikes me as surprisingly fitting!  The Epilogue hints at this not so subtly: if you missed the reference, note the remark with the superscript, and whose name in the credits it points to - also Google that "now we are all..." quote if you must.  It pretty much comes right out and says just what the nature of the Princess is.

 

The emphasis in the story on the nature of relationships translates quite nicely as a metaphor for responsibility in scientific research; as we search for the "OOH SHINY!"s of the future (which we see in the metaphorical candy store), we're picturing the salvation of mankind, unlocking eternal youth/inexhaustible energy/real functioning magic/what-have-you and everybody living in peace and harmony forever without want - the proverbial castle in the sky - but the Princess remembers all too well how we couldn't be trusted with that whole Trinity test deal and is keeping the laws of the universe safely locked away, although she keeps showing us what is possible, encouraging us to keep the relationship going, to keep studying.  And so it is that we take the blocks we do have and slowly build our castle piece by piece.

 

In short, for you Portal fans, it's basically the exact opposite: The Princess is the Truth.  I want a T-shirt that reads "The cake is a lie; the Princess is the Truth" right now.

 

The emphasis of the gameplay on experimenting, determining what is possible and what isn't and hitting upon that "AHA!" reaction really drives the scientist approach home.  Like they said, it's not about the ending - the human race isn't there yet, and the whole story is about why that is - but rather the journey itself, the collection of the building blocks, the solving of the puzzles.

 

It also explains the suit and tie.  Formal attire for us professional researchers.

 

At least, that's how I see it.  In that context, I think the "outsides of things" line is probably the best in the whole game.  Of course you exist, Princess, and of course you're right in front of us, but we want to understand your inner workings.

 

I think the thing I understand the least is the title itself: what's the significance of 'braid'?  I'm failing to place it.  Something else, less important, that I want to know: what's with the 'WASD' movement keys on the bathroom shelf?  :)

 

Anyhow, if instead of my usual "for the love of sanity" I start saying "for the love of the Princess", you'll know why.  - ZM

First off thank you so much for putting into legit perspective... It's so obscure but when you really break it down it's very poetic and deep in a strange artistic way...
The only reference to a braid is when he mentions her hair... Literally thats the only time!
I and I want one of those shirts you mentioned hehehe!
Deciphering this game was a game in itself, but knowing the stories deepth adds replay value, with open eyes...

Thanks for giving us your thoughts ZM.... I really didn't have the patience myself

TBH I thought a lot of the writing to be quite pretientious - deliberately ambiguous to seem deeper than it is.  There was a quote at the end which ties in with ZM's ideas... It rang a bell in my mind.. googled it...

http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm

The, "We're all sons of *** now" is what one of the scientists in the Manhatten project said after they tested a bomb.

Honestly, the first time I read this, I thought you were really, really, really, really, really reaching. But after a bit more thought, I'm not too sure. The Tomkins quote and the otherwise unecessary reference to Manhattan could very well be clues that point in the direction you've gone. I'm still not quite sure, though it does seem that the story can be 'read' in at least two (possibly complimentary) ways, yours being one of them.

Think back to the clouds story regarding doing research while looking through a lense and it's reference to being able to sense the princess.  It makes a better metaphore for the search for nature by science.

I like the fact that it was diliberatly obscure just so people can take away there own view of the plot and how they want to connect it to the things there seeing in the game...

 Zotmeister wrote:

 Cougar24 wrote:

I don't know if I would exactly say "Girlfriend".  Tim is more of a stalker, obsessing kinda guy.  At the very end, he is looking at the "Princess" through the window outside, watching her sleep and when she wakes up, she freaks out.

 

Very well put.  What I've taken from the game is that Tim's quest for the Princess is analogous to science's quest for a unified field theory, and depicting a scientist as a stalker of Mother Nature strikes me as surprisingly fitting!  The Epilogue hints at this not so subtly: if you missed the reference, note the remark with the superscript, and whose name in the credits it points to - also Google that "now we are all..." quote if you must.  It pretty much comes right out and says just what the nature of the Princess is.

 

The emphasis in the story on the nature of relationships translates quite nicely as a metaphor for responsibility in scientific research; as we search for the "OOH SHINY!"s of the future (which we see in the metaphorical candy store), we're picturing the salvation of mankind, unlocking eternal youth/inexhaustible energy/real functioning magic/what-have-you and everybody living in peace and harmony forever without want - the proverbial castle in the sky - but the Princess remembers all too well how we couldn't be trusted with that whole Trinity test deal and is keeping the laws of the universe safely locked away, although she keeps showing us what is possible, encouraging us to keep the relationship going, to keep studying.  And so it is that we take the blocks we do have and slowly build our castle piece by piece.

 

In short, for you Portal fans, it's basically the exact opposite: The Princess is the Truth.  I want a T-shirt that reads "The cake is a lie; the Princess is the Truth" right now.

 

The emphasis of the gameplay on experimenting, determining what is possible and what isn't and hitting upon that "AHA!" reaction really drives the scientist approach home.  Like they said, it's not about the ending - the human race isn't there yet, and the whole story is about why that is - but rather the journey itself, the collection of the building blocks, the solving of the puzzles.

 

It also explains the suit and tie.  Formal attire for us professional researchers.

 

At least, that's how I see it.  In that context, I think the "outsides of things" line is probably the best in the whole game.  Of course you exist, Princess, and of course you're right in front of us, but we want to understand your inner workings.

 

I think the thing I understand the least is the title itself: what's the significance of 'braid'?  I'm failing to place it.  Something else, less important, that I want to know: what's with the 'WASD' movement keys on the bathroom shelf?  :)

 

Anyhow, if instead of my usual "for the love of sanity" I start saying "for the love of the Princess", you'll know why.  - ZM

^^^^ what you've just said is amazing, you have made my night

---

Would you kindly pick up that short wave radio? - nope

oh and i think its called braid to represent interweaving of realitly and metaphore

---

Would you kindly pick up that short wave radio? - nope

and another thing, what is the significance of the fire, before the final stage when everything in going in reverse in the background there are lots of burning buildings, and what i thought at first was the sunset at the start those appear to be burning buildings. Did Tim set ablaze the princesses house with rage and if so how does that fit in with the whole unified theory thing you've got going on there

---

Would you kindly pick up that short wave radio? - nope

 TH3 DR00G wrote:

and another thing, what is the significance of the fire, before the final stage when everything in going in reverse in the background there are lots of burning buildings, and what i thought at first was the sunset at the start those appear to be burning buildings. Did Tim set ablaze the princesses house with rage and if so how does that fit in with the whole unified theory thing you've got going on there

That's a good question I've been focused on the story I never really connected the background visual of the overworld to the story!

Wow, there's a lot of great theories in here.  Each one is plausible. 

 

That's why I really enjoyed this game... For the gameplay, of course, but also because of the vague story.  It makes you think.

---

IRAQ

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 TH3 DR00G wrote:

and another thing, what is the significance of the fire, before the final stage when everything in going in reverse in the background there are lots of burning buildings, and what i thought at first was the sunset at the start those appear to be burning buildings. Did Tim set ablaze the princesses house with rage and if so how does that fit in with the whole unified theory thing you've got going on there

Possibly the convergence of the past and present catching up with you?  The future has not yet happened therefor it would be dangerous.

This game is a work of art, and like all good art it is meant for have a different meaning to each person who experiences it. That being said, the game didn't signify the quest for truth through research and science to me (even though I am a scientist!). Instead, to me the Princess was Tim's long-lost childhood, and the Braid was the hair of his mother who admonished him when he was struggling to get the candy from the candy store. As Tim grew up, his fond childhood memories of his mother became muddled and intertwined with the memories of his wife whom he left, and in adulthood he has always been searching for something that will make him feel happy and safe again like when he was a child. Maybe, like me, he grew up playing Mario games and that's why he thinks of finding the princess as the ultimate solution to his problems. I think this game has a lot of parallels to Citizen Kane, in that the main character goes and devotes his whole life to finding success and happiness, but it will never compare to the feelings of pure innocence that he had as a child. This is what Tim and all of us have lost, a close parallel to the story of Genesis.

 jkmich wrote:

This game is a work of art, and like all good art it is meant for have a different meaning to each person who experiences it. That being said, the game didn't signify the quest for truth through research and science to me (even though I am a scientist!). Instead, to me the Princess was Tim's long-lost childhood, and the Braid was the hair of his mother who admonished him when he was struggling to get the candy from the candy store. As Tim grew up, his fond childhood memories of his mother became muddled and intertwined with the memories of his wife whom he left, and in adulthood he has always been searching for something that will make him feel happy and safe again like when he was a child. Maybe, like me, he grew up playing Mario games and that's why he thinks of finding the princess as the ultimate solution to his problems. I think this game has a lot of parallels to Citizen Kane, in that the main character goes and devotes his whole life to finding success and happiness, but it will never compare to the feelings of pure innocence that he had as a child. This is what Tim and all of us have lost, a close parallel to the story of Genesis.

Did you not collect all 8 stars yet... since it has a different end result!?
I have read about 8 different heart felt possibilities that defend and explain with quotes and the ending with the stars ect. and this one is just sorta eh... and sorta not so deep... My favorite is in another thread that a kid posted as a opposite to the first big explaination on this thread, and it to me was great and made Tim out to be more a hero than anything else... But then again *spoiler* he catchs the princess and the constellation is disturbing which ultimatly just strips all these opinions down to he is just a creepy stalker who finally got what he wanted and finally stopped looking at the world the way he used to and finally started viewing the world normal (hence why you can't use the rewind option after you catch the princess) But o well to each there own but the stars were real fun to get (minus 2-2).

Doesnt the Epilogue mention something about a "____" station within the same quote that mentions Manhatten? Did anyone research the names significance?

*Spoiler*

Ok im really confused.

The fact that the last lvl is numbered 1 instead of  7 makes my mind spin. ( I just thought that the house was 1!)


So the books in 1 are the begin or the end?

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Mr.Plat-former. At your service.

 Luke rising wrote:

So the books in 1 are the begin or the end?

 

Yes.  - ZM

 

P.S.: Okay, I was going to end the post there, but in the interest of actually being helpful, it's 'and', not 'or'.  Also, I recommend watching The Prisoner.

---

Darkness lessons learned/Avenging golden tresses/Yellow flower blooms
- "(dedicated to Millia Rage)", original haiku

why does no one seem to mention the paintings in the house that you have to put together?  one of a man (TIM?) and a woman enjoying  eachother, grabbing for wine...another of a man checking in on a child....another of a man at an airport....another of a man at a dinnner party....and the other of a man in a city next to a burning barrel maybe?

 SuperMattt wrote:

why does no one seem to mention the paintings in the house that you have to put together?  one of a man (TIM?) and a woman enjoying  eachother, grabbing for wine...another of a man checking in on a child....another of a man at an airport....another of a man at a dinnner party....and the other of a man in a city next to a burning barrel maybe?

 

At first I thought it was a burning barrel but I think it has been established that it is infact the ring mentioned before one of the levels. Also, did anyone else get the impression that the child in world 3's painting is afraid of the shadowed figure? Its seems like he is under the covers pretending to sleep and his facial expression seems to be one of fear.

Does world 2's painting have a girl in it? Do you mean the arm, because thats all I see.