Johnny vs. Braid 

"Any more of this deep story and it would explode like an atomic bomb..." I see what you did there....

I like the "anymore and it would explode like an atomic bomb" clever ;)

I think it would be hilarious if you had the ability to go all the way to the end of the game, then hold down the rewind button and go all the way through the game... backwards.

2:22 Ah...I see what you did there.

The soundtrack to Braid is one of my favorite things about the game. I was shocked when you said it was only sub-par. I actually put the soundtrack on whenever I read.

I feel like the indie crowd gets 2D Platformers better than a lot of the big guys. I absolutely love 2D Platformers, and it's grea to see the indie community pumping out so many great ones.

"I'm glad he's gonna tell us what he thinks about it." That implies that it will be made.

I'd really like to see Johnny review "Don't Starve" someday.

2:19 I see what you did there.

I completed fickle companion without guide, but i cant comprehend what exactly i did.

"Any more symbolism and it would explode like an atomic bomb" Ah, I see what you did there

2:19 The irony in that sentence is the game's true ending.

Since Johnny strikes me more of an old school gamer, it's refreshing to see him tackle modern indie games. I also find it refreshing to see a Braid review that doesn't sing hymns of glory in its honor.

I played the game with a buddy, and when we solved the last level and rewinded it, our heads were blown away. I think the thing bout the hidden stars is, that no one should find them in the first place. So when the first star was found, a hunting started to find the others.

I'll give you a hint about when you get all the stars. KABOOM!

After watching many videos, I think I finally understand the story. So Braid made a mistake causing the princess to run away. Braid believes that you can simply take back mistakes. Which is what he does throughout the game. Hence the time reversal. But despite trying to find her throughout the 6 worlds. He can’t find her. It’s only when he collects all the puzzle pieces, which is supposedly a metaphor for Tim trying to put his life back together, does he finally get to go back to where it started. Which is world 1. The first half of world 1 is how Tim wanted things to be. Hoping that he could finally take back the mistake or simply make up with the princess now that he got his life together. But it because of that he now realizes the hard truth in the second half of world 1. He wasn’t saving the princess. The princess was running away from him. Ultimately he just simply relived what had already happened without anyway to fix it. The stars are meant to be Tim desperation. Since you have to do tricky and desperate means to get them. But it is enough that it causes some changes in world 1 to allow Tim to meet the Princess again. But Tim can’t change what happened causing her to disappear as a result. The stars at the end of all of this shows that despite everything Tim tried. Despite being able to see her and having his life back together. She is simply gone. Tim can see her, but is ultimately out of reach. Nothing more then just a memory in Tim mind.

Beating Braid without a guide has been one of my most rewarding gaming experiences ever.

2:20 over the top foreshadowing

Man are you kidding me? aside from the mechanics and gameplay it is the story with its amazing ending that makes this game so great. You don't have to understand every single piece of text to be surprised when you find out that *SPOILERS!* ........ . . . you are a psycho stalker and definitely not the good guy :0, I was playing this with my flatmates and the moment we realize that awful truth our minds just exploded haha. I thought it was genius yet so simple and done in a beautiful way from the design point of view.

Well, the whole meaning of Braid is to symbolize the dropping of the a-bomb.

I guess we're just slow, but me and my friend used about 8-10 hours to this game when we played it the first time, possibly more. There were mechanics necessary which we only found out by accident while taking our time. Puzzles like those were new to us. In addition, we only played a few hours on Sundays. It's a shame that you felt the need to use a guide through Fickle Companion, considering that we spent pretty much half of your whole game time in that level because we just didn't want to give up. We needed several tries because of the fucking key... but because of that, it is both my least favourite and also favourite level. When we finally got it, I couldn't stop smiling and for the rest of the day I felt incredible satisfaction I've never experienced from a game before. I think that's the main reason I love this game. It has this eerie feeling combined with all the satisfaction in the world (when you're puzzle-slow like me). Could've used a little less Purple Prose in it, though.

I bought this game on Steam's 2016 Summer Sale. Beat it today and I totally agree with this review. A lot of the puzzles, at least for me, were extremely hard, but I managed to complete it without any sort of guide and I felt fantastic for it. That being said, the vagueness of the story is complete bullshit as well as the 8 hidden stars.

At least Tim is a true time lord. He can actually bend time by himself. Without a tardis time lords got nothing.

Well, now Jirard reminded me of how obsessed I was with this game 10 years ago.

I don't know how anyone could not understand Braids story if they played through to the end, it all begins to make sense when viewed in context with its final chapter, this is very much a story that is not written in the order you expect it. Think Momento.

2:21 I see what you did there John and Im not impressed

Best intro yet

I look forward to theses reviews Johnny because this was great :D

BRAID IS AN ART HOUSE MASTERPIECE, NOTHING, LIKE YOUR MAINSTREAM KIDDIE GAMES! lol

I usually agree with your reviews, but you're wrong with this one. The game is amazing and the ost is brilliant. Oh, and spoilers, the story is about the creation of an actual nuclear bomb and Tim had something to do with it. Also, he is actually a bad guy. He's stalking the princess. If you play the last stage reversed, you'll get the picture. At any rate, the game was great.

This game is very abstract! That is what makes it probably one of my favorite games of all time. So instead of saying what the game "means" its more about what the game means to you. Alot of people will say that braid is all about the atomic bomb and, I think this is a quite literal look at it. I'm not saying that it is wrong but, Jonathan Blow in an interview said that this is only half the story. When I play the game, I don't can't see the atomic bomb as an actual part of the story. I do not think that Tim had any part in creating the a-bomb. The A-bomb to me is metaphorical for a single moment where Tim completely lost it and may have physically hurt the princess. Braid was one of the first games my father ever let me play. A beautiful game where I would jump on silly porcupine bear things and flower bunnies. I would casually play through the game, but I never really looked in to the "lore" to the game. One of my close relatives found themselves in a position similar to what I feel time is in. Trying to have the princess see and forgive him. Wishing he could "Undo his mistakes." During this time period Tim would go on to self-reflect learning tough lessons such as patience (b.s. star 1) and how to go back to being independent in hopes that the princess would see his change and forgive him for what he did. But what was done was done. Tim fought over the princess, but she had moved on seeking comfort in the arms of another man. The fact that world 1 is the last world of the game shows how he never got the princess. During this time frame Tim struggled with other problems such as substance use and Seeking admiration from others. In the end of the game leaving a completely broken and changed man Now Tim never was a "bad guy but he wished so hard that he could take back the "The atomic bomb."" This is a brief personal synapsis of what I feel about the game but because Of its symbolism it will forever hold to be my number 1 game!

*pulls hands apart in rainbow shininess* Saaaaaaaaaaaarcaaaassssssssssm... REEEEECOLAAAAAAA

Braid may not be worth $15 considering how short it is, but the fact that this game will change your life if you're smart enough to understand it makes it priceless at the same time. Also, the music was AMAZING and gave the game more immersion than any other soundtrack I've heard in a game. Sadly, only people who have studied psychology and the depths of the human psyche will be able to fully appreciate Braid.

klonoa > braid

2:20, oh John, that was a smart joke you put into it, considering the game ;)

The Braid guy and the Fez guy should totally join forces. Blow + Fish = Blowfish.

So the guy wasted that much money for a mediocre game?

I'm happy as long as Cave story shows up at some point or another!

If you ever do another Indie series, I would love to see Volgarr the Viking. Some people complain about the fixed Castlevania-style jumping, but it has a double-jump that allows you to change direction at any time during the arc, so I actually find the jump control quite pleasing and intuitive. I would love to hear your opinion.

I love your reviews, and I started to play Legend of Zelda because of you, althought my only nintendo system is a 3DS and so I can only play, for now, Phantom Hourglass, I loved it. I'm waiting to hear more of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2

Concerning the star you have to wait two hours to get "being dumb"... that's kind of the point. This game has prominent underlying themes of obsession, and who would bother to go through the blood, sweat, and tears of obtaining these stars unless they let their obsession for completing the game influence their decisions? Sure, it's not fun, but it's a major aspect of this game's deeper symbolism.

I'm gonna say Cave Story because that game seems like it would be right in your wheel house. I agree with you about Braid's story. It's a shame that there is so much plot text when the gameplay in the last level succinctly sums up the narrative.

Nice review as always! you should do your next one on Bastion!

Cool :) Your gona be doin Indie games

Cave story man. It's amazing.

best intro sentence ever

*rips out heart and tears off body parts*

Dust: An Elysian Tail,you love Metroid and SOTN,you'll love this.

It's a medicine, not a soda. But if we're on that topic, I'd go with Sierra Mist and A&W. Good stuff.

I love the music in this game

So basically, he collects puzzle pieces like Banjo and has time travel like Prince of Persia.

That one line "any more of it and it would fucking explode like an atomic bomb" is ironic because if you collect all the stars and reach the princess at the end of the game, she fucking explodes.

I feel I'm probably one of the very few that know that beginning song is from final fantasy 10. I kind of feel a little old now

Holy shit, it's been so many years and I've seen this video a couple times only to just realize... When Johnny said the game has so much symbolism it was ready to explode like an atomic bomb, was that foreshadowing to the whole actual point of the game? Atomic weapons?

Cry of fear. For a free title, it's pretty impressive.

Does it have to be neccesarily on the networks you mentioned, or can it be freeware on the Internet?

From what I got from the story, the princess was running from Tim, unsure why though....

hahaha ohhh if you sit there for idk 2 hrs you find the magic star.... WHO THE HELL does that!!! Cracked me up

Wait, somehow out of these indie games... you didn't do Limbo?? That's too bad, you should give it a shot. It's creepy without being a horror game and challenging without being frustrating or something you'd need a guide for.

If John does another Indie Review series, I wonder if he'll dedicate a video to the FNAF games. Given how many people would probably bug the hell out of him if he didn't, I can see it being a reality, eventually. Maybe as a twist, have Elliot review all 3 (or however many there are when/if they make the video), since he's the one playing them for SGB.

I cant wait to see johnny review minecraft! :D

I am the antagonist of this adventure! fear my powers of INSTANT GAME OVER!

Cave Story ! =D Such a great game.

Yes, he has a Dreamcast. He got it in 2001. He recorded footage from it for SA1 and SA2's reviews.

Dungeon Defenders, Jamestown and HOARD are my favourite indie titles in the past few years, do i hope you can give at least one of them a shot.

I'd personally love to see Limbo or Fez reviewed :3

Super Meat Boy! Lets see John pull out what little hair he has left!

*Says in epic voice*SUPER MEAT BOY

"I will review Minecraft" FANGASMFANGASMFANGASMFANGASM seriously though, epic :D

The Showdown Effect

question. at the start of the video johnny says that the big 3 Microsoft Nintendo and sony make games. does he mean the big 3 publish exclusive games, as they only produce the platform where game is played.

BRILLIANT

I can only imagine what John's reaction would be if someone said Serious Sam

I swear if he finishes off the indie game month with Minecraft, that video is going to be even longer than his Sonic Adventure 2 review. Just-no one request that to him...it would take a while.

Johnny vs. Journey... DO IT :D

But still, the world 2 one is just incredibly ludicrous, like Johnny said, nobody would even think about waiting on the cloud and even if they DID think about it, nobody would know the amount of waiting time, and if they DID, they would never wait at all.

Aw. I thought the music was one of the best parts. It's one of the video game soundtracks I've listened to most.

i feel like that first star exists solely to fuck with 100% speedrunners

I would like to see Johnny try to play Don't Starve.

Guacamelee That is a good indie game right there.

It's a long time after this video was released but the shirt made me look up MomoCon and now I think I'll go for the first time ever this year and check it out, Thanks Johnny :D P.S First Con ever too O_o

I suggest Teeworlds. It's not on Steam, at least for now, however. It's an online 2D shooter, free and open source available for the majority computer OSs. It has lots of Server MODS that turn the "2D shooter" into a "2D platformer" with completly unexplored feactures from the big AAA companies. I really suggest you give it a try. The game really needs more advertisment.

Atomic bomb? I see what you did there.

Legend of Grimrock! : 3

I know I'm late to the party, but Limbo should have been the obvious next game for review. But great review on Braid. Still on the fence about getting it for myself, though...

He's saving it for last

Journey! I'm pretty shure, Johnny will love it.

Ideas: Dont starve and Lil Inferno Also this video was great!

in the end of braid tim finds out he IS the monster and has kidnapped the princess himself

Amnesia the Dark descent Haha I'd pay to watch Johnny play this XD

I'm an artsy guy, and i till found braid to be a little too self aware of how indie it is.

CaveStory+ (Since you want it to be on one of those, otherwise I'd suggest the normal version of CaveStory which is free on PC.) CaveStory+ is the original IndieGame that is inspirational to many modern day indie developers. I believe it'd be a great way to show off the roots (To one degree or another.)

7:36 DAMMIT!

Braid is supposed to be symbolic about a need to go back in time and reverse the effect of the atomic bomb. The bomb is the princess herself

Oh I forgot to mention, Cave Story can be bought Via the Wiiware,Steam, or 3DS Eshop. Ten dollars. Good luck and have fun if you play it! :)

Wait? So do you dislike when not only the gameplay is fun but the story's also interesting to follow up as you play?

Spoiled Story: the reality of this story is revealed at the end, when they show you that you've been going against the flow of time for the entire game. The guy actually saves the princess from you, and you chase her all the way from the end of the game, to the beginning.

omfg tim is THE DOTOR DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you saw the end of the video, he said he will be reviewing mine craft at the end of the "indie Marathon." he also said not to suggest it. Just a heads up.

Hidden stars!? I thought not completing the game without guide was enough!