Puzzle-Platformer Braid makes its debut on Mac OS X

Hothead Games has ported Number None’s puzzle-platformer Braid ($14.95) to Mac OS X!

The developer stressed that this was a native-code port and not an emulation, so there will be less overhead and better overall performance for Mac gamers.

I tested Braid on my Macbook Pro using the 9400M for graphics, and the game ran without a hitch. I also loved the fact that I could run the game in window mode, I really wish more games did this. There’s nothing more annoying than to start a game only to hear the new message notification for IM or email and you start to wonder if it’s worth exiting the game for.

Initially I thought the game looked a bit on the cheesy side, but after playing the demo I can see why this game has received such rave reviews, in short, Braid is awesome! I highly recommend you try out the demo and if you like it be sure to grab a digital copy at Greenhouse to show your support for developers that take the time to bring us native-code ports as opposed to emulated crap.

Brief Description

Explore the human condition and manipulate time in the lush, painterly world of Braid, a puzzle-platformer that takes you from a house in the city on a journey through a series of worlds to solve puzzles and rescue the princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, including the ability to rewind, create parallel realities, and utilize time dilation. There is no filler in this game; every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world.

Features

• Untraditional platforming: You can never die and never lose, but challenge is always present and focused on solving puzzles, rather than forcing you to play and replay tricky jumps.
• Puzzle-rich environment: Travel through a series of worlds searching for puzzle pieces and solving puzzles by manipulating time: rewinding, creating parallel universes and setting up pockets of dilated time. The gameplay is always fresh and new and the puzzles inspire new ways of thinking.
• Aesthetic design: A painterly art style and lush, organic soundtrack complement the unique gameplay.
• Non-linear story: A nonlinear fiction links the various worlds and provides real-world metaphors for your time manipulations; act out real-world themes at your own pace, exploring playful “what if” universes.
• Forgiving gameplay: The game doesn’t force you to solve puzzles in order to proceed. If you can’t figure something out, just play onward and return to that puzzle later.

Screenshots

Gameplay Trailer

System Requirements

• Operating System: Mac® OS X 10.4/10.5 with latest updates
• Processor: PowerPC® G4, G5 or Intel® based Mac 1.0 GHz or better
• Graphics support: ATI Radeon(TM) 9500 or better, NVIDIA GeForce(TM) FX 5900 or better, Intel® GMA 950 or better
• Memory: 512 MB of available system memory
• Controller Support: OS-supported keyboard and mouse
• Audio: OS-supported sound card
• Hard Disk Space: 185 MB of available hard drive space
• Registration: One-time Internet connection required to activate

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