Braid, Anniversary Edition Beginner Guide - Your Best Tips and Tricks to Get Started With

Welcome to the enchanting world of Braid, Anniversary Edition, where puzzles and time travel intertwine to offer an unparalleled gaming experience! This guide is designed for new players looking to dive into the adventures of Tim, a character with the unique ability to manipulate time. Whether you're a fan of classic platformers or new to the genre, this beginner's guide will equip you with the essential tips and tricks to navigate through the game's beautifully complex levels with ease.

 

In Braid, Anniversary Edition, you'll find yourself exploring various worlds, each presenting unique challenges and mechanics centered around time manipulation. From mastering basic jumps to solving intricate puzzles, this guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to understanding the game's structure, mastering its worlds, and utilizing time to your advantage. For the best experience play Braid, Anniversary Edition on PC with LDPlayer. Lets unravel the mysteries of time together in Braid.

Braid, Anniversary Edition Gameplay

In Braid, Anniversary Edition you step into the shoes of Tim, the protagonist endowed with extraordinary abilities. This game shares similarities with classic platformers like Super Mario and Ninja World. As Tim, players navigate through intricate levels filled with hazards and enemies, avoiding dangers while collecting puzzle pieces.

 

Game Structure

The Braid, Anniversary Edition is divided into chapters, each represented by different "worlds" that players access from Tim’s house. You must complete all levels within a world to unlock the next. Although collecting puzzle pieces isn't mandatory for finishing a level, they play a crucial role during speed runs.

To excel in the game, it's advisable to collect all puzzle pieces from the start. Taking your time to explore and complete these challenges not only provides a deeper understanding of each level’s layout but also prepares you for more efficient speed runs. By mastering the levels at a leisurely pace first, you’ll discover the most effective routes and strategies, making subsequent speed runs smoother and faster.

Braid, Anniversary Edition Worlds Overview

Braid, Anniversary Edition features a unique world numbering system, starting from World 2 and culminating in World 1, known as "The Braid," which serves as the game's final stage.

• World 2 - Time and Forgiveness: This initial world presents relatively low-challenge puzzles, introducing players to the game's core mechanic: time manipulation. Here, you'll learn how altering time can affect the environment and gameplay, setting the foundation for more complex challenges ahead.
• World 3 - Time and Mystery: In the third world, players are introduced to "time proofing." With this ability, time adjustments affect only the surroundings and not the player, encouraging innovative approaches to solving puzzles and manipulating level elements creatively.
• World 4 - Time and Place: The mechanics of time flow are directly linked to the protagonist Tim’s movements in this world. Moving left rewinds time, moving right progresses time forward, and vertical movements can pause time. This world challenges players to think critically about every movement and its impact on time.
• World 5 - Time and Decision: This world explores the interaction between Tim and his shadow. After performing an action and rewinding time, a shadow appears, repeating the actions you took. However, shadows can interact only with objects that have a purple hue, adding a layer of strategy to puzzle solutions.
• World 6 - The Hesitant: The final numbered world before "The Braid" introduces a ring that can slow down time. Players must strategically place this ring to affect specific areas, slowing down enemies and environmental elements to solve puzzles and navigate through the level more effectively.

Each world in Braid, Anniversary Edition builds upon the last, increasingly challenging players to master time manipulation to progress through the intricate and beautifully crafted levels.

What Is Time Manipulation?

The central theme of Braid, Anniversary Edition is time manipulation, a feature that extends beyond simple backward and forward movement. The primary tool for this is the rewind function. To activate rewind, tap the ">>" button located next to the interact button. This action brings up a slider with options like 8x, 4x, and 2x, indicating the speed at which you can reverse or fast-forward time. 

Using Rewind

Mastery of this ability is crucial as it allows Tim, the protagonist, to effectively navigate through challenges by avoiding death. Each rewind gives you the chance to retry different strategies without the permanent consequences of failure, emphasizing a trial-and-error approach to problem-solving. You can use it anytime to correct mistakes, manage tricky timelines, and explore different outcomes in various worlds. 

 

If changing the past alters a world significantly, you can always "Return to Clouds" to reset and try a different approach. This technique is especially useful in Speed Runs, where experimenting with 8x rewind can add a twist to your gameplay. Beyond mastering Speed Runs, take the time to familiarize yourself with the game mechanics thoroughly:

• Practice all types of jumps, including those on Monstars.
• Understand the timing for rewinds and the best routes to take.
• Learn about every element of the game, as this knowledge is invaluable for both casual play and competitive runs.

Interacting with Time

Certain objects and elements within the game are wrapped in a green glow, indicating their immunity to time changes. This includes enemies, items, and even the protagonist, Tim, when he stands on a time-immune base. Understanding and manipulating these elements are key to progressing through the game.

When Tim is enveloped in a purple glow and uses rewind, he creates a shadow clone that re-enacts previous actions. This shadow can interact with the environment and is susceptible to the same physical laws as normal objects, but it cannot harm non-shadow entities.

Know Your Enemies

In Braid, Anniversary Edition enemies are not just obstacles but can also become tools to facilitate level completion once you master time manipulation.

 

• The Monsters: These adversaries typically move forward until they encounter an obstacle, at which point they reverse direction. Direct contact results in Tim's death, but they can be defeated by jumping on them. This not only eliminates the threat but also provides a bounce boost, similar to a trampoline, helping Tim reach higher platforms.
• The Rabbit: Rabbits in the game are masters of stealth, initially appearing as innocuous plants. However, once you approach, they reveal their true form and begin a chase. Unlike the Monsters, Rabbits will persistently attack until either they or Tim is defeated.
• The Tunnel: Throughout the game, you'll encounter pipes that house creatures moving vertically within them. Always observe whether a creature retracts into the pipe before devising your next move, as this can affect your strategies.
• Level Boss: Boss encounters in Braid, Anniversary Edition are infrequent but they are very easy to complete. They appear only a few times during the gameplay and are relatively straightforward to defeat with the right strategy and timing.

Hints Are in the Level Titles

If you find yourself stuck at any point in Braid, Anniversary Edition make sure to check the title of the level you're on. Each level name, such as "Leap of Faith," "Just Out of Reach," or "Phase," is not just a label but a clue to the challenges within.

 

Examples of Title Hints

• Leap of Faith: You might need to make a daring jump towards a seemingly unreachable area, trusting that an element like a cannon will timely assist by launching an enemy to bridge the gap.
• Phase (World 3): This level requires quick alternation between rewinding and forwarding time to adjust the spacing of platforms or elements like clouds, enabling forward progression.

These level titles are subtly crafted to guide your strategy and approach, offering hints that can simplify complex puzzles when interpreted correctly.

Collect the Stars

Unlocking the secret endings of the game hinges on collecting stars hidden throughout the levels. These stars are often placed in surprisingly obscure locations, encouraging thorough exploration of each level.

 

Star Locations and Tips

• First Star: Found in Tim's House
• Second Star: Located on the Cloud Bridge
• Third Star: In the level "Movement by Degrees"
• Fourth Star: Within "Fickle Companion"
• Fifth Star: Discovered in "Crossing the Gap"
• Sixth Star: Hidden in "Impassible Foliage"
• Seventh Star: Placed in "Elevator Action"
• Final Star: Located in "The Braid" (the last level), this star can be approached in a non-linear order but is more challenging to obtain.

If you prefer discovering these stars independently, consider skipping this detailed guide. However, if you're struggling and want more direct assistance, you can visit this detailed tutorial for star gathering in Braid, Anniversary Edition. This video breaks down the exact mechanics and strategies needed to find each star.

Try Avoiding Gameplay Walkthroughs

Because of it difficulty, when playing Braid, Anniversary Edition, it's tempting to look up walkthroughs, videos, and guides to quickly overcome challenging stages. However, figuring out puzzles on your own enhances the gaming experience, offering a satisfying mix of challenge and discovery. Below are some non-spoiler hints for each world to help you out, but remember not to rely too much on these tips to keep the game exciting and rewarding.

World 2: Time and Forgiveness

 

• Three Easy Pieces: This level has three puzzle pieces. For the third piece, remember, jumping on monsters helps you reach higher platforms.
• The Cloud Bridge: The challenge increases here. For the last two pieces, engage directly with the puzzle environment and consider unconventional approaches.
• Hunt!: For this puzzle piece, utilize the bouncy nature of monsters to reach further distances by jumping from higher points.
• Leap of Faith: Multiple hints are laid out for the four puzzle pieces:

• • Jump on monsters to get higher.

  • Observe the fuses on cannons to predict their firing time.

  • Cannons launch monsters, giving them airtime.

  • The level name itself hints at the solution.

World 3: Time and Mystery

 

• The Pit & There and Back Again: Both levels are straightforward; use time reversal to find your way.
• Phase: Pay attention to the glowing objects, which are immune to time reversal.
• The Ground Beneath Her Feet: Monsters can carry keys, which is vital for solving this puzzle.
• Tight Channels: Notice how the glowing elements behave when time is reversed.
• Irreversible: Observe the glowing walls and platforms closely to understand their mechanics.
• Lair: This level resembles a classic boss stage, straightforward with minimal puzzles.
• A Tingling: To solve this challenging puzzle, sometimes you need to move away from your initial area to find a solution.

World 4: Time and Place

• Jumpman & Just Out of Reach: Movement controls time; understanding this interaction is crucial. Explore the entire map and use the behavior of monsters to your advantage.
• Hunt! & Movement By Degrees: Think about the sequence and timing of your movements, and use sound cues to guide your actions.
• Movement, Amplified & A Fickle Companion: Your approach and the paths you take are critical. Sometimes, moving faster isn’t about speeding up but about strategic positioning and rewind management.

World 5: Time and Decision

• So Distant & Crossing the Gap: Use your shadow self strategically to solve puzzles, especially in coordination tasks.
• Window of Opportunity & Fragile Companion: Lever timing and positioning are key. Some puzzles require using shadows creatively to manipulate the environment.

World 6: Hesitance

• Phase? & Cascade: Utilizing the time-slowing ring effectively is essential, requiring good timing and strategic placement.
• Impassible Foliage & Elevator Action: Observing and understanding environmental behaviors are crucial. Some levels might require watching the interaction of elements rather than actively engaging.
• In Another Castle: Focus on the glowing sections and their interactions with other elements.

Conclusion

This guide offers a starting point for your journey through Braid, Anniversary Edition. As you progress, continue to experiment with time manipulation and explore every corner of each world. Happy gaming, and enjoy unraveling the mysteries of Braid, Anniversary Edition!