Braid was a critical darling but I think a lot of it’s early success can be accounted for by it being one of the first games in Xbox Live Indie Arcade. For a little while, it was literally one of the only games available. And yeah, it’s a fun puzzle platformer but more than a decade of “Is Braid the greatest indie art work ever made?!” thinkpieces have really overhyped it.

“Did you know it’s about nuclear bombs? Did you know the designs are a reference to Mario!?” Like yeah, these things aren’t hidden lore, they’re the text of the game, but psuedo-intellectual posturing towards it is on par with Blade Runner and the Matrix for pure inanity. Plus no real marketing on the remaster, no press releases about “what an important moment in gaming this is” or anything.

Also, Braid isn’t a singular game anymore. Games obviously in the Braid-lineage have pushed the genre. Animal Well most recently, but it’s hardly the only game now eating at the table with Braid, Fez, etc.

I think Blow started to belive the hype a long time ago and now just expects that the mere presence of his genius on a work should immediately push it to best-seller status. And I like his games, I liked Braid and I think the Witness really us kind of genius but man he is insufferable to listen to and I really think that hurts the buzz around his work.