4. Braid - An artful reimagining of what a platformer title is suppose to be, Braid is one of the more profound titles I’ve played on Xbox Live. This small-time, independently made title went on to capture not only my heart but the heart of thousands, if not millions, of gamers around the world. While the time mechanic is interesting, it is really the music and beautiful style that kept me playing. Furthermore, the narrative is one of the higher quality aspects is regards to other XBLA titles and while the title has been both praised and criticized, it is one of the few games I keep loading from the dashboard. Simplicity combined with powerful storytelling and gorgeous artwork has kept Braid in my top 5. I can't wait to see what Braid's creator is going to bring to the table with his next XBLA offering.
3. Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1 - I confess that my preference here is swayed out of love for Penny Arcade in pretty much any form it comes in or it could be due to the fact that the game beings with your house being crushed by a giant, freakin’ Fruit F**cker. From the duo who spent years critiquing and rightfully calling out the game industry, the title is fun and overall laudable for it’s presentation. While having a tone of an epic role-playing game, it never takes itself too seriously, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. And with the ability to fight along Gabe and Tycho, it really is worth the points. Oddly enough, the sequel is currently the XBLA deal of the week. So check both of them out, whether you like PA or not.
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