Braid happens to be the current Xbox Live Arcade title out this week.  A demo can be downloaded for free allowing you to play a couple of the game's worlds.  At first look Braid is a side scrolling 2D puzzle/platformer inspired by Super Mario Brothers.  Upon further examination this is probably the most artistic game I have ever played.

The art direction of this game is absolutely stunning.  It's almost like playing a Monet painting while listening to Mozart.  All the games art work looks like an impressionist painting and the music is classical piano and violin.  In the game you go through each world and collect pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.  The pieces seem to be parts of a painting but I'm not sure how they fit into the story yet.

Braid is the story of a man in a suit and tie looking for the princes.  It seems she is lost and you are on a quest to find her.  Entering each new world you learn a little more about the main character, Tim, and his relationship with the princess.  Similar to Mario games you are looking for the princess but unlike in Mario games opening a new world gives you more insight on the relationship between Tim and the princess.  

Now there does not seem to be a concept about how many lives your character has or hunting gold coins (you collect painting puzzle pieces).  You will have animals to dodge in the game but if one kills you, you can simply rewind and try again.  The rewind feature has some other puzzle solving elements as well but I won't spoil those here.

Now this game is not cheap.  It will cost you about $16 but I think the game is worth every penny.  It's the most relaxing game I've ever played before.  I love the way the story elements are told and how the relationship between the protagonist and the princess have a complicated relationship.  The game has some nice puzzles and easy game play but what really makes this game special is the artistic approach taken by the developer.  It's like no game I've ever played before.