10 Best "The Marketing Was A Lie" Video Game Reveals

Jonathan Blow's Braid was such a turning point in game design that it's hard to remember how little we expected of it prior to its release.

Seemingly just a colorful 2D Platformer, Braid wore its derivative inspirations on its sleeve, making the first level a full-blown reference to Super Mario Bros. Throw in some simple time travel mechanics and what you get is a solid, fun platformer. Early accolades ads made it clear that Braid was, if nothing else, a very well-made game. But there was no reason for anyone to expect the multi-layered meta-narrative we got.

Braid is essentially a commentary on the most fundamental hero myth there is: rescuing a princess. However by the end of the game it's clear that you're not rescuing the princess, but chasing her.

Now while that's a clever spin on the formula that, let's face it, turns the mirror against a lot of gamers, it's also a metaphor for the atomic bomb. Protagonist Tim chases the princess as mankind chased the power of the atom so we could control it. And that obsessive hunt for control was also itself a metaphor for toxic relationships and - oh god - what were we talking about again?