10 Video Game Endings That Shocked The World

Over the course of Braid, this implied tether between player expectations and the reality of the game slowly becomes more and more twisted. The ending then proceeds to twist these expectations until they snap, and the jigsaw pieces the player has been collecting all fall into place.

Tim was never the hero. The player only thought he was due to their prior gaming experiences and the manipulation of time throughout the game. This theme directly connects to how the player has simultaneously been manipulated, even as they try to lead Tim towards the princess.

Even visual cues, such as Tim and the princess’ sprites being the same size imply that the prior is less threatening than the bulky knight who appears to “kidnap” her. However, if the very fabric of reality and its perceptions are being controlled and effortlessly altered- can the player trust the physical presentation of Tim?

The dogged determination of this character combined with the princess’ ardent desire to escape only cements the true monstrosity of Tim’s desires and true nature.

The player is tricked into seeing Tim as a heroic protagonist, because they only experience the game through his eyes, which have become their own.