Puzzle Solutions

Puzzle Solutions

Welcome to the comprehensive Puzzle Solutions section for Braid. This guide will walk you through obtaining every puzzle piece in each world, offering detailed, actionable steps and strategies. Remember, Braid's puzzles often require creative use of Tim's time-manipulation abilities, so don't be afraid to experiment!

World 2: Time and Forgiveness

2-1: The First Puzzle Piece

• Location: Immediately to your right after entering the level.
• Strategy:
  1. Jump onto the first platform.
  2. Jump over the gap to the second platform.
  3. Jump again to reach the platform with the puzzle piece.
  4. Collect the Puzzle Piece. This serves as a basic introduction to platforming.

2-2: The Falling Blocks

• Location: After a short walk past some enemies, you'll see a series of falling blocks and a puzzle piece on a high ledge.
• Strategy:
  1. Proceed until you reach the area with the falling blocks.
  2. Wait for a block to fall. As it falls, rewind time to bring it back up.
  3. Jump onto the block as it ascends.
  4. Ride the block upwards, then jump off to the left onto the ledge where the Puzzle Piece is located.

2-3: The Chandelier Jump

• Location: Further into the level, you'll encounter a chandelier hanging over a gap, with a puzzle piece on the far side.
• Strategy:
  1. Approach the chandelier.
  2. Jump onto the chandelier. It will swing downwards due to your weight.
  3. As the chandelier swings back up, jump off at the peak of its arc to gain maximum height and distance.
  4. Land on the platform with the Puzzle Piece. If you miss, simply rewind time and try again.

World 3: Time and Mystery

3-1: The Shifting Platforms

• Location: Early in the level, you'll find a puzzle piece on a high platform that seems unreachable due to constantly shifting blocks.
• Strategy:
  1. Observe the pattern of the shifting blocks. Notice how they appear and disappear.
  2. Move onto the first block as it appears.
  3. As the next block appears in sequence, quickly jump to it.
  4. Continue this precise timing, jumping from one appearing block to the next, until you reach the Puzzle Piece. Rewind if you fall or mistime a jump.

3-2: The Key and the Door

• Location: This puzzle involves retrieving a key to open a locked door, behind which lies a puzzle piece.
• Strategy:
  1. Locate the Key, which is often guarded by an enemy or placed on a precarious platform.
  2. Carefully navigate to the key and pick it up.
  3. Proceed to the Locked Door.
  4. Use the key to open the door.
  5. Enter the room and collect the Puzzle Piece.
  6. Advanced Tip: Sometimes, a key might be destroyed or fall into an unreachable pit. In such cases, rewind time immediately after picking it up to reset its position, then carry it more carefully.

World 4: Time and Place

4-1: The Time-Frozen Platform

• Location: You'll see a puzzle piece on a platform that is only solid for a brief moment before disappearing.
• Strategy:
  1. Approach the disappearing platform.
  2. Jump onto the platform just as it becomes solid.
  3. Immediately freeze time (or activate the time-slowing ability specific to World 4) while standing on the platform. This will keep it solid.
  4. Walk across the frozen platform to the other side and collect the Puzzle Piece.

4-2: The Moving Wall

• Location: A puzzle piece is behind a moving wall that blocks your path.
• Strategy:
  1. Observe the wall's movement pattern. It will periodically move out of the way.
  2. Wait for the wall to move, creating an opening.
  3. Quickly run through the opening.
  4. If the wall closes on you, rewind time and adjust your timing.
  5. Once past the wall, collect the Puzzle Piece.

World 5: Time and Decision

5-1: The Shadow Clone

• Location: This world introduces the shadow clone mechanic. A puzzle piece is often placed in a location requiring two actions simultaneously.
• Strategy:
  1. Identify the two actions needed (e.g., holding down a switch and jumping to a platform).
  2. Perform the first action (e.g., stand on the switch).
  3. Rewind time. As you rewind, a shadow clone of Tim will appear, repeating your previous actions.
  4. While your shadow clone performs the first action, you (the real Tim) perform the second action (e.g., jump to the platform).
  5. With the path now clear due to your clone's actions, collect the Puzzle Piece.

5-2: The Pressure Plate and Door

• Location: A puzzle piece is behind a door that requires a pressure plate to be held down to remain open.
• Strategy:
  1. Walk onto the Pressure Plate. The door will open.
  2. Immediately rewind time. Your shadow clone will appear and hold down the pressure plate.
  3. While the clone holds the plate, quickly run through the open door.
  4. Collect the Puzzle Piece inside.

World 6: Hesitance

6-1: The Inverted Time Platform

• Location: This world features platforms and objects that move when you don't rewind time. A puzzle piece is often on a platform that moves away from you.
• Strategy:
  1. Approach the platform that moves away.
  2. Stand still or move in the opposite direction of the platform's natural movement. This will cause the platform to move towards you.
  3. Once the platform is within reach, jump onto it.
  4. Continue to manipulate its movement by not rewinding (or moving against its natural flow) until you can reach the Puzzle Piece.

6-2: The Disappearing Bridge

• Location: A bridge that disappears when you walk on it, with a puzzle piece on the other side.
• Strategy:
  1. Walk onto the Disappearing Bridge. It will begin to vanish behind you.
  2. As you cross, do not rewind time. Instead, focus on moving forward quickly.
  3. If you fall, rewind to the start of the bridge and try to move faster.
  4. Reach the other side and collect the Puzzle Piece before the entire bridge vanishes.