BRAID
Full Game Speedrun FAQ
Version 1.0
Written by Anathema 09
Date began: 10/13/08
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Codes on the right are for quick access)
Introduction S1
Speed Run FAQ S2
Home World / House S3
World 2: Time and Forgiveness S4
2-1: Three Easy Pieces A1
2-2: The Cloud Bridge A2
2-3: Hunt! A3
2-4: Leap of Faith A4
World 3: Time and Mystery S5
3-1: The Pit B1
3-2: There and Back Again B2
3-3: Phase B3
3-4: The Ground Beneath Her Feet B4
3-5: Tight Channels B5
3-6: Irreversible B6
3-7: Lair B7
3-8: A Tingling B8
World 4: Time and Place S6
4-1: The Pit C1
4-2: Jumpman C2
4-3: Just Out of Reach C3
4-4: Hunt! C4
4-5: Movement by Degrees C5
4-6: Movement, Amplified C6
4-7: Fickle Companion C7
World 5: Time and Decision S7
5-1: The Pit D1
5-2: So Distant D2
5-3: (Man Holding Key) D3
5-4: Crossing the Gap D4
5-5: Window of Opportunity D5
5-6: Lair D6
5-7: Fragile Companion D7
World 6: Hesitance S8
6-1: The Pit E1
6-2: There and Back Again E2
6-3: Phase? E3
6-4: Cascade E4
6-5: Impassable Folliage E5
6-6: Elevator Action E6
6-7: In Another Castle E7
World 1 and Epilogue S9
1-4: (Full Lotus) F1
1-3: (2/3 Lotus) F2
1-2: (1/3 Lotus) F3
1-1: Braid F4
Epilogue F5
Acknowledgements S10
History / Legal S11
=========INTRODUCTION======================== S1
Hey there! Thanks for looking at my in-depth guide about the Full Game
Speedrun challenge for "Braid". First, a little about me, a little about the
game, and then hopefully, a lot of answers that will either help you get your
15 Gamerpoint achievement or lower your time even further.
This is my first FAQ. While I was doing the speedruns on my game, I noticed
there were no FAQs to reference for those looking to shave off a few seconds
here or there. Since I've turned to GameFAQs lord knows how many times in
the past 5 years, I feel like this is a good way to do my part and give back
to the community that saved my controller from being thrown across the room
in bouts of frustration during my other gaming endeavors. And because it's
the first game I feel I'm qualified enough to write about.
At the time of writing, I (Anathema 09) currently hold the 5th place spot on
the overall Xbox LIVE Braid Full Game Speedrun leaderboard with a time of
31:15.97. Although I doubt I'll be able to usurp TaCoMonster209 or SprintGod
with their blistering Under-30 times, I know my current time still has a good
45-50 seconds I can shave off of it. Plus, it's such a good way to avoid
doing everything else I'm supposed to be doing...
=========Speed Run FAQs====================== S2
Q: What is a Full Game Speedrun and Why should I want to do one?
A: After completing "Braid" for the first time, you will notice there are
still 15 Gamerpoints to win for "Completing a Full Game Speedrun of Braid,
beating the challenge time." This means in order to finish all your
achievements and get a full 200 / 200 for the game, you must be able to beat
the game in Speedrun mode in under 45 minutes, collecting ALL of the puzzle
pieces along the way.
Q: Wait, how is that even possible? It took me 45 minutes to pass ONE level
on my first playthrough.
A: You too, huh? For me, the beauty of "Braid" was even though I felt like
a complete and utter dolt when confronted with some of the puzzles for the
first time, they can all, in fact, be completed in A MINUTE A PIECE, on
average. You just have to know how to work the puzzles and how to
efficiently move between them, which is what this guide is all about.
Q: But I'm not completely OCD and/or I'm a Well-Adjusted person with a
decent Job and Life and I desire to keep it that way so I don't need a face-
melting time to feel good about myself. Is this guide for me?
A: Sure. You don't have to want to be able to play this game in 10 minutes
tops to want to know simple, efficient ways to play it in under 45 minutes.
I mean, you spent $15 on this game, you might as well soak every Gamerpoint
you can out of it.
I'm including a feature in this guide that I wish I had when I was doing my
first Speedruns: A Target Start time for each world, and a target Start Time
for Overachievers. To play the game in 45 minutes or less, try to start each
world with your timer matching or reading less than the "Target Start Time".
If you REALLY want to get a low time, try to start each world with your timer
matching or reading less than the "For Overachievers" time.
Q: Are there spoilers in this guide?
A: Plot spoilers? No. We will be moving past the "plot" sections to
quickly too even care about what the books say. Puzzle spoilers? Yes. And
I assume you wouldn't be here unless you wanted them, so I won't post
warnings. Here is my one, blanket spoiler warning for this guide:
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET PLAYED THIS GAME IN IT'S ENTIRETY FROM BEGINNING TO END,
SOLVING THE PUZZLES BY YOURSELF, COLLECTING THE PIECES BY YOURSELF, OR
READING THE BOOKS BY YOURSELF, YOU SHOULD GO AND DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
Seriously. You can't even access Speedrun mode until you've beaten the game
once, and trust me, you're only robbing yourself out of one of the most
moving, sublime and amazingly-well written stories given to gamers. Do
yourself a favor and do it on your own.
Q: Do I need to collect the hidden stars to complete the challenge time?
A: No. The stars DO NOT EVEN APPEAR in Speedrun mode. Only the puzzle
pieces need be collected.
Q: I'm bad at putting the puzzle pieces together when I'm in the home world.
Is this counted against me?
A: No. The Speedrun timer stops when you are in Puzzle mode and after
raising the flag at the end of each world. Feel free to take as much time as
needed in these places to grab food, run to the bathroom, shake the pins and
needles out of your legs, etc. You could also just hit Pause at anytime to
stop the clock as well, but isn't it more gratifying when the game itself
gives you some downtime?
And now, without further ado, warm your fingers up, it's time to sprint.
==========Home World / House ================= S3
During the countdown, hold right so you start running immediately after the
timer ends. My one friend seems to think constantly jumping is more
efficient than just running, but I'm inclined to argue that the quickest path
between two points is a straight line. Honestly, it doesn't make much of a
difference, except on sloping or moving surfaces. If you jump onto a corner,
or a surface that is sloping downward, many times, it will "boost" or
"slingshot" you off of it in the direction you were traveling in when you hit
it at a rate faster than your normal run.
That being said, you can get two good "boost" jumps off the stairs leading
down from the starting point towards the house if you time it right.
Continue towards the house. You can jump up the stairs leading inside if
you'd like and shave a couple milliseconds.
Approach the door to World 2 and enter.
==========WORLD TWO: TIME AND FORGIVENESS============= S4
==========2-1: Three Easy Pieces =================== A1
-- 3 Puzzle pieces, 0 Time-Independent--
*Start Time: 0:17.8
The name of this level says it all, though you'd be surprised how many times
you'll restart this one when you want to save seconds off your fastest
speedruns. Move to the right, three jumps up the steps. Boost jump down the
hill and slingshot yourself onto the lattice. Keeping with the theme of "the
quickest way between two points is a straight line", move yourself DIAGONALLY
upwards toward the ledge at the top.
Boost jump down the next hill and shimmy diagonally up the second lattice.
Drop down at the top. Boost jump off the corner of the stairway heading
down. If you timed it right, it will ricochet you off the bottom step as
well, speeding you up. Immediately jump upon hitting the ground to land on
the platform. Do not use the ladder and NEVER STOP MOVING. Ladders are
ALWAYS slower than just jumping onto a reachable platform. Remember that.
Jump onto the block-thing on the platform, then jump again off the RIGHT SIDE
of the block towards the gap in the upper platform. Change your direction in
mid-air, staying as close to the upper-left platform as possible and drop
down
to the lower platform. Upon landing, immediately move to the left, jump the
two gaps and collect your FIRST PUZZLE PIECE. Immediately change your
direction and head back the way you came. Jump the three gaps on the lower
platform, avoid the ladder to the upper platform, and jump up to the goomba-
patrolled ground above you.
Jump over the goomba and jump again from the RIGHT EDGE of the ground onto
the BLOCK sitting on the very left edge of the next platform. The SECOND
PUZZLE PIECE is above this platform. Jump on the goomba to reach it,
maintaining constant momentum towards the right. Jump onto the goomba-cannon
and jump from there onto the next nearby platform.
The THIRD PUZZLE PIECE is here. If you were fast so far, you should be able
to naturally jump and land between the two patrolling goombas as they move to
the right. Jump onto the one FURTHEST TO THE RIGHT first, change directions
in midair, then jump on the SECOND one (the one on the left), to get the
height necessary to reach the piece. Collect the piece, then jump off the
newly-spawned goomba beneath to clear the cannon and drop down to the ground
below.
Hit the ground running, moving right. Quickly jump up the three platforms
and exit the level.
=============2-2: The Cloud Bridge =================== A2
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent -- (4 Total)
*Target Start time: 1:04.00
*For Overachievers: 1:02.58
This is the ONLY level in the entire game that forces to to backtrack to it
once you've already moved on to the next level. Efficiency-wise, that's
annoying, but it's not that big of a deal. Boost jump off the downward hill
and clear the two fiery gaps to get the key. Jump onto the ladder and climb
up. Unlock the door. Jump onto the cannon and run across the spawning
cloud. Since this cloud is solid and moving in your direction, it will SPEED
YOU UP. Take that into consideration as you time the jump to the second
cloud. Collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE, jump to the next cloud and move on.
The next moving cloud section is a spot where I advocate jumping over
running. Since these clouds are moving AGAINST YOU, they will SLOW YOU DOWN,
but you need to move across them to get to the next puzzle piece. Solution:
As soon as you touch down on one moving cloud, jump again while continually
moving to the right. Your normal speed will be maintained and you'll land
right on top of the cannon, collecting your SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Clear the
goomba on the platform, boost jump down off the right corner of the platform
and move on, for now, to Level 2-3.
=============2-3: Hunt! =============================== A3
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start time: 1:28.00
*For Overachievers: 1:25.42
You must kill all the goombas here to lower the door blocking the puzzle
piece. Move to the right, killing the one on ground level. Climb the ladder
to the next platform, but DO NOT KILL THIS GOOMBA. Jump the gap to the
platform on the left, kill the goomba. Climb the ladder to the next platform
and kill that goomba as well. Now, if you played this level quickly so far,
the goomba you spared on the platform below should not only still be alive,
but will be in range for you to jump down on it from above, springing
yourself to the upper platform on the right. Kill that goomba, climb the
ladder. Run over to the goomba on top, kill it, and collect your PUZZLE
PIECE.
Now, DO NOT GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. REMEMBER, we need to backtrack and pick
up the two puzzle pieces we missed in level 2-2. Fall to ground level, move
left and exit.
==============2-2: The Cloud Bridge (part II) ========= A2
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces left, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 1:58.00
*For Overachievers: 1:51.60
Make a Bee-line towards the giant puzzle board. Enter puzzle mode ASAP upon
reaching it. Okay. Here's the hardest part in this level. You need to take
the one puzzle piece that looks like part of a platform and line it up so the
goomba on the platform above you and to the right will walk onto it.
If you haven't moved any of the puzzle pieces yet, the one you want is on the
right side of puzzle mode in the middle. Take it and move it to the upper
left corner of the puzzle mode. DO NOT MOVE THE PUZZLE PIECE that's already
sitting there, as you can use it as a guide. Line up the upper left corner
of the platform in the puzzle piece, NOT THE PUZZLE PIECE ITSELF so that it
touches the orange flower pedal on the piece below that's SECOND FROM THE
LEFT AND HANGING DOWNWARD. If you did this correctly, when you exit puzzle
mode, the goomba should march from it's original platform onto the
"extension" you just placed there.
Now, AS SOON AS THE GOOMBA moves onto the extension and is STILL MOVING TO
THE RIGHT, enter puzzle mode again and TAKE THAT PLATFORM PIECE AWAY FROM
WHERE YOU SO CAREFULLY LINED IT UP. Far away. To the other side of the
puzzle. Move it off the puzzle if you'd like for good measure. The goal is
to remove the platform beneath the goomba's feet as it's still moving to the
right so it falls to the ground and continues it's march to the RIGHT TOWARDS
THE DOOR and the PUZZLE PIECE above it.
If you pulled that off, awesome. Don't follow the goomba just yet. There's
still one more puzzle piece on the platform above the door. Enter puzzle
mode, move that platform piece once again so it's near the bottom right-hand
corner of the puzzle. When you exit puzzle mode, jump onto the platform and
you'll find it's now SOLID and you can stand on it. Go back into puzzle mode
from where you stand on the platform now and MOVE IT UP A LITTLE BIT. When
you exit puzzle mode, the platform will have vanished from beneath your feet
and appeared around where your head is. Solution: As soon as you press "B"
to exit puzzle mode, press "A" to jump. Tim will jump in mid-air and land on
the platform you just placed at your head. Do this two to three more times
so you can jump onto the upper-right platform and collect the THIRD PUZZLE
PIECE from this level.
After collecting the piece, fall down to the ground below. Rush over to the
door to level 2-3. The goomba should now be under it, or at least nearby.
Jump on him and collect the FOURTH PUZZLE PIECE from this level. Exit, and
quickly move through level 2-3 as well to enter:
================2-4: Leap of Faith ================== A4
-- 4 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 2:23.00
*For Overachievers: 2:15.45
Boost jump down the hill toward the ladder. Climb up and immediately
activate the switch. Wait for the goomba-cannon to launch a little guy
towards the moving platform. As soon as the goomba touches the platform,
activate the switch once again. Jump down the ladder and wait for the goomba
to mosey on over towards the level's entrance doorway. Jump on him to
collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE from above the door.
Climb back up the ladder, activate the switch and ride the platform toward
the goomba cannon. As soon as you can, jump onto the cannon and move to the
edge of the cliff nearby. Now, in my opinion, and I've played this game MANY
times, this next piece is the most ANNOYING one to get in the entire game.
It can make or break the beginning of your speedrun. It's not HARD to get,
it's just all TIMING, and to me, that sucks.
Anyway, you want to watch the fuse on the cannon below you. When it gets
close to burning out, JUMP OFF THE CLIFF towards the right. If you timed it
correctly, you'll land on top of the goomba that just got shot out of the
cannon and bounce up to the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. If not, well, rewind and
try again. And Again. And then re-start your Speedrun when it took you
fifteen tries to get a puzzle piece that should have taken five seconds to
get... Hey, at least this one isn't in world 6.
Okay, so now, you want to walk (NOT jump) off the cliff to the left. Move
towards the center of the pit as you're falling. As soon as you clear the
fiery pit on the left side of the crevice, move towards the left. As you
clear the inconveniently placed fire pit in the center of the gorge, move
slightly to the right. You'll land on a platform above a fiery pit of death
and collect the THIRD PUZZLE PIECE in the process.
Jump down to the ground below and stand near the ladder. As the goomba falls
from far above and bounces off the ground, jump on him to spring up onto the
ladder. It's slightly faster than climbing the opening portion. Climb up to
the alcove that houses the FOURTH PUZZLE PIECE. Collect it, wait for the
goomba to fall past you, climb the ladder and jump off to the right to touch
solid ground. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the plant to lower and
JUMPING (NOT RUNNING) uphill (it's faster) to raise the flag, bring the timer
to a halt and hear that the Princess is in another castle.
///////////////////////A QUICK NOTE////////////////////////////
Don't exit out of the stuffed-animal dinosaur's speech box until you are
ready to move on. Seriously. Take a short breather. The timer's stopped.
When you DO decide you're ready to move on, hold down LEFT on the Dpad or
Stick so when you press "A" and return to the House, Tim is already moving
toward the puzzle you have to assemble in order to reach World 1.
Over the course of 5 worlds, if it takes you 2 or 3 seconds to react to being
back in the House before you get moving again, that's FIFTEEN SECONDS you can
save on your time right there. It doesn't sound like a lot, but believe me,
when your time starts getting into the low-thirties, you'll want every second
you can get.
At the END OF WORLD TWO:
*Target time: 3:45.00
*For OVerachievers: 3:03.18
=================== WORLD 3: TIME AND MYSTERY =========================== S5
=================== 3-1: The Pit ======================================== B1
-- No Puzzle Pieces --
*Target Start Time: 3:52.00
*For Overachievers: 3:10.60
Ahh, The Pit. Very straightforward. Walk off the edge of the platform, fall
below, and collect the key from the goomba below. This key is TIME-
INDEPENDENT, so REWIND (at x4 or x8, always) to just before you fell in the
pit. You'll still have the key. Jump the gap, unlock the door and move on.
=================== 3-2: There and Back Again =========================== B2
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 4:01.00
*For Overachievers: 3:18.34
Run to the right, climb the lattice toward the second level platforms. Land
on the left platform. Climb the next lattice, land on the next platform up.
Avoid any falling baddies. Climb the lattice, land on the top platform.
Avoid jumping on the baddies if you can. It'll save you precious seconds.
Collect the key, then REWIND back to when you were on the lattice climbing up
to the first platforms. This time, move towards the platform with the door.
Unlock it, collect your PUZZLE PIECE and move on.
=================== 3-3: Phase ========================================== B3
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 4:20.00
*For Overachievers: 3:30.59
Messing up the first part of this level will completely jeopardize your
attempts to quickly do the second part, so make sure you get it right the
first time. If not, you're better off exiting and re-entering to reset the
clouds. Or if you're going for Speed, restarting the whole run. It's better
to restart with less than 4 minutes on the clock than make it all the way to
the end of the game and miss your time by a few seconds. Trust me.
Climb the lattice and detach as soon as you can stand on the platform above
you. Jump on the GLOWING CLOUD moving to the left, then onto the NORMAL
CLOUD that should be right above and behind it to the right. There's two
ways to do this next part, both work equally well. Jump off the normal cloud
towards the right into thin air. The Glowing clouds are TIME-INDEPENDENT.
They will keep spawning no matter HOW you monkey around with time. The
normal clouds are not. The trick is to either constantly rewind and play so
Tim is hovering in air right above where a GLOWING CLOUD will soon pass under
his feet, or just hold "X" and the RIGHT BUMPER simultaneously to FREEZE TIME
and wait for the GLOWING CLOUD to simply slide beneath you. I'll leave it up
to you. Either way, once you're safely on solid...er... cloud, jump to the
cannons and collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Jump down, move to the right, climb the lattice and find a similar puzzle.
If you did the first part efficiently and didn't rewind or freeze time more
than necessary, by the time you get to this platform, three clouds should be
headed your way: A Normal cloud, a GLOWING cloud, and another normal cloud,
in that order. Jump from cloud to cloud and then off into thin air again.
Same trick here. Either do the constant rewind gag or freeze time until a
new GLOWING cloud passes under your feet. Jump to the cannons and collect
the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Boost-jump off the corner of the cannons to the
ground below and exit the level.
==================== 3-4: The Ground Beneath Her Feet =================== B4
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, BOTH ARE TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 5:22.00
*For Overachievers: 3:57.88
Both of the PUZZLE PIECES in this level are TIME-INDEPENDENT, and after you
see how easy that makes to speed things up when collecting them, you'll wish
EVERY piece was time-independent.
Climb the ladder and move along the platform to the right. Drop down in the
gap between the two platforms, avoiding the goomba, and activate the switch.
The goomba should have by now promptly firewalked itself to an early grave,
so as your TIME INDEPENDENT PLATFORM is moving beneath you, pull the CONSTANT
REWIND trick out of your bag to revive the little beast and keep him on the
very edge of the moving platform. As soon as it touches solid ground, the
goomba will begin walking towards the KEY, and you need to activate the
platform again. Before it can slide past to the other side, though, run down
to it and use it to JUMP towards the ladder and the doorway and let the
goomba deliver the key to your waiting arms (You did save it's life, after
all). Climb the ladder, move along the platform, drop down through the gap.
Unlock the door and collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Now for the really cool part. REWIND (x4 or x8) back to just before you most
recently dropped down through the gap. You don't have to go back around and
climb the ladder again, you don't have to wait for the platform to move, and
since that puzzle piece was TIME INDEPENDENT, you still have it in your hot
little hands. You're welcome.
Move to the right and drop to the ground below. Approach the switch and
activate it. Climb the ladder and move across the new TIME INDEPENDENT
PLATFORM and rest for a SPLIT SECOND on the spit of land the platform came to
a stop against. Go back down to the switch and activate it again. REWIND at
x8 back to when you were standing on that spit of land right above the SECOND
PUZZLE PIECE. Since the platform is TIME INDEPENDENT, it's gone away now, so
drop below and collect your prize. Since this is also TIME INDEPENDENT, you
can rewind again to when you were standing right above it and you'll still
have it.
**Just a quick warning here. The faster you can pull off the rewind,
generally, the better. Just don't get careless with it. Now that we're
dealing with things that aren't affected by time, it's really easy to work
yourself into a situation that you won't be able to get out of without
rewinding further and wasting more time. So, buyer beware**
===================== 3-5: Tight Channels ==============================B5
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 6:05.00
*For Overachievers: 4:41.47
Move to the right, jumping over the little hump-hill if you want. As you
approach the TIME INDEPENDENT GOOMBA CANNON above you, jump to kill the
little bunny that will most likely be trying to jump to kill you. Jump again
as you approach the little plant in the ground before the gap, 'cuz that's a
bunny, too. Cross the gap, climb the ladder, take one QUICK step towards the
FIRST PUZZLE PIECE, then move to your left, drop down and walk to where you
killed the second bunny.
QUICKLY FREEZE TIME. A TIME INDEPENDENT GOOMBA will shoot out and,
hopefully, land between fireballs. Now, it's just a matter of pulling the
CONSTANT REWIND trick until you're standing back on the platform with the
puzzle piece, being careful not to let any of the fireballs touch the goomba.
If you did it right, he'll drop down to your platform, and you can
mercilessly use him to claim your PUZZLE PIECE.
Jump down to the right over the gap and move to the right. Every time you
pass a clump of flowers, they'll turn into SWARMS of death bunnies. Just
keep running and ignore them. If you get lucky, the PIPE PLANT will kill
some of them. If not, no big deal. Soon enough, you'll approach a cannon
that's firing quite rapidly towards the RIGHT. Jump down to it's level,
being careful not to get shot. Any pursuing bunnies should be fried by the
fireballs this cannon shoots. Keep moving to the right and you'll find
another cannon up in the air firing TIME INDEPENDENT FIREBALLS at the ground.
You need to rewind so that ONE FIREBALL that is traveling to the RIGHT gets
HIT by one of the TIME INDEPENDENT FIREBALLS heading towards the ground.
This will cause every other RIGHT-TRAVELING FIREBALL to be destroyed and
allow you to fit in the "tight channel" leading to the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE.
Collect it and move on.
===================== 3-6: Irreversible =================================B6
-- 3 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 7:17.00
*For Overachievers: 5:47.76
So the name of this level? Yeah. It's not kidding around. You do NOT want
to make ANY mistakes here, or you'll be restarting the level, if not your
entire Speedrun.
Moving right, CAREFULLY kill the two Goombas and the Death Bunny. Move past
the ladder leading up to the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE. Since we have to wait for
the time dependent left-moving platform to clear the TIME INDEPENDENT up-
moving platform, we might as well solve other puzzles while they dance.
Head over to the ladder leading underground. Kill the death bunny hiding to
the RIGHT of the ladder BEFORE you go down, or it will be a PAIN to get back
up again. Drop down below and move left. Once the plant is in it's home,
jump over and collect the key. Jump back quickly if you can, or just wait
for the plant to run it's course, cuz, again, if you rewind more than is
necessary here, those two platforms from the top of the level will block each
other. Take your key and as soon as it unlocks the first door, REWIND. That
door is TIME INDEPENDENT. It'll stay down and you'll still have the key so
you can unlock the second door and collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE.
Drop down to the level below and move to the left. DO NOT COLLECT THE FIRST
KEY. Wait for all the plants to clear and drop to the lowest level to get
the TIME INDEPENDENT KEY. REWIND x8 back to where you stood before the first
of the three plants. Unlock the door, then turn to the left and grab the KEY
you walked past initially. Use this to unlock the second, TIME INDEPENDENT
DOOR, then pull the same trick from the level above: rewind for one second
and use the same key to unlock the third door and collect the THIRD PUZZLE
PIECE. Climb the ladders and leave the underground.
Once above ground, move to the left. Climb the ladder up to the second
level. If you didn't make any errors in rewinding, the time dependent left-
moving platform will have now cleared the TIME-DEPENDENT UP MOVING PLATFORM.
Feel free to rewind all you want now, though you probably won't want to,
since we ARE doing a Speedrun here. Hold for a split-second at the top of
the ladder so the Bunny to the left emerges. Jump down to the left and land
on the bunny to kill it. Clear the plant, avoid the goombas and jump over to
the platform to collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Now, all you have to do is move all the way to the level's right, avoiding
the bunnies and the fire along the way, and exit the level.
====================== 3-7: Lair ========================================B7
-- No Puzzle Pieces --
*Target Start Time: 9:30.00
*For Overachievers: 7:15.43
Out of the two "Boss" levels in this game, I find this to be the more
difficult one. Let the goomba collect the key and fall into the pit. Jump
the gap and then fall in after it. You'll collect the key and die, but the
key is TIME INDEPENDENT, so just rewind to right before you fell and you'll
be in front of the door with the key to open it.
So the thing that makes this Boss difficult is that he's TIME INDEPENDENT.
If you mess up rewinding here, you'll be adding tens of seconds onto your
time, as he can quickly move out of range of your attacks. If you want to do
this as quickly as possible, you need to utilize the x8 rewind, but be
careful and pay attention while you're doing it or you'll be sorry.
Don't approach the Boss as he sleeps. Climb the lattice and drop the LEFT
CHANDELIER to wake him. Immediately move to the RIGHT CHANDELIER and wait.
He will come in range, then move slightly out to the left. Let him go. When
he comes in range the next time, DROP THE RIGHT CHANDELIER. AS SOON AS IT
HITS him, REWIND x8 to JUST BEFORE you dropped the LEFT CHANDELIER. If you
did it right, Tim should be ready to drop the LEFT CHANDELIER on the BOSS as
he passes beneath. Immediately move to the right and drop the RIGHT
CHANDELIER as he gets in range. As soon as it hits, REWIND x8 AGAIN to right
before you dropped the LEFT CHANDELIER. As the Boss passes beneath, let the
LEFT CHANDELIER fall, move to the right and drop the RIGHT CHANDELIER on him
as well. Since the boss is TIME INDEPENDENT but the chandeliers are not,
technically, you only dropped two chandeliers the entire time, but he
sustained 5 points of cumulative damage. Collect his key and move on.
====================== 3-8: A Tingling =================================B8
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, FIRST PIECE TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 10:09.00
*For Overachievers: 7:53.68
Move to the right and climb up the ladder. At the top, immediately climb up
the ladder on the right. You should be on the top level now. Move all the
way to the left, drop down and take the KEY from the goomba. Drop down to
the platform below and again to the ground. Move right to the first ladder
you climbed up. At the top, move LEFT this time, and down the two ladders to
the level with the SWITCH. If you did this quickly, you should be right
behind the goomba as he approaches the switch. Walk right behind him and hit
the switch to activate the TIME INDEPENDENT PLATFORM MOVING RIGHT above the
GROUND LEVEL. The goomba will probably turn around quickly and kill you, but
no matter. REWIND x8 to the PLATFORM IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE LEVEL'S ENTRY
DOOR. As you come out of rewind, the TIME INDEPENDENT PLATFORM should be
sliding out from under the platform you're standing on. Jump onto the TIME
INDEPENDENT PLATFORM to reach the ladder leading to the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
This puzzle piece is TIME INDEPENDENT, but that doesn't matter. Start
climbing down the ladder, the drop down as soon as the TIME INDEPENDENT
PLATFORM MOVING RIGHT below clears it. IMMEDIATELY upon landing on the
ground, move right, outrunning the TIME INDEPENDENT PLATFORM MOVING RIGHT.
Climb the initial ladder once again. Drop down onto the MOVING PLATFORM as
it passes beneath you. When the door is in range, jump at it with the KEY
and pass through.
Climb the ladder all the way to the top. Move across the lattice to the
right, avoiding the fireballs. Drop down to the ground below and move left.
Standing on the CANNON, JUMP UP AND TO THE LEFT to cling onto the lattice.
Move carefully left, dropping down over the LEFT CANNON, and activate the
switch. A TIME-INDEPENDENCE BESTOWING PLATFORM will move up into position in
the middle of the fire pit. REWIND to a point where you were right above it
and drop down onto it. REWIND x8 until there is no more movement whatsoever.
In essence, you just rewinded back to the beginning of the level, but you are
currently TIME INDEPENDENT, so you did not move. Cool, huh? Now just make
your way back over to the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE before the iron gate closes on
it. Collect it and move all the way to the right of the level to raise the
flag and finish World 3.
/////////////REMEMBER: When you're ready to move back to the house, have
your Dpad or Stick already pointing LEFT so Tim will be on the move right
away towards the Puzzle board///////////////////////
At the END OF WORLD THREE:
*Target Time: 11:59.80
*For Overachievers: 9:26.33
====================== WORLD FOUR: TIME AND PLACE ====================== S6
====================== 4-1: The Pit ===================================== C1
-- No Puzzle Pieces --
*Target Start Time: 12:05.00
*For Overachievers: 9:31.56
Move to the right, jump over the pit. Move ALL THE WAY against the door.
The goomba below will pick up the TIME INDEPENDENT KEY. Jump below. Take
the key. Rewind x4 or x8 until you're right in front of the door. It will
unlock, allowing you through. Continue on.
====================== 4-2: Jumpman ==================================== C2
-- 3 Puzzle Pieces, SECOND AND THIRD TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 12:14.00
*For Overachievers: 9:41.13
Surprise, surprise. This level requires some precise jumping. Okay. Move
to the right, climbing the ladder to the second level. Move to the left,
climbing that ladder as well. Once on the third level, MOVE TO THE LEFT and
jump out over the ENTRANCE DOOR. You should stomp the now-rising goomba in
MID-AIR. Using the boost, change directions and land to the left of the
suspiciously familiar gorilla on the top-most platform. Jump over him and
collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Forget about the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE locked away for now. Boost-jump off the
corner of the platform you're on if you can and land on the ground level near
the second set of platforms to the RIGHT of the locked doors. Climb the
ladder and move SLIGHTLY to the right. Jump over the FIREBALL that's hanging
in mid-air to land on the BLOCK at the left edge of the platform you're on.
Lining up your jumps carefully, jump up one platform to land to the LEFT
behind the CANNON. Jump onto the CANNON and climb up the ladder. Again,
jump to the LEFT onto the Block on the left edge of the platform you're on.
From there, jump up, collect the TIME INDEPENDENT KEY, and then jump down to
get the THIRD PUZZLE PIECE.
Since that piece is TIME INDEPENDENT, REWIND x8 ALL THE WAY BACK to when you
picked up the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE. You should have the KEY with you now as
well. Jump the gap, open the door and collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Drop
to the ground below and move all the way to the right, using the SECOND LEVEL
PLATFORM to cross over the PIPE PLANT. Exit the level.
====================== 4-3: Just Out of Reach =========================== C3
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, BOTH TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 12:50.00
*For Overachievers: 10:11.30
Climb the ladder and get off at the level with the switch. Activate the
switch and continue climbing the ladder to the top. Move to the left, jump
out over nothing and BOUNCE off the goomba in MID-AIR to RETURN TO THE LEVEL
YOU JUST JUMPED OFF OF. The gate is now down and you can jump on the
goomba's head to clear it and collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
This section requires careful timing. Jumping off to the right, CHANGE
DIRECTION IN MID-AIR to bounce on the goomba falling from the top level.
Since you hit him while moving LEFT, he should still be alive. Change
directions in MID-AIR once again to move to the RIGHT and land on the
platform right in front of the ladder. If you did this correctly, the goomba
will still be alive. Move to the right until he collects the TIME-
INDEPENDENT KEY. REWIND back to the ORIGINAL jump you made onto this goomba.
This time, move continuously to the RIGHT as you jump on him. The goomba
will die and drop the KEY. Now, just avoid landing on the upper platform and
COLLECT the KEY.
REWIND once again to the ORIGINAL jump you made onto this goomba. This time,
move continuously to the RIGHT as you jump on him. Land on the upper
platform, key and all. Climb the ladder and claim the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE.
REWIND one last time to just BEFORE you initially jumped on our poor,
chronically abused goomba. This time, miss him completely, fall to the
ground, and exit the level.
======================= 4-4: Hunt! ====================================== C4
-- 1 TIME-INDEPENDENT Puzzle piece --
*Target Start Time: 13:39.00
*For Overachievers: 11:01.49
This is the one level that I found it almost impossible to improve on from my
earliest run-throughs, so instead of holding your hand through it, I'll give
you the order to stomp the goombas in and let you do it as you see fit:
Top Level
Third Level, Left
Second Level, Left
Ground Level
Second Level, Right
Third Level, Right.
And remember, that puzzle piece is TIME INDEPENDENT, so REWIND x8 back to
when you stomped SECOND LEVEL, RIGHT for quick exit from this level.
======================== 4-5: Movement by Degrees ====================== C5
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, BOTH TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 14:18.00
*For Overachievers: 11:42.32
Move to the right, jumping over the first TIME INDEPENDENT PLANT. Come to a
rest IMMEDIATELY to the RIGHT of the SECOND TIME INDEPENDENT PLANT. You
should be FACE TO FACE with the goomba. As soon as the two plants on the
right go down far enough for the goomba to walk over them without being
eaten, move to the ladder and climb it. The goomba will be eaten by the
leftmost plant in the process. Don't worry about it. At the top of the
ladder, jump off to the LEFT onto the BLOCK. The goomba will revive. Wait
until the leftmost plant goes down and jump to the right. Keep moving to the
right until you hear the *tingle* sound of a key getting picked up.
IMMEDIATELY REWIND x8 to the point where Tim and the goomba were having their
staring contest, and the KEY will be delivered right into your waiting hands.
Climb the ladder, move to the left, watch out for the bunny, climb the second
ladder, unlock the door and take the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
REWIND x8 until you were on the first ladder. Jump off to the right. Move
right, falling down near where the ladder hangs over the fire pit. Move
right until the rightmost plant above you is down. Let the next TIME
INDEPENDENT GOOMBA that spawns above you pass over the rightmost plant and
REWIND to where you fell down near the fire pit. The SECOND PLANT should be
down. After the GOOMBA crosses, REWIND til when you were on the FIRST
LADDER. The FINAL PLANT should be down. The goomba passes and falls to the
platform above you. Climb up, jump on him and claim the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE.
Fall down the right and exit the level.
======================== 4-6: Movement, Amplified ====================== C6
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, BOTH TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 16:00.00
*For Overachievers: 12:11.83
Climb the ladder immediately in front of you and QUICKLY jump off to the
right to get a boost jump off the goomba before the two plants can come out
and munch him. Climb the ladder on the right to the FIRST LEVEL of MOVING
CLOUDS and move to the left. Since these clouds are moving in your
direction, they will SPEED YOU UP. Move to the left far enough to revive the
goomba below, then move to the RIGHT, allowing time for the two fast-moving
plants to retreat. Jump off the clouds towards the right and you should hear
the *tingle* of a key being picked up.
REWIND x8 until you hear that poor goomba get munched by the plants below.
MOVE ALL THE WAY ON THE FIRST LEVEL OF CLOUDS TO THE LEFT. Fall down and
collect the TIME INDEPENDENT KEY. Rewind x4 or x8 until you're by the ladder
leading from the FIRST LEVEL OF CLOUDS to the SECOND LEVEL OF CLOUDS. Climb
the ladder. Up here, the clouds are moving AGAINST you, so your speed is
SLOWER than normal. As soon as you lose contact with the clouds, like when
you jump, however, your speed returns to normal. Keep that in mind as you
JUMP over the TIME INDEPENDENT PLANT, unlock the door and collect the FIRST
PUZZLE PIECE.
REWIND x8 until you're at the RIGHTMOST LADDER leading to the first and
second level of clouds. Climb to the second level. JUMP OUT from the right-
edge of the cannon, and a FAST-MOVING CLOUD will rush underneath you. DO NOT
JUMP from this cloud until you reach it's very rightmost edge. When it's in
range, jump onto the stationary platforms and collect the SECOND PUZZLE
PIECE. Drop down and exit the level.
======================== 4-8: Fickle Companion ========================= C8
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, BOTH TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 17:08.00
*For Overachievers: 12:58.44
Okay, so far in this World, we've had nothing but Time-Independent keys. Now
we get to see what happens when our keys are suddenly dependent on time. And
it ain't a lot of fun.
Move right, collect the key and climb the ladder. Move right and activate
the switch. Jump down, move right and stomp the goomba. Now, BACK UP just
enough so the time-dependent platform will "catch" the next TIME INDEPENDENT
GOOMBA that shoots out of the cannon above. When it does, CAREFULLY move to
the left, allowing the goomba to walk on the platform towards the left
without falling off. When you're about underneath the switch, the goomba
should pick up the KEY and begin moving to the left. RUSH to the first
ladder you climbed up. Move to the ladder immediately to your left and CLIMB
IT HALFWAY UP. As the KEY CARRYING TIME INDEPENDENT GOOMBA passes beneath
you, climb down the ladder to stomp him WITHOUT letting go of the ladder.
You will collect the key from him and can now climb up to the door and
collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
REWIND or RUN QUICKLY down to the second level. Move past the switch. DO
NOT ACTIVATE IT. Drop down and to the right. If another goomba has already
spawned and is walking by the locked door, stomp it. If not, OPEN THE LOCKED
DOOR and move to the RIGHT of it. HANG OUT THERE until a new goomba spawns
and drops down to you. As soon as it does, move to the left of the door,
reclaiming your key and letting the door lock itself. Let the goomba kill
you. As he passes, he'll take your key. Pull the CONSTANT REWIND TRICK to
revive yourself and let the goomba pass with the key. Once he does, REWIND
to the point where you were standing JUST INSIDE of the locked door. Since
you did that in the past, it'll open again (Gotta Love World 4). Your goomba
will now be delivering the key to you on the ground level. Take it, open the
door, collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE, climb the ladder just outside the
locked door and move all the way to the right to complete World 4.
Oh, and a quick note. Since you have to be moving to the right even after
you raise the flag on this level and the Puzzle in the house is on the left,
you get transported back to the house after you pass the FOURTH PILLAR on the
bridge. You don't get to press "A" and choose when. Be ready for it.
///////////REMINDER: Dpad or Stick all the way to the LEFT as you exit this
level //////////////////////
At the END OF WORLD FOUR:
*Target Time: 18:08.00
*For Overachievers: 13:58.92
========================= WORLD FIVE: TIME AND DECISION ================ S7
========================= 5-1: The Pit ================================== D1
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 18:17.00
*For Overachievers: 14:07.86
One of the easiest pieces in the game. Simply walk of the ledge while moving
to the right. AS SOON AS YOU WALK OFF THE LEDGE, REWIND to right before you
fell. Your shadow will fall and collect the PUZZLE PIECE. Jump the gap and
exit.
========================= 5-2: So Distant =============================== D2
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 18:22.00
*For Overachievers: 14:14.04
Move right towards the ladder. Climb up. Pause while standing on the
switch. Give it a good two-count and throw the switch. REWIND x8 to when
you were climbing the ladder. Climb and move all the way to left. Your
shadow will throw the switch so you can run under, climb the lattice and
claim the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Drop down and move to the right. Wait for the goomba to approach the
platform with the switch on it. Bounce off of him and throw the switch.
Rewind to just before you took the goomba out. Your shadow will bounce on
the goomba's shadow, leaving you free to bounce on the goomba, run under the
gate, climb the lattice and collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Drop down and
exit the level.
========================= 5-3: (Man Holding Key) ======================= D3
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, SECOND IS TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 18:52.00
*For Overachievers: 14:43.54
Move to the right, climbing the lattice to the second level. Move to the
right, approach the gap and drop down to where the KEY rests. Pick up the
key, move left and jump as far as you can over the fiery pit. As soon as you
die, REWIND x8 back to the TOP OF THE LATTICE. CLIMB down to the RIGHTMOST
EDGE jutting out over the fiery pit. Your shadow will pick up the key, jump
over the pit and hand it to you. Climb the lattice, open the door on the
left and grab the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE, and in my opinion, the coolest one in
the game to solve :)
Move right along the platform. Drop down to where the key used to be. Move
right, underneath the boxed-in room thing the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE is inside
of. Approach the ladder and JUMP. If you time it right, you'll spring off
the top of the death bunny so cunningly placed at the base of the ladder. If
not, just rewind and try again. You'll get it after two shots or so.
Anyway, collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE and REWIND x8 to just before you
dropped down from the upper level. Cross the top of the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE
ROOM, jump on the platforms towards the door and exit.
========================= 5-4: Crossing the Gap ==========================
D4
-- 3 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 19:24.00
*For Overachievers: 15:16:39
There are two ways to play this level. One involves using a glitch involving
a ladder to quickly get one of the puzzle pieces. Though I admit using the
glitch is the faster method, I, for one, have found it to be unreliable. I
cannot get it to work every time, and so I choose instead to present a method
I know to work every single time.
***If you would like to see an example of this "ladder glitch" technique,
many videos exist on YouTube. Please do not email me asking questions about
it. Your email will be promptly deleted and I will not get back to you***
Move to the right, jumping up to the staggered platform without using the
ladder. Climb the next ladder you come across and move to the left. Climb
the ladder and continue to the left past the switch and the moveable
platform. Fall or jump down and stomp on the goomba below.
REWIND x8 to the point where you were by the switch. As soon as your shadow
falls below the moveable platform, hit the SWITCH and jump across the
platform to the GOOMBA CANNON. Bounce off the newly spawned goomba's head to
reach the platform holding the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
From here, jump off to the right, towards the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Another
goomba should have spawned below and walked across the moveable platform and
the SHADOW PLATFORM behind it to approach the carpet-looking thing holding
the ladder up to the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE. Bounce on the goomba's head to
reach the ladder and claim the piece.
Jump to the ground level far below. You want to position yourself so you're
standing a body-length away from the overhanging platform just above your
head. As the next goomba approaches, hit the REWIND button for a split
second to create a STATIONARY SHADOW of yourself on that spot. Climb the
ladder to the TOP of the overhanging platforms. As the goomba falls onto
your shadow below, he'll BOUNCE UP. You want to JUMP onto him from above,
launching yourself towards the platform on the RIGHT holding the THIRD PUZZLE
PIECE. Collect it, then drop down and exit the level.
========================= 5-5: Window of Opportunity =================== D5
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 20:12.00
*For Overachievers: 16:07.48
Bound up the couple platforms on the right and climb the ladder to reach the
highest platform. Move right until you reach the gap. Jump the gap and
stomp the approaching goomba to take the KEY. Fall down the ladder and move
to the GLOWING PINK DOOR and open it. REWIND x8 to the point where you JUST
took the key. This time, fall down to the platform with the NON-GLOWING
door. Open it, run through to the left, jump off the top of the GLOWING DOOR
to reach the ladder. Climb up and move to the left to activate the SWITCH.
Move right through the NOW-OPEN GLOWING DOOR. Climb the ladder, jump the gap
on the left, and move back to the beginning of the level to claim the FIRST
PUZZLE PIECE.
Climb the ladder to the highest platform. Move ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT,
jumping the second gap. Fall down the next ladder you come across. Run
through the "room" towards the switch that's above your reach. Stand beneath
it, count to 2 and press "B".
REWIND x8 to the point right before you fell down the last ladder. Move
across the top of the room and activate the SWITCH IMMEDITATELY. Jump on the
platform to your right. Your shadow should activate the switch in the room
beneath you, raising you up towards the platform with the SECOND PUZZLE
PIECE. Grab it, fall to the ground level and exit.
========================= 5-6: Lair =================================== D6
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 21:23.00
*For Overachievers: 17:03.23
Like I said before, I find this to be the easier of the two Bosses in the
game. Here's how I do it:
Cross the gap and climb the lattice over into the Boss's lair. This time,
you WANT to approach him and wake him up. When he does get up, climb the
lattice and drop the LEFT CHANDELIER on him. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HITS,
REWIND until it looks like you haven't done it yet. Move to the RIGHT
CHANDELIER. Your shadow, meanwhile, drops the LEFT SHADOW CHANDELIER on the
Boss, sending him your way. When he's in range, drop the RIGHT CHANDELIER.
AS SOON AS IT HITS HIM, REWIND a SPLIT SECOND BACK and "BOUNCE" the
CHANDELIER onto him again.
Two points of damage in 3 seconds. Move over to the LEFT CHANDELIER and
REPEAT and this Boss is Toast in ten seconds, flat.
Grab his key and move to the left. Watch out for the goombas on the ground.
They can be hard to spot in the debris and they're probably looking for
revenge right now. Climb the lattice and open the door to the left near
where you entered the level. Run to the switch, give yourself a count of two
and PULL IT.
REWIND x8 back to when you JUST picked up the KEY. This time, move to the
RIGHT, unlock the door leading out of the level, and you'll notice at the top
of the hill a gate blocking the puzzle piece. Wait... your shadow just
activated the switch. Hurry up and grab the PUZZLE PIECE before the gate
falls and exit the level.
========================= 5-7: Fragile Companion ======================= D7
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 22:08.00
*For Overachievers: 17:40.52
Thankfully, this level isn't anywhere NEAR as annoying as the other
"companion" level. Climb the lattice and claim the KEY from the goomba in
whatever way you see fit. Drop to the level below with the doors. Approach
the first door, and JUST before you touch it with the key, REWIND for a split
second. Your shadow will unlock the first door, leaving you free to unlock
the second door and take the PUZZLE PIECE. Now, just backtrack down the
ladder, move to the right and raise the flag over World Five. We're done
here.
/////////////This time, you're gonna want to have the Dpad or Stick pointing
RIGHT as you press "A" to return to the house. The Puzzle Boards on the
bottom floor of the house are both to the RIGHT of their respective
doors/////////
At the END OF WORLD FIVE:
*Target Time: 22:28.00
*For Overachievers: 18:08.70
========================= WORLD SIX: HESITANCE ========================= S8
========================= 6-1: The Pit ================================= E1
-- No Puzzle Pieces --
*Target Start Time: 22:32.00
*For Overachievers: 18:12.38
Not much to do here. Just cross the pit and onto the next level.
========================= 6-2: There and Back Again ==================== E2
-- 1 Puzzle Piece, Not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 22:37.00
*For Overachievers: 18:16.53
Kind of like the puzzle from World 3-2. Climb the lattice, but this time,
head toward the platform with the door. About a body-length onto the
platform, DROP your RING. Now just make your way up to the KEY, avoiding the
baddies, especially the death bunny under the CANNON. Return with the key to
the platform with the door, picking up your RING as soon as you pass by it.
Unlock the door, take the PUZZLE PIECE and move on to the next level.
========================= 6-3: Phase? =================================== E3
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 23:09.00
*For Overachievers: 18:50.22
Climb the lattice, land on the platform and jump onto the approaching cloud.
IMMEDIATELY DROP your RING. BEGIN RUNNING toward the right. At the edge of
the cloud, JUMP to the right. Time should slow you enough to give you a safe
landing on the next approaching cloud. From there, jump to the cannon and
collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
*****Here, I always find it easier to drop to the ground, move all the way to
the left, and exit and re-enter this level. It resets everything and gets
rid of that pesky time-slowing ring we left behind.*****
Re-entering the level, move to the right. Climb the lattice to the TOP
platform. Just barely to the left of the conveniently-placed daisy, DROP
your RING. Climb the lattice down to the platform beneath. Jump on the
approaching cloud, and then, just before it dissipates, run and JUMP from
it's rightmost edge toward the right. You will pass through the ring's
stasis field and will slow down enough to land on the next incoming cloud.
From there, jump to the cannon, collect the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE and move on
to the next level.
========================= 6-4: Cascade ================================= E4
-- 3 Puzzle Pieces, SECOND IS TIME-INDEPENDENT --
*Target Start Time: 24:34.00
*For Overachievers: 19:41.75
Run to the ladder, and avoiding all the cannon fire, make your way up to the
top level. Move to the LEFT, carefully jumping over the fiery pit and
avoiding the flying goombas. You want to lay your RING down EXACTLY THREE
BODY-LENGTHS from the CANNON. JUMP into the air and BOUNCE off the next
approaching goomba. Time will slow down the rate of your decent. You'll be
falling just in enough time to bounce off a SECOND GOOMBA, which will give
you enough height to reach the upper platform and claim the FIRST PUZZLE
PIECE.
PICK UP YOUR RING and move to the right, jumping over the fiery pit and
coming to rest just to the RIGHT of the platform above with the goomba
cannon. When the cannon fires, let the goomba fall onto the level with you,
then jump on it's head to land on the same platform as the goomba cannon.
When the next goomba spawns, jump over it and let it fall to the platform you
just came from. Before it can fall again, jump on it to LAUNCH YOURSELF to
the UPPER PLATFORM ON THE RIGHT. Take the KEY, and fall down to the platform
below that's in the FIRING LINE of the FIREBALL CANNON.
Jump over to the FIREBALL CANNON all the way to the RIGHT. The idea here is
to time it so a goomba falling from above can land on the platform this
cannon is firing onto without getting killed. DROP YOUR RING when the timing
is right, then jump over to the platform, stomp your goomba on it's head and
collect the SECOND, TIME-INDEPENDENT PUZZLE PIECE.
Since Jonathan Blow took mercy on us here for having to time that last little
bit, simply REWIND to a point where you didn't jump on the goomba yet. Let
it fall to the level below, then pick up your ring and follow. When it moves
to the left and falls once more to the BOTTOM LEVEL, jump on it's head to
LAUNCH YOURSELF to the top of the cannon hovering over the fiery pit. DROP
YOUR RING and time your jump so you can land on the platform to the left
without getting incinerated by the onslaught of FIREBALLS. Run down the
tight corridor, unlock the door, and activate the switch.
Wait for the fireball to clear the hallway you need to travel down, then make
a mad dash to the ladder. Avoiding the barrage, climb to the top, move left,
jumping over the fiery pit, avoiding the flying goombas and hurdling the
cannon. Fall down the gap above the door you used to enter the level and
collect the THIRD PUZZLE PIECE.
*****Here, I exit and re-enter the level to get rid of the effects of the
time ring I left on top of the cannon.***
Move along the ground level all the way to the right and exit.
========================= 6-5: Impassable Foliage ======================= E5
-- 2 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 26:59.00
*For Overachievers: 21:20.14
The beginning of this one is kinda like that puzzle from World 3-6,
"Irreversible". You want to DROP your RING underneath the one platform
MOVING UP. It needs to stay there until the platform MOVING LEFT is above
the Astronaut or Knight-thing's shoulder. Or you could just kill the goomba
and the bunny and then PICK UP the ring. Both ways work well. Anyway, after
you've done that, climb the ladder and move to the... right? Yup. After all
that work, we're not even going for that PUZZLE PIECE yet. See, we'd have to
wait for the LEFT-MOVING PLATFORM to get alllllll the way over to the left to
collect the piece, and time wasted, is, well, time wasted in a Speedrun, so
climb to the top of the platforms and move all the way to the right to find
the next puzzle.
So for this one, the plants are slaves to time and the goombas are TIME-
INDEPENDENT. So that means, basically, you can control the plants, but not
the goombas. Here's how I did it.
When the RIGHT-MOST PLANT is DOWN, FREEZE TIME. LET GOOMBA #1 PASS.
Let time resume.
When the MIDDLE PLANT is DOWN, FREEZE TIME. LET GOOMBA #1 PASS.
Let time resume.
When the RIGHT-MOST PLANT and the LEFT-MOST PLANT are DOWN, FREEZE TIME. LET
GOOMBA #1 Pass and fall onto the platform with the puzzle piece while GOOMBA
#2 moves towards the MIDDLE PLANT.
Let time resume.
When the MIDDLE PLANT IS DOWN, FREEZE TIME. LET GOOMBA #2 PASS.
And finally, the LEFT-MOST PLANT should also be DOWN while TIME is still
FROZEN. LET GOOMBA #2 PASS and fall onto the platform with the puzzle piece.
Okay, so now you might see a problem. See, that platform with the puzzle
piece is too high to jump to with just one goomba, and the space separating
the two is too much to get a double jump off of them. Not so. Here's what
to do: When GOOMBA #1 is about to march past useful range, JUMP on him to
get the BOUNCE. Now, either FREEZE TIME or do the CONSTANT REWIND trick
AFTER --- REPEAT --- AFTER Tim has reached the top of his bounce and IS ON
THE WAY DOWN. Now, when GOOMBA #2 passes beneath you, just bounce on him
like he was right behind GOOMBA #1 and you'll reach the platform the FIRST
PUZZLE PIECE is on. Magic.
With that done, return to the first puzzle we were working on. Climb down
the ladder to the platform underneath the fast-moving plant. DROP your RING
beneath the plant, then climb the ladder and wait for it to retreat into it's
pipe so you can pass. Watch out for the falling goombas as you move to the
left and COLLECT the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE.
Forget about the RING as you move to the right and this level's exit. Just
don't forget to jump to avoid the death bunny cleverly hidden underneath the
Puzzle Box area.
========================== 6-6: Elevator Action ======================== E6
-- 3 Puzzle Pieces, 0 Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 28:28:00
*For Overachievers: 22:54.49
Using the system of ladders, work your way to the top of the maze, being
careful not to incinerate yourself along the way. At the top, activate the
switch and ride the platform down to the KEY. Watch out for the death bunny
hiding right underneath the KEY. Grab it, activate the switch, then ride the
platform back up to the top. DROP your RING at the RIGHT edge of the
platform, then pull the lever. As the platform slowly descends, the ring
will slow the cannon's rate of fire, allowing you to pass through easier.
Still, be careful. It's ALWAYS more time-efficient to wait out an oncoming
fireball than to rush through and have to rewind and take twice the time.
When you get to the bottom, collect your ring from underneath platform (Jump
underneath it if you don't get the option by just walking by). Climb the
ladder, unlock the door and collect the FIRST PUZZLE PIECE.
Moving all the way to the right, we find a whole bunch of ladders and
elevators. Climb the ladder furthest to the right. Jump up to the platform
with the switch on it. IMMEDIATELY UNDERNEATH THE CANNON, DROP your ring,
THEN pull the switch. Jump to the UP-DOWN moving platform, which will make
you TIME INDEPENDENT. REWIND x4 until the platform is at it's original
position, but your RING is still under the cannon. If your ring disappears,
you went back too far and have to try again.
Avoid the incoming cannon fire and jump to claim the SECOND PUZZLE PIECE
above the cannon.
Fall to the platform with the switch, below. PICK UP your RING. Activate
the switch. Jump once again to the UP-DOWN platform. REWIND x4 until the
platform is halfway to it's original position. Release the "X" button and
IMMEDIATELY DROP your RING. The UP-DOWN PLATFORM will move slowly, but the
LEFT-MOVING PLATFORM will zoom by beneath. As soon as the LEFT-MOVING
PLATFORM has enough clearance to slide under the UP-DOWN PLATFORM, PICK UP
your RING. Climb the ladder to the switch above you to release a ladder
further to your left, which will come to rest on the ground level, leading up
to the now-stopped LEFT-MOVING PLATFORM.
Drop down and climb that new ladder up to the LEFT-MOVING PLATFORM. Standing
on this platform makes you TIME-INDEPENDENT. REWIND x4 until the ladder you
just climbed up was falling. QUICKLY jump onto that ladder, REWIND x4 again,
and JUMP OFF TO THE LEFT as you fall towards the alcove containing the THIRD
PUZZLE PIECE. Pick it up, drop to the ground and exit the level.
========================== 6-7: In Another Castle ====================== E7
--1 Puzzle Piece, not Time-Independent --
*Target Start Time: 31:04.00
*For Overachievers: 24:25.68
Last Puzzle piece! And both times are WELL under 45 minutes right now.
Climb the ladder and move all the way to the RIGHT at the top of the
platform. DROP you Ring. Give it a good 4 to 5 count and pick it up again.
Drop down to the ground level. Jump over the fiery pit and DROP your RING by
the CANNON. When the coast is clear, climb the ladder and stand on the
GLOWING, TIME-INDEPENDENCE GRANTING AREA. REWIND x8 until your RING APPEARS
at the top of the LEFT PLATFORM where you ORIGINALY LAID IT DOWN.
IMMEDIATELY get out of rewind, pull the nearby switch, jump down and wait by
the fiery pit. When the ring and the key fall together, jump over the pit,
hit "Y" to claim the ring and you'll land holding the key as well. Now just
drop the ring by the cannon again, climb the ladder, unlock the door and
claim the FINAL PUZZLE PIECE.
Move all the way to the right (forget about the ring) to shockingly be told
that the Princess must be in another castle.
///////////////And don't forget to hold RIGHT on the Dpad or Stick when
you're ready to go back to the house//////
At the END OF WORLD SIX:
*Target Time: 32:11.00
*For Overachievers: 26:07.43
========================= WORLD ONE and EPILOGUE ======================== S9
Assuming you've been assembling the puzzles after each World, the ladder to
the attic and World One should be completed now. Since the last levels are
fairly straightforward, I won't offer much in the way of a "walkthrough",
I'll just note a few common ways to take a second or two off your time.
Every little bit helps.
========================= 1-4: (Full Lotus) ============================= F1
Note where the goombas rise up from the ground. Run IMMEDIATELY towards that
spot and JUMP at it like you were going to stomp on a goomba that was there.
If you did this RIGHT AWAY as soon as you entered this level, a goomba will
have spawned beneath you and you'll spring up to the door right away.
========================= 1-3: (2/3 Lotus) ============================= F2
Stop one goomba from flying up to the cannon. Climb the ladder, stomp him
and LAUNCH yourself towards the door.
========================= 1-2: (1/3 Lotus) ============================= F3
Stop TWO goombas from flying up to the cannon. Ride one up to the first
platform and TRY to bounce IMMEDIATELY to the second platform by the cannon
from that SAME goomba. That way, when that first goomba gets sucked towards
the cannon, you can jump on him to LAUNCH yourself towards the door instead
of waiting for the second one to get up there. It saves about 10 seconds if
you can do it the first way, but if you miss it, it's not that big of a deal.
That's why you had your second gooma ready as a backup.
========================= 1-1: Braid ==================================== F4
*Target Start Time: 33:19.00
*For Overachievers: 27:06.00
Okay. The last level. It's completely straightforward. Use all the
instincts you've developed in your Speedruns so far to cut the last few
seconds you can off your time. Remember:
** It's faster to fall off of ladders than climb down one.
** It's faster to fall off of lattice than climb down it, but you have to
CONTINUOUSLY HOLD DOWN, else Tim will grab the lattice again if you're moving
in ANY DIRECTION along it.
** You HAVE to hold down "X" from the time you touch the platform outside the
Princess's window until the screen flashes RED when you reach the "beginning"
of the level again. If you let go of "X" at any time during that sequence,
the action on screen will stop, but the clock will keep running. Don't lose
your hard earned seconds by doing something like this.
>>>>>>>>>>>>From the top of this level until you reach the final door in the
Epilogue, count on adding about 4 minutes and 20 seconds to your time. So,
if you start this level and your time reads 43:40.00, and you're going for
the Challenge Time of 45 Minutes, you might as well restart and try again,
since your time cannot possibly be any faster than 48:00.00.<<<<<<<<<<<<
======================== Epilogue ======================================= F5
Not much to do here. I've had one of three scenarios play out in this level
every time I've played a speedrun:
1) This level isn't even seen since I restarted, realizing I wasn't going to
set a new time record.
2) This level becomes a nail-biting, mad dash to the finish when I'm just a
few seconds under my last best time.
3) This level amounts to a victory march, since I've so thoroughly destroyed
my past record.
Needless to say, Scenario 1 plays out MUCH more frequently than do the
others....
If you took the time to read this guide and really practice some of the
things I've suggested, hopefully you'll get a lot more 2s and 3s now :)
If you've been following along with the times, here's what it should read:
At the END OF THE GAME:
*Target Time: 37:40.00
*For Overachievers: 31:36.93
Both times are *well* under the 45 minute Challenge time.
=========================== ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS =========================== S10
** Jonathan Blow and NumberNone for creating this amazing game that has
quickly become one of my favorites. I cannot wait to see what you guys do
next!
**KILLMOTRON for introducing me to this game in the first place and telling
me I should write this guide.
**XG3 for his incredibly well thought-out take on this game's story.
**And last, but certainly not least, Klaus Teuber for constantly challenging
me to lower my time and giving me a reason to shoot for the Top 10 in the
first place. Two more and you're in.
============================ HISTORY/LEGAL ============================== S11
Version History: 1.0 (10/13/08) First Version of this Guide completed
This guide is copyright (c) 2008 by Anathema 09.
This guide is meant for personal use only.
It is only meant to be hosted on GameFAQs.com. Any other site, person, or
entity wishing to post, publish, broadcast, or transmit this guide in any way
is prohibited without the author's explicit permission.
Contact: [email protected]
Contact clarification: Do not email me asking questions without indicating
"Braid Speedrun" in the title. I will not respond. Do not email me
gibberish. I will not respond. Do not write to me unless you speak English,
as that is the only language I speak and will not make an attempt to learn
yours just for the sake of answering a question. That all being said, if you
have a LEGITIMATE question, comment, or concern about this guide, feel free
to drop me a line. I never mind hearing from sane people who want to be
better gamers.
I hope you found this guide helpful and you enjoyed this game as much as I
did.
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