The Witness (the new game from the makers of Braid) looks ace, probably won't have Harrison Ford or the Amish

I'll level with you. I love Braid to an unhealthy degree. When I'm not waxing lyrical about how its story is a thinly veiled metaphor for the creation of the Atomic Bomb, I'm trying to improve my speed runs on it or drawing pictures of me and main character Tim spoonin... actually, you don't need to know about that last one <cough>. So the news that its creator's new game, currently titled The Witness, made a stealthy showing at PAX last week has me happy as a dapper gentleman in a time dilation bubble. Read below for video and latest details on the incredible looking puzzler.

In what must be one of the sneakiest unveilings ever, creator Jonathan Blow set up a non descript area with a TV and 360 pad in front of it at Penny Arcade's event. No advertising, no posters saying 'ZOMFG! Play the new game from the guy behind Braid', no fanfare. On his blog, Blow said he wanted players to go into The Witness with a clear mind, free from the hype of knowing this was a spiritual successor to Braid of sorts.

Above: That's some stealthy shit right there

Blow said: "PAX is a huge show, with tons of stuff to see everywhere; if the game could hold peoples’ attention under those conditions, purely on its own merits rather than by hype or pedigree, then I would know that it was really working."

Above:Cheers to Kotaku for the video

Honestly, we're not sure what The Witness is about yet. The goal seems to be explore the beautiful, yet strangely abandoned island while solving route puzzles which appear on blue tiles. If there's one thing we can be sure of, its that the game will probably give us migraines trying to solve all its mysteries... in a good, Braid-eqsue way. Also, how dang purdy does it look? For some reason, the art style reminds us a little bit of Flower and also of Ethan's stupidly pristine house and garden from Heavy Rain.

Above: If Blow can transfer half of this game's genius into Witness, we'll be looking at another classic

Anyhoo, we've little doubt Blow's latest project will be essential fare, regardless of whether it comes out as a full priced game or on XBLA/PSN. Still, we can't finish an article about a game called The Witness and not put in a semi obscure reference to a 25 year-old Harrison Ford flick...

Above: No one messes with The Han

Sep 7, 2010