I disagree that Braid easily deserves a 10/10. I've already lost interest in it (I'll come back to it at some point). The game's puzzles aren't clever at all. The only thing that makes it difficult is that the game doesn't fucking tell you anything about your powers or the rules of the world, so you have to figure out some bullshit (like stepping on a puzzle piece) that make no sense. I much prefer World of Goo in the downloadable puzzle game department.
I also disagree that Bethesda works hard at their games. Oblivion could have been made with some leftover Morrowind code and a map editor, and they made no attempt to preserve the diplomacy aspects of Fallout 1 and 2 (which could be beaten without every fighting if you wanted).
They take the easy path of game development. Focus on the combat and make everything really big and shiny (even if that size is empty of content) and the hardcore teenagers won't give a damn if everything else is lacking.
