At its core, The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a simple game; but out of that simplicity grows a game that is both incredibly fun and somewhat maddening.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom's look is as unique as its gameplay. The game's visuals are inspired by Edward Gorey's artwork, though not quite as macabre. Everything is in black-and-white and has a great silent movie look and sound. There's no dialogue (the story is told through simple word cards with a nonsensical, rhyming narrative) and the only sound you'll ever here is the jazzy, upbeat music. Levels resemble paper dioramas with a few moving parts. There's nothing overly complicated about the look, but like everything else, there's an amazing level of complexity to everything.

P.B. Winterbottom is a dastardly pie thief (just look at the top hat and mustache - how could he NOT be dastardly) who, in the midst of one of his greatest heists somehow taps into the time stream. I won't go any further, other than to say Winterbottom can be in multiple places at once. Not a bad trick, especially if you're a thief.

Winterbottom's adventure through time is split up into five areas, each with ten levels. The setup is similar to Braid. Each set of ten is built around one concept; beginning with a simple application and eventually growing into a multi-part brain-buster. For example, one group may revolve around pies only Winterbottom's clones can reach. One puzzle may involve using a clone to enter an area while Winterbottom holds down a switch, while another may involve setting up a complicated Rube Goldberg device involving multiple instances of clones set up in an elaborate pattern.

There's plenty of variety in puzzles. New concepts are introduced just as fast as they're thrown away. This helps keep areas fresh and offers some motivation to keep moving forward. Though you may quit because you're stuck on a puzzle, you'll rarely stop playing out of boredom.

Playing through Story levels unlocks Challenges, which are much harder than those you'll find in Story. Well, almost. The catch to Challenge missions is you're rated based on how many Clones or how long it takes to complete a level. They may look simple on the surface, but add a time limit and you suddenly get really stupid with choices.

What's really great about puzzles is many can be solved using different solutions. Although each level is static in design, there's a lot of flexibility when creating clones. You might reach a high area by having a clone smack Winterbottom with his umbrella or by using a stationary (or jumping) clone as a platform. The flexibility is great, but the game still manages to present a lot of challenges. You may need to step away and sleep on a few puzzles or - if you're so inclined - scour the Internet for other player's solutions. This option is, of course, discouraged since seeing someone else's solution ruins the game.

Levels are usually paced really well, but there are bouts of inconsistency. One puzzle may take you a few hours to overcome while you may complete the following puzzle on your first try. On one hand, the inconsistent pacing does add some encouragement to keep going, but it also feels wrong when you're met with a really tricky puzzle on the second or third level after a new concept is introduced.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is, again, a very simple concept. Winterbottom can run, jump, hit things with his umbrella or glide short distances. When Winterbottom's ability to clone himself enters the picture, these simple moves become incredibly versatile.

Holding (RT) at any time during a level cues the game to begin recording Winterbottom's actions. Once the trigger is released, a blue clone will appear in the place you began recording and mimic your moves up until you stopped. There's no real limit to how long you can record and clones are able to perform actions Winterbottom can't. If you record a clone riding a platform, he'll still mimic the motion even if there's no platform. Even better, Winterbottom can then use the clone as a platform. The number of solutions that grow out of a relatively small move set is impressive and adds a lot of replay value. The only restrictions are those set in the level, such as how many clones.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a fantastic game and something everyone should play. The puzzles may seem intimidating and even a bit frustrating, but the joy of cracking puzzles outweighs the headaches that come with banging your head against the wall.