Mirror's Edge: Concluded

If you frequent other games blogs or news sites I'm sure you will have read plenty of Mirrors Edge commentary. It mainly centers around the fact that the main protagonist is female, and the whole Mirrors Edge experience is a fresh and new take on a crowded genre.

When I first heard about Mirrors Edge I was skeptical: how can a game succeed where so many others have failed? Jumping, in FSP games is generally a complete nightmare and so I thought DICE would have to do something very special with Mirrors Edge.

When it works, Mirrors Edge is an experience like no other. Once the tutorial is over, you are handed the freedom of the city, and once you get a handle on the controls you're away, jumping over railings, teetering hundreds of feet in the air on narrow ledges, sliding under pipes, fighting, running, RUNNING. It's an exhilerating experience quite unlike anything in any other game.

When it doesn't work, it's frustrating. Let me repeat that. When it doesn't work, it's FRUSTRATING. As I said pelting along at a fair whack, sliding and jumping is an amazing experience, but then it all comes to a screeching halt with one slightly mistimed jump. Or a mistaken move. Retry, same again. Retry, same again. Be prepared to do this a lot, because in the world of Mirrors Edge retrying is as natural a mechanic as parkour.

Mirrors Edge is set in a clean, dystopian future, and the main character is Faith, a member of an underground society and is known as a 'runner'. The visuals are spectacular, with not a hint of slowdown or draw distance problems, however be prepared for a lot of repetition in these environments, and some of the areas are uninspired to say the least.

Violence was also an issue to me. I have the distinct feeling that DICE intended Mirrors Edge to be only about the parkour: no guns involved, but top brass were afraid that an FPS with the S wouldn't sell so the changes were made. I intended to complete the game without using any of the weapons; just using non-lethal force to overcome the enemies however this proved pretty much impossible. Shooting and fighting isn't very well implemented, so if that's what you're looking for move along please.

The story is quite engaging with plenty of twists and turns. It centres around Faith's trying to clear her sister's name who, as a policewoman, was framed for the murder of a politician (it might have even been the mayor, I'm not sure). I started off with the best intentions, but ended up skipping the admittedly excellent cutscenes towards the end. I'm fickle like that.

All in all Mirrors Edge feels like an opportunity missed, and if a franchise is intended one would hope that DICE are allowed, and take, the opportunity to make something very special indeed.