Mirrors edge has the advantage that many other games would give up a lot to have – it’s one of a kind. Never before or ever since has a parkour based game released and received such a following. Mirrors edge combined everything: stunning visuals, unique ideas, second to none gameplay mechanics and great control.
Game creators “Dice” responsible for the Battlefield series dipped their feet in to the adventure/exploration genre with a game like no other. You take control of a 24 year old girl/female named Faith Connors as she fights her battle against the oppressive, dictatorship regime that has occupied the city and the country. Faith’s parents protested against the regime, but were killed in progress which is probably the greatest motivator for Faith to fight against the oppressive government. Revenge. While the story isn’t the most detailed or the most dialogue heavy, it feels realistic and the game’s environment fits with the narratives perfectly. Heavily stylized buildings, platforms and rooms feel that type of way and grant you the belief that this is truly the strange world of Faith Connors.
Talking about controls. You feel like you’re really controlling Faith as she makes her leaps across buildings, runs on beams, climbs pipes and walks on the edge. With only a few buttons at play it might seem that the control system isn’t very skill demanding, but in reality, mastering it is a long and hard grind that is going to take you a lot of in game hours. The rewards though… You can’t describe the feeling after nailing a climb, run, jump, land, roll sequence. It gives you instant satisfaction and makes Faith feel almost like a superhero. Great First Person POV perspective and camera trickery are two of the greatest immersion factors in the game. It’s a guilty sin to not try out Mirrors Edge with a controller as the keyboard takes away the force feedback and some rotation combos. The fact that after a roll or a complicated movement you see a leg, an arm or some part of Faith’s body in the shot is also very cool and just adds to the mood.
The whole game takes place in the city, Faith has to invade corporations, chase criminals and seek vengeance for her dead parents. Although after some time the tasks and the parkouring can get repetitive there are some redeeming factors to the whole experience. For instance, the colors are vivid and make you really feel like the totalitarian regime is in power. Guns are rare and scarce, you have to use ingenuity and your superior physical abilities and skills to take down enemies. Using reaction time to beat the enemies can be interesting, but gun combat is lackluster at best as the AI enemies usually just stand there and can’t do anything. The game is decent in length, not as extensive as a GTA or a Far Cry, but Dice has really had a tendency with shorter campaigns and focusing on other game parts. In total, the completion of Mirror’s Edge should take you about 6 and a half hours. It’s a bit sad that there is no actual activities to do after you finish the story which is a hit or miss, depending on how you look at it.
To sum it up, it is a very good game that you must try out. Of course Mirrors Edge has its flaws, but the value that it provides greatly surpasses any drawbacks.
Grade: 8.2/10