MIRROR'S EDGE (X360)
Mirror’s Edge proved an anomaly for both a risk-averse Electronic Arts and Swedish developer DICE, the latter feeling their four years of Battlefield titles might lead to stagnation. A first-person platformer focusing on solo play as opposed to military shooters focused on multiplayer, it proved a welcome change of pace. Of course, first-person perspectives and platforming haven’t always made for the easiest of bedfellows, with many a decent shooter undermined by wonky jumping. Luckily, DICE’s brand of free-running is top-notch, embedded in a memorable world and bolstered by a solid story. Ironically, it’s the gunfights and combat that hurt the experience, but those looking for a distinctive gem amongst the Xbox 360’s library should still check this out.
Although life is crime-free and peaceful for cooperative folks, The City is controlled heavily through media manipulation and strict rules to create this tranquillity. But an underground group of couriers known as Runners help transport goods and information outside of the law. Faith Connors is one such runner, under the guidance of Merc via radio, who is getting back on her feet after some sort of incident. However, downtime is short-lived as her twin sister (and officer of the law) Kate Connors is framed for the murder of a political candidate who threatens the oppressive regime in place. Faith must work around both pursuing law enforcement and other shadowy figures to clear her sister’s name before she is sent to jail. It’s a solid, conspiracy-laden thread that sees a few twists along the way. Stylish, if slightly out of place, animated scenes bookend each mission and boast very strong voicework and engaging writing, helping create a positive overall picture.
Mirror's Edge manages first-person platforming to unusually good effect. It's a fast-paced and exciting journey.
Mirror’s Edge looks to capture the thrill of parkour in a first-person perspective and achieves this feat rather well. Controlling Faith feels fluid, with little nuances to weight and acrobatic movements that feel natural and immersive. Tricks such as wall running, slides and swinging off poles also work very well. The Runner Vision offers guidance, with key objects Faith can run off being highlighted in red. It’s worth noting that Hard mode removes this guide, though. The incredible animations, the whirr of motion blur and the sense of speed from running and falling combine to make parkouring around the city immensely exhilarating. While some of the more cramped rooms can create a few headaches with movement and lining up your leap of faith, it’s never long enough to be noticeable. The best parts of the game see you evading police forces through chase sequences, and to say these are exciting would be an understatement, as you frantically sprint while dodging gunfire and hazards.
Mirror’s Edge also proves immediately striking thanks to its unique art style. While shooters were adopting a darker look with greys and browns around this time, this one serves the polar opposite with crisp whites and occasional primary colours that are equal parts surreal and striking. Open rooftops of flat white with primary-coloured adverts create a visual fever dream that hasn’t really been matched since. A frantic chase through a multicolour plaza, buoyed by striking blues and pinks, looks tremendous. Little touches, such as how all the enemies wear black to stand out from the surroundings, are also welcome. It helps that a lot of technical aspects are strong too, eschewing some of the limitations of Unreal Engine 3 such as slowdown and pop-in for the most part, and while characters and individual details aren’t always the best, it’s an excellent-looking game for 2008. The sound side is also top-notch, with Solar Field’s score proving dynamic and fluid, seamlessly transitioning between songs depending on the scenario and proving immensely compelling, while the sound effects such as the squeaking of trainers and Faith’s laboured breathing add further tension to the running.
Mirror’s Edge also proves immediately striking thanks to its unique art style. While shooters were adopting a darker look with greys and browns around this time, this one serves the polar opposite with crisp whites and occasional primary colours that are equal parts surreal and striking. Open rooftops of flat white with primary-coloured adverts create a visual fever dream that hasn’t really been matched since. A frantic chase through a multicolour plaza, buoyed by striking blues and pinks, looks tremendous. Little touches, such as how all the enemies wear black to stand out from the surroundings, are also welcome. It helps that a lot of technical aspects are strong too, eschewing some of the limitations of Unreal Engine 3 such as slowdown and pop-in for the most part, and while characters and individual details aren’t always the best, it’s an excellent-looking game for 2008. The sound side is also top-notch, with Solar Field’s score proving dynamic and fluid, seamlessly transitioning between songs depending on the scenario and proving immensely compelling, while the sound effects such as the squeaking of trainers and Faith’s laboured breathing add further tension to the running.
Sadly, the highs of this experience can be dampened by some noticeable issues. Sometimes, when running is not an option, you must face off with enemies in combat – be it patrolmen with pistols or snipers you must traverse to first. There are options here, as you can disarm guards with a timed counter and wield firearms to shoot them down as well as brawl with fists. But neither option feels particularly great, with gunplay overly heavy and suffering from lacklustre aiming while spotty collision detection can see strikes and disarms miss despite being close. The other issue comes from trial-and-error design. Faith is a fragile protagonist, and can be shot down rather quickly, so taking a wrong turn in combat can be frustrating. While combat causes the most headaches, platforming can also be challenging with one slightly off jump sending you back to a checkpoint. At least loading is pretty snappy, and you can eventually overcome these hurdles with patience.
Content also feels a bit scarce with this one. The main campaign boasts 9 chapters which you could breeze through in around six hours. Hard Mode unlocks after initial completion, and offers a stern challenge for those willing. The rest of the game is made up of time trials and speedruns. In the former, sections of the game are spliced away with new courses formed and plenty of opportunities for shortcuts, while the latter times an entire level replay and features some stiff qualifying times which allow little room for error. It’s this aspect and the aforementioned frustrations which make all these time-focused modes only really appealing for the dedicated, though nailing a perfect run and earning max marks is quite gratifying.
Content also feels a bit scarce with this one. The main campaign boasts 9 chapters which you could breeze through in around six hours. Hard Mode unlocks after initial completion, and offers a stern challenge for those willing. The rest of the game is made up of time trials and speedruns. In the former, sections of the game are spliced away with new courses formed and plenty of opportunities for shortcuts, while the latter times an entire level replay and features some stiff qualifying times which allow little room for error. It’s this aspect and the aforementioned frustrations which make all these time-focused modes only really appealing for the dedicated, though nailing a perfect run and earning max marks is quite gratifying.
Mirror’s Edge has become something of a cult classic, gaining appreciation in the years following its release after an initially modest run and reviews from critics. It’s a game that stood out amongst a growing crowd of darker shooters, offering some of the best platforming the perspective would see. Couple that with a distinctive art style, enjoyable story and outstanding immersion and it’s a gem that will please gamers who are after a unique experience. The sometimes-frustrating design and lacklustre combat are a shame, and less patient gamers might tire of this one more quickly, but those willing to bear these issues should enjoy this memorable, distinctive running game.
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VERDICT
"Whilst its combat is lacklustre at times, Mirror’s Edge mixes a striking art style, outstanding immersion and excellent platforming to great success." OVERALL: 8/10 |
PIXEL SECONDS: MIRROR'S EDGE (PS3)
Undoubtedly one of the coolest IPs to emerge from the seventh generation, Mirror’s Edge married a gorgeous, clean two-tone visual aesthetic with creative and at-times thrilling parkour platforming. This innovative, bright yet clinical dystopia not only looks incredibly distinctive, it plays quite unlike anything else, too. ME leads the player through a succession of exciting chases, played out across some marvellously evocative interiors including malls, metro stations, building sites and office blocks, whilst linking the city’s locations with bursts across rooftops. Fortunately, the game isn’t so expansive that it loses structure, offering clear and mostly intuitive routes throughout. This is important, as it means the spell of being involved in a cinematic, breakneck action sequence is rarely broken. Versatile mechanics and smart design ensure that there are numerous ways to tackle the game’s locations, and in this regard, it’s something of a speedrunner’s dream. Lead protagonist Faith is a tough and likeable lead, and whilst she’s less well-versed in gunplay, she comes into her own thanks to some impressive CQC sequences. If the combat doesn’t float your boat, there’s almost always the option to cut and run. The story ticks along at a good rate and, whilst there are fiddly and frustrating sections here and there, it’s mostly enthralling stuff. The post-completion Time Trials can feel a little brutal, but with trophies available for completing the game without firing a weapon, or for besting it on the hard setting, there’s ample reason to return. Original, stylish and super-playable: Mirror’s Edge has aged really well. [8] – Tom Clare © 2023
Undoubtedly one of the coolest IPs to emerge from the seventh generation, Mirror’s Edge married a gorgeous, clean two-tone visual aesthetic with creative and at-times thrilling parkour platforming. This innovative, bright yet clinical dystopia not only looks incredibly distinctive, it plays quite unlike anything else, too. ME leads the player through a succession of exciting chases, played out across some marvellously evocative interiors including malls, metro stations, building sites and office blocks, whilst linking the city’s locations with bursts across rooftops. Fortunately, the game isn’t so expansive that it loses structure, offering clear and mostly intuitive routes throughout. This is important, as it means the spell of being involved in a cinematic, breakneck action sequence is rarely broken. Versatile mechanics and smart design ensure that there are numerous ways to tackle the game’s locations, and in this regard, it’s something of a speedrunner’s dream. Lead protagonist Faith is a tough and likeable lead, and whilst she’s less well-versed in gunplay, she comes into her own thanks to some impressive CQC sequences. If the combat doesn’t float your boat, there’s almost always the option to cut and run. The story ticks along at a good rate and, whilst there are fiddly and frustrating sections here and there, it’s mostly enthralling stuff. The post-completion Time Trials can feel a little brutal, but with trophies available for completing the game without firing a weapon, or for besting it on the hard setting, there’s ample reason to return. Original, stylish and super-playable: Mirror’s Edge has aged really well. [8] – Tom Clare © 2023
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