LITV Reviews: Mirror's Edge

[Lost In The Void]

[HEADING=1]Mirror's Edge[/HEADING]​

Versions Reviewed
Xbox 360
PC [Steam]

Do you remember the good days of EA? When the old CEO was out and John Riccitiello was saying all sorts of wonderful things? How we rejoiced that the exploitation of our favourite franchises would end and new IPs would spring from the waters of EA and bring gaming back. Yeah 2008 was a pretty idealistic year. Unfortunately such a magical thing never came to fruition, but we did get one new IP out the door before the name raping began. Mirror?s Edge was a first person platformer, for lack of a better word, developed by DICE and released on the 360, PS3 and PC.

[IMG_inline caption="The City's full of interesting stunts to pull off" height=300 width=400]http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/542942346020625883/A4C1021D255123E2346AF65737FA8D14EAC5B76A/1024x768.resizedimage[/IMG_inline]

Mirror?s Edge takes place in a near future city in which it is implied that Big Brother takes a larger role than most feel comfortable admitting. The stark white buildings, bright bloom and overall sterile feel to the buildings you travel on and through do wonders to build this idealistic looking city that is perhaps a little too clean. While the setting is beautiful and immersing, the sheer brightness will mess with more than a few players? eyes.

You play as Faith, a member of a group of package runners that deliver sensitive information and items across the city, usually by way of parkour over the city?s rooftops. Her character design is one that should be examined and emulated by current developers. DICE managed to create a character that could be fit and capable and even attractive without the hyper-sexuality that seems to plague the industry. It?s a shame we don?t get to learn more about her, the game tries to characterize her but ultimately falls flat with a mix of lacking clarity and a subpar execution of the plot.

The game starts off with a light tutorial to get you acquainted with the controls. Your basic movements are jumping, ducking/sliding, strikes and counters. However, context sensitive combos related to walls and objects can result in much more efficient and beautiful parkour moves such as wall running and spin jumps. The controls feel tight but the inability to really see where you?re running without looking down can really hinder the timing of the jumps. This is a particularly frustrating fault due to the game?s need for absolute precision during some of the levels and you will find yourself repeating some sections more than enough times. Faith?s counter attacks against police and security can be used to obtain firearms, which are useful in a pinch but should not be relied upon. There is also an achievement for playing the game without killing a single person, so it is possible to play the game without weapons.

[IMG_inline caption "The Sharp contrast of white and red give you a great idea of where to go" height=300 width=400]http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542942346020643776/6C77F480E919B2460E7FBBA08F1EBF4C030CD87E/1024x768.resizedimage[/IMG_inline]​

Once the tutorial is completed, the plot is set up, Faith?s sister is framed for a murder she didn?t commit and Faith does her best to unravel the conspiracy around this assassination and the reason that Faith?s sister was targeted. While the plot has the potential to expand and explore the setting of the game, ultimately we?re only given flashes of the world and are left wanting; made even more aggravating by a cliff hanger ending.

As far as technical issues go, the game is fairly clean. While the 360 version didn?t suffer from any drops, I found a few moments when the PC version slowed down and the frame rate stuttered for what appeared to be no more than some glass shattering.

All in all Mirror?s Edge was an experiment. Experiments are rarely flawless but often show promise and that is exactly what Mirror?s Edge is; promise and potential a touching lacking in polish. However it's still an excellent experience.

[HEADING=3]We exist between the glass and reality... The Mirror's Edge."[/HEADING]

Spoiler: Other Reviews by Lost in the Void

[HEADING=2]Games[/HEADING]
Sins of a Solar Empire [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.145037]
Dragon Age: Origins [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.161457]
MX vs ATV: Reflex [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.165581#comment_form]
Mass Effect 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.171506-Lost-in-the-Void-Presents-Mass-Effect-2#comment_form]
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.172605-Lost-in-the-Void-Presents-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic]
The Witcher: Director's Cut [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.206375-LITV-Presents-The-Witcher-Directors-Cut]
Golden Sun: The Lost Ages [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.207308-LITV-Rides-the-Epoch-Golden-Sun-The-Lost-Ages]
Amnesia: The Dark Descent [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.264458-LITVs-10-000th-Post-Review-Amnesia-The-Dark-Descent]
Dwarf Fortress [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.273815-LITV-Presents-Dwarf-Fortress]
Mount and Blade Warband [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.283804-LITV-Presents-Mount-and-Blade-Warband]
Katawa Shoujo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.337855-LITV-Presents-Katawa-Shoujo]
Vampires: The Masquerade: Bloodlines [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.340038-LITV-Presents-Vampires-The-Masquerade-RW-2nd-Place-Entry]

[HEADING=2]First Impression Reviews[/HEADING]

Bulletstorm [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.259669-Bulletstorm-First-Impressions]
Dragon Age 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.269033-LITV-Presents-Dragon-Age-2-First-Impressions#10316738]

[HEADING=2]Satirical Reviews[/HEADING]
The Ice Pick Lobotomy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.186914-LITV-Presents-The-Icepick-Lobotomy#5696492]

[HEADING=2]Literature Reviews[/HEADING]

Stephen King's Cujo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.268847-LITV-Reviews-Stephen-Kings-Cujo#10305683]

[HEADING=2]Television Reviews[/HEADING]

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book One: Water [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.316432-LITV-Reviews-Avatar-The-Last-Airbender-Book-One-Water]
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book Two: Earth [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.335275-LITV-Presents-Avatar-The-Last-Airbender-Season-2]