Mirror's Edge Review

6.5 out of 10









When I first saw footage of EA's first-person action adventure title Mirror's Edge it looked to be a refreshing and unique experience.

It looked to be a first-person shooter minus the shooting and adding exciting acrobatics likened to the Prince of Persia series.

To top it all off, amazing visuals that helped to propel this action certainly made this a game I was eager to get my hands on - that was before I had to play it.

This is a game to which the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" could easily be applied. However, in this case, the book is a frustrating read to the extent that it would have been better to just gaze at it from the shelf.

Metaphors aside, Mirror's Edge is a good looking game with a refreshing twist on a tired genre but is mortally hindered due to frustrating and redundant game play.

You play as Faith, a "Runner" in an unnamed city of tomorrow plagued by an all watching surveillance government. As a "Runner" you retrieve all forms of objects and literally run them through buildings and across rooftops to transport them from place-to-place.

The action starts as Faith's sister - Kate - is framed for a murder that eventually unveils a plot that threatens the way of life for the acrobatic urban ninja crew of "Runners."

The plot is not very important and adds little to the game's nearly identical nine missions. Each mission typically consists of Faith jumping from building-to-building reaching her destination to only be met with resistance shortly after arrival.

There are certainly some environments that are unique from others such as a subway and slightly different looking office buildings, but the game follows a very explicit formula.

Likewise, the game steers you in the correct route thanks to a red on objects you use to jump from, on to, or climb up. These are very easy to identify since it is one of the few non-blindingly white objects you can see in exterior environments.

The controls of the game are actually well laid out and are as unique as the game's spin from the genre itself. Mostly the L1, L2, R1, and R2 are the only buttons used which allow you to jump, crouch, punch, and turn 180 degrees although they create high-octane Hollywood style moves when strung together correctly.

The action and pacing of Mirror's Edge feels like an exciting Hollywood film one moment, as you literally straighten your back to give Faith the extra boost she needs for a big jump, yet is like an action take on Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day" the next.

Since Mirror's Edge demands much by way of swinging, jumping, crouching, sliding, wall walking, and punching all stringed together, there is a lot of room for failure.

And you will fail again, and again, and again.

Mirror's Edge is relentlessness in facing you with death by any slight misstep in the game's complicated acrobatic puzzle environments. Sure, you can jump from this platform and swing on the pole followed by a wall walk and jump to the next platform, but can you then defeat the 4 guards with automatic rifles?

No?

Well too bad, because after you die you have to do the whole stunt again.

To make matters worse after you complete the game's chaotic dance in any given scenario it may just freeze on you causing your last hour of replying the same thing to be all for not.

That sort of thing frustrates and irritates people who want to enjoy the game.

I also had the noble notion to attempt to complete the game without shooting anyone. I was progressing well in this feat until the game forced me to knock-out ten guards while I make my way down an office building. Once again, after an hour of attempting every way I saw possible, I had to succumb and shoot them.

Have I mentioned the game is frustrating?

The game's less than 10 hours it takes to complete the game can be followed by completing time trials of each mission for more prestige across the internet and more trophies/achievements to be unlocked. Too bad it would take hours to master each mission's insane game play fiasco to meet their unrealistic completion time expectations.

Nevertheless, Mirror's Edge is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but painful to master. It's repetitive level design and frustrating difficulty restrain this beautiful adventure from being anything other than a slightly refreshing and mediocre flop.