Mirror's Edge Game Review

Mirror’s Edge, from Dice, is an amazingly unique action game unlike anything the world has ever seen.  It’s a first person game in which the whole point is to run, leap, and roll through environments ranging from high-rise interiors to skyscraper rooftops and even dank sewer systems.  The unique gameplay is complimented by a totally unique visual style, an excellent soundtrack, and thrilling gameplay.

Gameplay

Players leap into a digital world controlled by an all-knowing, all-seeing totalitarian government as Faith, a courier (known in this universe as Runners) who must safely deliver documents and information across the city’s skyline in order to avoid the Gestapo-esque police.  Faith has two abilities that put her far above any other game heroine out there:  her parkour skills, and the ability to continuously gain speed and momentum as she correctly navigates through the environment.
Parkour, or free running, has quickly become one of the most fascinating sports around and features runners who leap across rooftops, scale walls, skid over or under obstacles all in a sort of modernistic ballet.  Mirror’s Edge takes this sport to a whole new level giving the game’s protagonist a wide array of visually stunning environments through which to flow. 
All of this takes place in first person view which leads to some stomach-wrenching moments as Faith falls toward the ground.  It’s an awesome way to attack a game like this--it’s great to actually see your character’s limbs in a game for once--and I appreciate the courage Dice must have shown to push through the concept. 

The plot behind the game features some twists and turns but essentially revolves around Faith’s quest to clear her sister of the murder of a prominent politician who was poised to rise to power and put the boot down on all of the overbearing, totalitarian policies that are slowly strangling the city.  Faith must trail bad guys, recover evidence, and deliver information all while using the city’s skyline as her own personal highway.
The game uses a unique feature called runner’s vision to ensure players always know where they’re going.  Usable architectural elements such as ramps, pipes, and planks are highlighted in bright red in stark contrast to the washed out whites and grays of the rest of the environment.  This feature can be turned off in the highest difficulty setting for an extra challenge but comes in handy at lower difficulties as some of the paths Faith must take aren’t exactly clear.

For as complex as the games actions are (the direction in which a joystick is moved can mean the difference between sticking a landing and taking a one way trip to the asphalt below--which ends in a bone-obliterating crunch) the control scheme is incredibly simple.  Move the joystick to run, push it farther to run fast, use buttons to perform actions such as ducking under pipes and disarming enemies.  Gamers will have no trouble in learning the controls but mastering them is another matter all together.
While movement is almost second nature, choosing which path to take requires a significant amount of trial and error.  Players will spend a lot of time on the loading screens after yet another unwanted reunion with the pavement.  And even once you’ve found the correct path, landing certain jumps or performing 360 wall spins requires precise timing and make for some frustrating predicaments.

Another element of the game that doesn’t really work is the combat.  While the game is not intended to be a shooter, Faith can disarm enemies and use their weapons against them.  As a gunslinger, she totally sucks and usually outrunning your attackers is the best course of action.  The disarm ability does come in handy and leads to some cool cinematic-style motions but it takes a lot to learn and requires absolute precision (thanks to Dice for including the limited slo-mo for that.)  However, there are some levels where multiple enemies make combat nearly a necessity forcing players to pick up guns and pray that Faith’s aim has improved (which it never does.)  Still, for a game who’s main focus is running, awkward combat actually feels like it fits in the game.
Speaking of awkward, the unique visual style of the game (stark white walls, crisp linear lines, and huge skyscapes) is compromised by the plot dumps that take place during cut scenes between levels.  The scenes have a completely different style of animation (much like an E-surance commercial) and while they are wonderful to look at by themselves, seem a bit odd when compared to the gameplay.

The game is rather short (about 4-6 hours depending on how good you are at spotting the right paths) but offers extended playability in the form of time-trials which are unlocked after you complete certain missions within the game.  The time trials allow you to beat your own records or (if your online) other folk’s ghost data and allow you to climb online leader boards.  These speed runs eliminate the need to engage in combat and really streamline the Mirror’s Edge experience.  While the story is no slouch, the extended gameplay is almost more fun.

Graphics

Mirror’s Edge is simply a beautiful game.  Dice took a bold visual approach with its white backdrops and splashes of color but it paid off partly because it had yet to be done before but mostly because of the hyper-realism of the world which they created.  Imagine a high-definition photo of a city skyline.  Now suck all the colors out and you have Mirror’s Edge.  The designs are crisp, clean, and very futuristic.  It’s a joy to behold and simply amazing to zip through at high speeds.
Because faith moves so fast and the environments are quite detailed (despite the lack of color) PC users will need a fairly high-end system to successfully run the game.  Even then, they may be plagued by stuttering, screen tears, and other visual anomalies.  Thankfully, console gamers don’t have to worry about any of that as Mirror’s Edge runs without a hitch on any console.

Sound

The soundtrack is amazing.  It’s techno.  It’s futuristic.  It fits the setting and the plot.  It also accents the action of the game, ramping up in moments of high tension, and cooling down when the heat is off.  You can just imagine that it’s what Faith would have playing on her iPod as she zips through the city.
The sound effects are stunning as well.  You can hear each individual footstep and Faith’s breathing grows louder as she exerts herself, adding another level of immersion into a game that already is one of the most engrossing experiences gamers could ever ask for.
The voice acting, for the most part, is stellar though some of the one-liners and bad dialogue the actors are given to read during the cut scenes are a bit stale and reek of cheese.  Still, that’s a small black mark on such an impressive game.

Value

While the main campaign is incredibly fun, it’s incredibly short.  You can play through it multiple times and not get bored with it simply because there is so much room for improvement on your way to achieve perfection.  However, the addition of time trials and speed runs mean that you’ll get hours more enjoyment out of this game.  Add the element of competition between friends and via online leader boards and you could easily be looking at one of the best buys of 2008.

Final Verdict

Mirror’s Edge is an edgy game that really pushes the envelope in a business that’s always relied on sure-fire hits.  While many gamers will absolutely love its originality and cutting edge design, some will find its reliance upon perfection frustrating.

Pros:  beautiful visuals, unique gameplay, exhilarating and immersive gaming experience.

Cons:  Frustrating trial and error, awkward combat, short story.


Overall Score: 8/10