Mirror’s Edge combines a compelling core gameplay mechanic with a great setting. It has a lot of potential, but seems rather difficult to execute. Happily, based on the demo, they seem to have pulled it off.
The game is based on parkour, also related to free running, basically a highly acrobatic form of urban navigation. It was notably featured in Casino Royale in the superior chase scene at the start of the movie.
Mirror’s Edge is a 3d game where unlike most FPSes you actually see your character’s body. When she grabs a ledge, her hands shoot out, when she slides you see her legs in front of you. The setup is that you’re a runner delivering data by rooftop in a city where every other means of transfer is monitored. I’m told it’s also one of my favorite types of action/adventures, one where you don’t have to kill anyone although it is an option.
The control scheme is pretty intuitive, with shoulder buttons used to jump and duck. Mouse and keyboard is usually thought of as the ideal control scheme for shooters, but for this type of gameplay dual control sticks and shoulder buttons may be preferable. The move up button also lets you grab ledges, which makes many of the jumps much more forgiving than they might otherwise be. Once I mastered that I could do a run through without dying from a mistimed jump. No real penalty to dying aside from watching from Faith’s eyes as she plummets to her doom. You just start up not that far from where you died.
Anyhow, won’t really be able to judge if the plot and fairly unique protagonist live up to their potential, but the demo is enough to convince me to buy the game when I have the funds available.
The combat system is pretty simple, you can do disarms if you time it right, and the one conventional attack button is context sensitive based on whether you’re running, ducking, etc. Also it makes me want to actually take one of the DC courses. I always played around with lower key versions of having fun with obstacles in my way. That said, even I ever go for it, I think I’ll limit myself to street level as we haven’t yet developed quick save / quick load technology.
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