Xboxist

Mirror's Edge Review

Do you think you have the guts enough to run across high buildings, evade police, dodge gun fire and do all of this while racing against the clock? If not, I know a couple of people willing to go that extra mile to make sure your package gets to its destination on time and you won't have to pay a shipping fee. I might suggest that you pay the insurance on your package, though. One carrier in particular thought life was just fine: she was just delivering packages day in and day out, until a bigger set of problems came her way. Welcome to the review of Mirrors Edge and please tie your shoes because you wouldn't want to trip while making a run!

I hope you have your running shoes ready because the training starts now and our own representative is here to help you survive the many daily runs through our Metropolis, so please listen carefully! Welcome to Mirrors Edge where standing still will not get the job done. Our employee of the Month Faith will show you the ropes of dealing with your various activities and finding the best routes to get towards your destination.

As you know being a courier is a dangerous and some times exhausting job to deal with; always running from the cops, running from roof to roof and trying not to be late for your appointments. I mean come on what employer likes a late package?

The interesting aspect of this game is the parkour and that it is in first person which is a very new spin on an FPS game. Perhaps it would be more fitting to take the "S" out of that title since it is not really a shooter, but more of an "FPG" or First Person Game. Now for those that don't know what "Parkour" means: it is a form of acrobatic running mixed with the discipline of martial arts. In this game you will utilize the form for all your means to survive against all opponents and obstacles. The key here is finding the best way to get to your destination and that is the fun part since the game takes place in a somewhat open world.

The idea is discovering when you picked the wrong route and understanding the right path and once your own adrenaline kicks in; no other game captures this feeling of excitement.

The controls do not present a problem in the game. The limitation is really how fast the player can think on their feet while trying to complete a mission. You will have to link combinations to get to higher platforms (for example, hitting the LB, RB, and LB again for a jump turn jump move in sequence of running towards the wall and doing a 180 towards a ledge). The combat is very limited -- nothing complicated just simple jump kicks or punches against disarming or stunning foes. I would suggest a running slide kick into the "Blues" so you can stun them and either disarm them with the Y button or knock them out with a few punches. The "RT" button will act as your melee, fire weapons and barge through doors. So I tried to avoid saying this but if you watched the matrix and remember when they had to run for the phones breaking down doors, well same concept just without agents -- just cops.

The action and visuals are stunning and at first I had a hard time dealing with the fact that the developers chose simple flash animations for cutscenes. However, it works well enought within the game. The dialogue and characters are well done with great cinematic sequences and a story to back it up. I wouldn't say the enemy A.I is smart, but instead I would say they are just tough and not easy to take down if they are in single pairs.

Unfortunately the game doesn't have much replay value other then the online leader boards of beating the clock. You will upload either your ghost or another player's ghost and try and beat their best running time through each of the levels. I honestly would of expected more of a team based runner mode where you pass the bags on to another player trying to beat the team to the goal or even a co-op mode where you and a partner help each other on a side story. However since this is the first game they might have more plans for the sequel...if they do a sequel.

All right here is the break down so you can relax and enjoy the summary. The game has an interesting conspiracy story that fits well within the constraints of te game and might pave the way to future installments. The controls of the game are very fluid and not stiff like other "FP" games. The game makes sure that hesitation will be the death of you at every turn; so you can not stand still for too long. Trying to find the best way through each level is highly up to you and your judgment which keeps the game interesting and original. The only online feature is the time trial where you race against other ghost or your own and your best time is logged online. Even though the game is short clocking at about eight hours, it is still fun and appealing. I still don't think it is worth the $65.01 I stand by my decision by to award Mirror's Edge a 4 out of 5 rating.