Systems > Xbox 360 > M > Mirror's Edge > User Review
Sign up for a free user account and you can leave feedback for this review or even submit a game review of your own!
Review by disco1960
July 23, 2009
As Faith, a runner with a penchant for breaking into restricted areas and getting shot at as a result, you’ll be crawling through ducts, climbing exterior plumbing fixtures, and leaping from rooftop to rooftop at full sprint as you race to uncover the conspiracy behind your sister getting framed for murder. Now, runners are flighty creatures, and first-person game perspectives are not traditionally known for being able to convey a strong sense of speed and agility. However, the first-person game perspective in Mirror’s Edge is perhaps uniquely designed to do so with a function that allows it to surpass all other perspectives in this respect: you can see your legs. That sounds like a minor addition, but it’s actually the difference between a floating head and a genuine, embodied presence in the universe; one scene where you talk to an angry guy named Ropeburn become quite another entirely when instead you’re looking him in the eye while the hulking behemoth of a man has you by the throat.
Mirror’s Edge is broken up into nine chapters, as to give you appropriate stopping points to recover from motion sickness. You might imagine the game’s proclaimed status as a free-running title would also suggest a degree of openness in the environment, but each level is a relatively straightforward matter of getting from point A to point B in a fashion least recommended to a person in any other profession. The series of events that lead to getting chased by a helicopter can become too routine for some, but it’s a strong formula, even if a few of the game’s chapters end blurring together in retrospect. More importantly, the levels don’t always manage to seamlessly depict a logical reality, unless the reasoning behind the existence of conveniently located half-ladders is revealed when that time comes in the future. Better not to think about it too much; a runner should rely on instinct, after all.
While the game’s obvious emphasis is on fleeing from enemies, there are inevitably times where you’re required to stand and fight. It’s not the smoothest fighting system, as Faith will usually resort to the same three-hit combo, but the weaknesses should generally go unnoticed as any fight in this game lasting more than two seconds means you’re likely doing it wrong and dead already. There is at least one point in Mirror’s Edge, however, where Faith necessarily has to battle an opponent hand-to-hand for an extended length of time; this is undoubtedly the most awkward moment in the game. Whatever martial art is universally practiced by runners in the future, it inexplicably does not allow for a means to parry or dodge. Thankfully, you’re allowed access to guns most of the time--at least, when you’re able to pry them from the hands of a fully conscious enemy.
Ultimately, Mirror’s Edge succeeds very well as an exhibition of its premise. But there’s still nausea to deal with, so in its current state, it should be sufficient to purchase Mirror’s Edge during a light, casual stroll; there’s no need to go running to get it. That is, unless you happen to hear its ridiculously appropriate choice of theme song. Then you’ll probably start sprinting anyway.
Rating: 7/10
|
|
|
Most recent video game reviews written by disco1960
Project Gotham Racing 2 (Xbox) [July 02, 2008]
Neverwinter Nights (2002) (PC) [April 06, 2008]
Batman (NES) [January 03, 2008]
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (NES) [December 01, 2007]
3D Pinball: Space Cadet (PC) [November 24, 2007]
|
You can click the tabs on the above bar to choose whether you wish to read comments from visitors who have posted on Facebook, or from registered site users who have left feedback on the forums. Please leave a comment of your own if you have anything to say!
|
|
|
Follow Us |
Advertise exclusively for 1 month... only $1000!
Recent Forum Discussions
+ Alpha Olympics 2012
+ JoeTheDestroyer's Tales of Phantasia review
+ holdthephone's Final Fantasy XIII-2 review
+ Where's SkyWard Sword's review ? And please bring back the rating feature.
+ JoeTheDestroyer's Area 51 review
+ zippdementia's Mega Jump review
+ [News] Schafer has pitched Psychonauts 2, Minecraft dev says 'let's make it happen'
+ playstation vita, yo.
+ RotW January 29 - February 04 2012
+ Games to be added to the database...
+ The Final Fantasy XIII-2 thread
+ [News] Final Fantasy X HD will be a remaster, not a remake
Staff Game Reviews
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SoulCalibur V |
| The Simpsons Arcade Game |
| Quarrel |
| Star Ocean: The Last Hope |
| Pushmo |
| Medal of Honor: Airborne |
Site Staff
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |
Featured Reviews [+]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Rayman Origins |
| Othello |
| Scarface: The World is Yours |
| The Last Express |
| Golden Axe II |
| Assassin's Creed: Revelations |
Exclusive User Reviews [+]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tales of Phantasia |
| Mega Jump |
| White Knight Chronicles |
| Dragon Wars |
| F-Zero GX |
| Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door |
Info |
Help |
Privacy Policy |
Contact |
Advertise
© 1998-2012 HonestGamers
None of the material contained within this site--from reviews, guides, cheats and editorials to message board posts--may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Mirror's Edge is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Mirror's Edge, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors.
