Mirror's Edge: Nothing if not original
I'm going to say this right off the bat: you probably haven't played a game quite like Mirror's Edge before.
The premise is simple enough: you are a "runner", pretty much a parkour infused courier delivering message behind the backs of the forces controlling the sterile, "big brother" esque city the game takes place in. The people in charge don't like what you do, and you don't care for them. The story itself is serviceable, but ultimately not really necessary in whether you will enjoy this game or not.
The game is played in first person, but is essentially a platformer, although it also shares some aspects of a nitpicky racing game. besides basic first person movement, the controls are extremely limited, quantitatively speaking. There is an "action" button, a single attack button, and one button each for upwards or downwards motion. There is also a "180 turn" button and a button dedicated to disarms. Based on context and combination, with only these buttons you can jump, slide, kick, punch, roll, swing, wall run, climb, and even throw up your middle finger. Using these moves, your goal is to navigate the levels and solve platforming puzzles, and you're encouraged (and will be most enjoying the game when doing so) to do it all as swiftly and fluidly as possible, much like a clean lap in a racer. most of the time you are navigating rooftops and office building, consistently taking part in chase sequences both as the fox and as the rabbit, and occasionally hand to hand combat, which, if taken in the right approach, takes on this fluid, almost rhythmic, feel. When it comes together, it can be an exhilarating, rewarding experience.
The problem is that when things are moving along, and when you do get stuck, things can get frustrating very fast. The controls, while usually quite good, aren't always as accurate as you might want them to be, and missing jumps that don't seem difficult can be annoying. Also, some of the puzzles are not very well communicated. While sometimes this can add to the atmosphere of the game, frantically looking for a way out while an armed swat team closes is can be quite a rush, but after getting murdered 10 times in a row, or worse, realizing that the team can't actually get to you and that you are simply stuck, kills the urgency that situation may have initially created.
What this leads to, and what the designers seem to want to happen, is trial and error. Because once you find the best route (read: not simply the one the game sets in front of you), playing through a sequence you previously had trouble with and getting through flawlessly is extremely satisfying. There's something to be said about discovering a tricky, near impossible jump that not only looks really cool, but allows you to circumnavigate what can sometimes be literally floors of obstacles and enemies. Not only are their leaderboards that track your time through each level, there is an entire time trials mode in the game, and a dlc pack dedicated to this practice till perfect gameplay.
Visually, The character models in this game are alright. This game is a little old now, so it's unfair to judge against say Red Dead Redemption's characters, but even so animation can be a little stiff, and faces are a little weird. Cutscenes are shown in an angular, almost modernistic art deco style. it's ok, but not quite as good as that might sound on paper.
What IS as good as it sounds is the in game art style of the environment. It is nothing short of beautiful. While it mixes them up a bit throughout the game, every level utilizes a "limited" color palette, and utilizes them stunningly. Bright reds, oranges blues and green strike a stark contrast against the sterile white of most of the city. the environments tend to be fairly geometric, but this is usually a benefit, and adds to the visual style and feel of the game. your character, faith, sees useful objects and possible routes in red, and while you can usually rely on the color to lead you out, it may not be the "best" path to take. There are also some very clever lighting in this game, and some of the set pieces are very exciting to navigate. This is really not something that can be described, but rather has to be experienced. if there is ever an official argument made for video games as art, this game will be included as evidence, guaranteed.
Your enjoyment of this game depends on a few things. The story is not strong enough to really use as incentive to play this game, but it's not so bad as to be a deterrent either. If you are intrigued by the gameplay style, and can forgive some hiccups now and then, then you should at least give it a shot. If you appreciate video games as art, or are interested in seeing what something like that may look like, then you should check out this game whether or not the gameplay interests you. I'm very interested to see where this game goes (there is a sequel on the way).
In short, this game is far from perfect, but play competently enough and is visually stunning, artistically if not technically.
