Mirror's Edge
I really wanted to love this game. I really did. When i played the demo for the first time a few weeks ago, i thought it was one of the most exciting and fresh gaming experiences i had in a long time. My vote of confidence had been cast and i bought it on launch and did not wait for the inevitable January/February price drop.
This was also the case for the first 2-3 chapters of the game. Free flowing was my middle name. Only a few times did i have to redo my runs and jumps more than 2-3 times. It was frustrating as it was mostly a result of trial and error and not of any fault of my own. But the enjoyment of the game's core gameplay was still strong enough to carry it. Free running in first person mode is really inspirational. But setting up the game's core mechanics means nothing after a while if there isn't a solid game to support it.
Unfortunately this is where Mirror's Edge fails me. When you are trying to figure out how to get from one place to the next it's bad enough that you have to try and die a few times to find the right way to do it. But later on, without spoiling anything, there are certain situations where enemies storm in and you have to find a way out while they are chasing you. So you don't have the time to find the correct escape route and avoiding their gunfire. What happens is that you will do the scene 7-8 times figuring out the way piece by piece until you finally escape. By the time you do this whole process correctly, you just can't care less whether you free flowed or not. You just want to get it over with.
After this, the game introduces situations where combat is inevitable. While it explicitly tells you in the beginning that you should avoid it and run, it deliberately sets it up so that you can't. You have to fight either with your fists or with a gun. But why? The most fundamental principle of Mirror's Edge is that the heroine is a runner. She is not a soldier. If you are looking to play the game without shooting at anyone then you will be frustrated until you find the perfect way to put the enemies, one by one, out of action with kicks and punches.
The Edge reviewer, which i did not want to believe, sums it best for me,
" Is it a Portal-style puzzler or a breathless steeplechase; an Orwellian parable or freeform Olympics? Unable to decide until it’s left the springboard, it tries to be all of them but manages none."
Fantastic premise, visuals and mechanics. But it's too many stops and starts to feel like a game.
Re: Mirror's Edge
It's shame that this game did not live up to your expectations. I, on the contrary, loved this game. I found it very easy and the battles added more things for me to string together. I was never lost. It was always clear where i should go next and never took me more than 3 times to pass a specific section since many oblects are painted red. I never used the "slow mo" button, i did not want to reduce my adrenaline rush. Just press the (b) button and Faith will turn and face the direction you should go next. You just have to jump, slide, wallrun you way there. The game got me very excited because half of the times using the above method i managed to tackle various sectors during my first try. When you string a level together, especially for the first time (never land hard, never get shot), you get a high adrenaline rush and You are freerunning along with Faith...
Re: Mirror's Edge
I can understand that the people who found it easy and got through the levels on their first few tries would love this game. That was the case for me too for the first few chapters. But after a certain point it just fell apart. I am trying to use all the moves available including slow-mo, RB, LB+RB+LB and so on but still found myself doing things over and over again especially when combat is involved. Also sometimes everyhing is red and i can't tell where i am supposed to go next.
Anyway, i will give the time trials a go as well once i am done with the story.
Re: Mirror's Edge
I keeping swinging from really wanting to play the game to thinking it might not be a good idea to playing now with so many AAA games sitting and waiting to be played.
I will get to it at some point as it one of those games that everyone seems to have their own take on and its also something different.
One thing I haven't completely understood is if you have to shoot people. I heard there is a part where you are told to engange the emeny, does that mean to disarm, to knowck out or shoot? Did anyone get the achievement for going through the whole game without shooting anyone?
Re: Mirror's Edge
I am in Chapter 8 and haven't shot anybody so hopefully i will get the achievement. I can see NikeFerrari has it already too.
You don't have to shoot people. You have to engage/incapacitate them one way or another. It's a must play re because it's something new. Also it's quite short which is a good thing nowdays when looking at our pile of shame.
Re: Mirror's Edge
Oh I was never in any doubt that I would play it, it's just a matter of getting some other things out of the way first. (I cant believe I actually made playing sound like a chore)
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