Discussion // Mirror's Edge

[Ed Kirchgessner]

Mirror's Edge, reviewed by Ed Kirchgessner (http://game-and-player.com/forums/../articles/2008/11/mirrors_edge.html).

Has anyone else been keeping tabs on this game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm3ebiMXJmM)? I've known about it since an issue of Edge Magazine from last year, but it's just now starting to get coverage in the American press. This could be the sleeper hit of 2008...

[theempyrealwordsmith]

Great music, that's for sure. I've never heard of it before though.

[Dayfish]

I agree, it does have some pretty nice music. It really caught my attention the first time I heard it. Phil showed me the video a week or two ago, and I thought that this looked really promising.

[dropK1CK_ninJA]

I doubt it will be much of a sleeper hit because Mirror's Edge has lit the hardcore gamer boards on fire.

I've been keeping my eye on it since its first trailer a few months ago.

It looks very promising.

[theempyrealwordsmith]

Found this (http://staging.g4tv.com/trailers/videos/26861/Mirrors_Edge_Story_Trailer.html) on G4.

[Michael Ubaldi]

I don't like the music.

But the concept seems as interesting as the visuals.

[Shockman]

Looks interesting. Found this website here (http://www.on-mirrors-edge.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1).

[Ninja Raiden]

It's only been getting coverage now over there? Wow... this looks quite intriguing to me and is bookmarked, alongside Hydrophobia - I'm interested in the potential for water in that game. Dynamic water? Hmm...

[dropK1CK_ninJA]

Alpha Protocol is the new one I'm keeping an eye on.

ANYWAYS, with Mirror's Edge one of the items to combat motion sickness and a square in the middle of the screen to focus on. I wonder if this will actually work...

[Ed Kirchgessner]

All right. I've got to ask: who's picked up Mirror's Edge and what are your thoughts so far? I've been playing it since Sunday and continue to be blown away.

Do you have any criticisms about the game's controls or gameplay? What do you think about the story? I'm dying to discuss... :o

[Mcmax3000]

I've only finished through the second chapter but I've enjoyed it quite a bit. Don't really have any problems with the controls & I haven't played enough to form an opinion about the story yet.

[A Ninja boot]

I have this game and I am hooked. I just have to beat the game so I can unlock all the time trial stuff. My only gripe is sometimes I want to see a third person view. I sometimes want to see how cool the moves flow together.

[Michael Ubaldi]

What caught my eye most, Ed, is the connection a player will have with Faith — it sounds like vicariousness has taken another step forward. Or several.

[Magiz]

I played the demo on both the 360 and PS3. I must say this game really is a refreshing change to the FPS playground. Ed your review was spot on and I must say I'd like to play the full game at some point.

I noticed you played this for the 360. I was wondering if you tried the PS3 demo at all? The game looks almost exactly the same and I didn't really see a clear winner on either front. The one thing I will point out about the PS3 controls was the bland tacked on Sixaxis controls. They basically tried their hardest to find a way to incorporate this. Don't get me wrong, it worked, but really didn't add anything to make it worth the purchase over the 360 version.

[dropK1CK_ninJA]

I beat the game. Towards the end it got *really* frustrating and not because the game was difficult but because of the game mechanics. I didn't mind at first when you'd try to wall run and it wouldn't wall run. I understand glitches but towards the end I'd never seem to be able to grab pipes or vault walls or jump when I needed/wanted to. Finally the disarming. Don't even get me started on that. I swear I played this one spot about an hour because disarming was so touchy. There is no anticipation factor for it. The time you thought you'd disarm isn't the right time, you actually have to wait until they've swung at you... so ridiculous. Other than that. A great game.

[TheSwP]

Drop, I found disarming to be difficult also, even with the bullet-time active. The thing to do is simply beat individuals into submission. Slide-kicks or jumpkicks are excellent openers, and then a simple punch combination is usually all that's needed after that. Much more consistant than trying to master a disarm.

Like many other people, I'm finding the time trials to be highly enjoyable. The running mechanic is the most fun aspect of the game, and timed races highlights that aspect nicely.

I also got an achievement for issuing the finger to a cop in-game. I didn't even realize I'd done it. All I knew was that I'd botched a wallkick with a bad button combo. Still, good times!

[A Ninja boot]

I've been having problems with there server not available, anyone else having this problem?

[Pino]

Man oh man, I've been really excited for this game. I'm going to have to wait until this semester ends before I can have enough time to finish the many games I've already picked up this semester (oh yeah, I'm still working my way through Fallout 3 whenever I have some spare time) and then this one. I'm definitely glad to hear the reviews you guys are giving. I was really hoping (and still am) that this game would be as good as it looked.

[Ed Kirchgessner]

Here's a great blog entry from Keith Stuart (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2008/nov/14/gameculture-playstation1) of The Guardian. He points out the very thing I struggled with when reviewing this game -- regardless of how frustrating the controls could be at times, there was no denying that Mirror's Edge truly innovated. Is innovation enough to grant a game a high review score? Probably not, but like Mr. Stuart, I wish that more of the mainstream gaming press considered such issues, examining a game both objectively and in how it fits into the industry as a whole.

[Vaulter85]

Started playing this game & I really enjoy running around jumping off buildings lol. The only thing that I do not like about the game is the men with the guns. I just want to run around & climb stuff but I am constantly hounded by helicopters & snipers. I feel like I am missing out on actually "Seeing" the game, since I am too busy running for my life I can't take in all the visuals & environment.

But I guess the game would get a bit boring eventually if there was no antagonists or that feeling of adrenaline as you ran for your life. it is a bit fun to do a flying kick into an officers face everynow & then as well. =)

And curse you Curtis for posting such a fast time in the time trial. I curse you & your damned speedy gonzales ghost who mocks me as he runs by.

[Ed Kirchgessner]

...And curse you Curtis for posting such a fast time in the time trial. I curse you & your damned speedy gonzales ghost who mocks me as he runs by.

I LOVE the player ghosts in this game. I was able to use SlickRick's ghost from the first time trial level to scrape nearly two minutes off my time :D

[Michael Ubaldi]

I feel like I am missing out on actually "Seeing" the game, since I am too busy running for my life I can't take in all the visuals & environmentGiven everything else I've read about the game, I can't help but wonder if this discomfort was by design — another risk/innovation. Simply hearing about it brings a little disappointment, since I'm the type to stand and gawk at what Valve Corporation calls "vistas," but makes me curious, too, since DICE didn't skimp on visuals.

[Vaulter85]

I LOVE the player ghosts in this game. I was able to use SlickRick's ghost from the first time trial level to scrape nearly two minutes off my time :D


Me too, though I feel like I am cheating a bit since I start off by just watching their run instead of going it on my own at first. But the ghost makes it very helpful in beating other players times by seeing what path they took. I spent all morning repeatedly racing curtis's ghosts on various lvls just to beat his time, lol.

The only bad thing about the ghost is others can now see my path I took & I don't want to give up my secrets! lol. I was able to find a new route on a few of the maps & beat some of my friends times by 5-12 seconds. But now they will watch & see what I did & most likely beat my time now. *sigh* Nothing like friendly competition :D

[Vaulter85]

Okay I am stuck in the game & it is starting to get me to the point of wanting to throw my controller across the room. :mad: I am on the 4th chapter I believe where you are supposed to jump onto the top of a moving subway car. I do that fine & dodge all the pipes & signs that come flying at me but then there is a low tunnel that kills me. Now I notice there is a railcar next to me so I assume I am supposed to jump over onto that car, but every time I attempt it I die. Is there a trick to this, am I missing something or is there something else I am supposed to do? Please help :confused:

[TheSwP]

There's no trick to it, Matt, it's just a really tough jump to gauge. Try looking down at your feet and making the most of the running space you have before leaping. You DO have to jump to the other train, so keep at it!

In regards to the downloadable ghosts, I agree that it feels like cheating to use them. I've used only two so far, and felt immediatly stupid when I saw that the route taken by the ghost was and should have been completely obvious. Both ghosts were downloaded from the current world leader. Racing the 'best' makes things super challenging, but also super frusturating. I think putting in some honest solo practice would be much more rewarding than simply following in the footsteps of people who forged their own path. My new resolution is to go it alone and shave my times without peeking.

[Vaulter85]

Okay I shall attempt the train hop again today. I haven't watched the world leaders ghost, I don't even want to attempt to race them, the frustration would be too great. I got mad enough when I couldn't beat your ghost on the first playground, the closest I could get was under a second behind you. I will have to live with my failure. There is also a course that I tried to beat DropkickNinja on, but he was too fast as I finished a few seconds behind him too.

Though I am sorry to inform you Curtis that I have beaten all your timed runs on every other course you raced in, lol. Some of them with a substantial amount of time. So I encourage you to attempt to break my records & demand that you use my ghost since I used yours, it would only be fair that way. The challenge goes out to anyone else on these forums as well. =)

I got to admit I am really loving the time trials mode. it is so nice not having to worry about being shot at or hounded by a helicopter. Being able to find new paths & different routes has been alot of fun too.

[TheSwP]

Though I am sorry to inform you Curtis that I have beaten all your timed runs on every other course you raced in, lol. Some of them with a substantial amount of time.

I could make excuses here, but instead I'll submit. I bow to your clearly superior talents, sir, and look forward to honing myself to something approaching your caliber. It could take years, and I expect to grow old long before achieving my goal. Still, I must press on, futile though it may be.....

[Vaulter85]

I could make excuses here, but instead I'll submit. I bow to your clearly superior talents, sir, and look forward to honing myself to something approaching your caliber. It could take years, and I expect to grow old long before achieving my goal. Still, I must press on, futile though it may be.....


I am glad you accept your role in this world without a fuss. :p

Hope you are having a good time across the pond man.