Mirror's Edge

Do you have Faith? The name EA for years has been almost synonymous with the words: Madden and NBA Live. The year 2008 however, saw Electronic Arts’ display of creativity and innovation. Several IPs were released from EA this year. From Dead Space to Spore, EA has been trying to recreate their public image by providing new and fresh ideas. Dead Space attempts to transform the Survival-Horror genre while Mirror’s Edge changes the way we see Action-Adventure. Controversial in the eyes of many, Mirror’s Edge does find a way to provide an innovative experience similar to what can be expected from Nintendo. Critical reviews have been mixed. Being the first of its kind, flaws are to be expected. DICE, known for their work with the Battlefield series, decision to have the game played in first-person, delivers a unique experience that many will enjoy. The story, which begins with the framing of Faith’s sister, sets the stage for the plot of the game as Faith attempts to clear her name. As the protagonist, Faith shows herself to be more than eye candy, with risky moves and actions that are genuinely cool performances. Throughout the game, players will feel as if they’re literally on a human roller coaster where leaps and jumps that would normally be taken for granted, become an experience in itself. Successes feel exhilarating as you perform tasks one could only wish they had the physical prowess for. The artistic direction taken with the cut scenes, which are done in a realistic cartoonish design, color coordination and design of the city effectively animate the game. Controls are simplistic enough to quickly learn and the more advanced combinations prove to be manageable with a little practice. The camera is surprisingly well done for the job it’s needed for and very few deaths will be due to the camera control. Speaking of deaths, prepare to die…often. While “The Flow” alleviates some of the stress caused from deciding your course, a great deal will be trial and error. Playing the game for the first few hours, I died quite frequently. My skill was fine (at least I thought so, my sister disagreed) but in reality it is quite difficult to dodge helicopter fire. Some may reason it’s the level design but the game still at times felt like an experiment, especially with some of the enemy intensive levels. Those with motion sickness should not play this game for obvious reasons. My first hour and a half went smoothly but after my second hour, frustration and headaches got the best of me. For a time after, I did have a minor headache and walking was slightly difficult. The brightness and contrast could also be a problem for some. The game sometimes varied between too bright or too dark. My advice, play in a well lit room. Despite the technical problems and some minor motion sickness, I thoroughly enjoyed Mirror’s Edge. The innovative experience proved really interesting and continued to keep me interested enough to continue playing. This game is however, a definite rent if you’re unsure of your feelings. Some, like me, will find this game creative and new with minor problems. Some will feel that the experience is less than stellar and the tech problems are one too many. Still, Mirror’s Edge is a definitive title and can hopefully only get better. Mirror’s Edge definitely deserves a run. Closing Comments: This is one of the games that will be viewed completely different by each player. Some will love it and others will not. Personally, I would rent before buying.