Mirror's Edge captures not just the motions, but the spirit of parkour
Developer DICE took the concept of a platforming game and opened it up in a city environment, allowing players to jump, slide and vault over any obstacle they come across. Consequently, the game provides an incredible sense of freedom, much like what parkour experts must feel when traversing a cityscape, but also many opportunities to miss a jump and fall to one's death. In a way, the openness of the game's environment is a pitfall, since aiming ever so slightly in the wrong direction can cause one to biff a jump. This is even harder since one can't see one's feet when jumping off of something.
More frustrating than missed jumps is the game's hand-to-hand combat system. Disarming enemies can be extremely frustrating, and the timing required to steal an enemy's gun before he kills you with it can be very unforgiving, especially on Hard mode. I played the game without firing a weapon, so relying on fists alone was especially difficult. Also, it makes no sense that one cannot disarm an enemy after making them vulnerable using melee attacks.
All complaints aside, the saving grace for Mirror's Edge is its incredible artistic sensibility. The game is simply stunning to look at--no doubt one of the best-looking games so far this generation. The pure white and brightly colored city environments reflect the essence of Faith's character and the parkour way of life. Parkour athletes have to exercise strict discipline in how they live their lives -- no excess eating, drinking or smoking, since any kind of vice can affect their physical abilities. In the same way, the art style of Mirror's Edge reflects that sense of purity. The sharp angles of the environment represent the extreme precision with which runners must make instantaneous life-or-death decisions. Looking through Faith's eyes, the player doesn't see the world as it is, but the world as it is seen through the eyes of a parkour practitioner.
Arguably as stunning as the visuals is the game's soundtrack. The ethereal theme song "Still Alive" strikes a soft techno beat, and perfectly encapsulates the essence of the game. I've witnessed few games whose sound and appearance have been woven together so seamlessly.
It's moments when one is soaking in the beauty of the environment while leaping from rooftop to rooftop that Mirror's Edge truly shines. Although it's a travesty that the combat system is a mess, I give three cheers to EA for delivering something so artistically bold on the heels of the similarly daring "Dead Space."