Mirrors Edge is a fresh take on the first person perspective, but not one for everybody.
How is this relevant to Mirrors Edge? Because that is what the main character Faith does. She is a runner, an on foot courier if you will, in a future where information is not so free. They make their paths on rooftops, wall running, vaulting climbing and swinging to get to their destination.
Mirrors Edge is a game all about momentum, keeping the speed and finding as efficient a route as possible to accomplish this. The control scheme used in this game really helps make that possible with very simple controls using L1 for above movements such as jumping or vaulting and L2 for lower movements such as sliding or crouching. Each of which will set off depending on where Faith is and what she is doing.
When Mirrors Edge gets it right you really feel it. Pulling of a string of moves at full running speed really gives a rush, a surge of adrenaline even though she is the one running. However there are parts of the game where these are broken up with pipes to slowly climb, elevators to slowly wait while going up which is a real shame because moving is really where this game shines.
The clever thing about Mirrors Edge is "runner vision" which is the way of showing Faith where to go, an instinct she should run that way. These objects are all red in a world of blue and yellows they stand out though there are many other paths that can be taken. Despite this though Mirrors Edge is a trial and error affair with the first time through resulting in many deaths as a slightly miss timed jump sends Faith to be modern pavement art. It's a game that requires dedication to get the most out of it, several replays of levels until they are memorized for a flawless run. This is a game for people who love speed runs and have the patience for the learning curve this game provides.
The story of Mirrors Edge is not the deepest but it does what it has to. Faiths sister has been set up for murder, a murder she didn't commit of the one man who may have been able to change things for the better in the city. Faith is out to find who did it and save her sister but the police know it and will do everything they can to stop her.
For the most part when the blues do appear it's best for Faith to just do what she does best, run. On a couple of occasions though she will have to fight at which point she has quite a few martial arts moves as well as some smooth disarm abilities to deal with them. Gun play is not really a main point of the title though Faith can use the guns she takes from the police, aiming is difficult and they leave little feed back like Faith is firing fake weapons. This title was clearly designed for hand to hand combat in mind, as Faith can even slow down time briefly with an adrenaline rush to make the police easier.
The city Faith uses her skills in is a beautiful and unique place for most first person titles now days, it's not brown. Mirrors Edge uses a vibrant set of colours like blue, white, green, yellow, orange and red. The game looks sharp and vibrant, really standing out above the crowd. The cutscenes however don't fare quite as well as the in game graphics, choosing to use an almost comic book style that looks more like amateur flash art. The rest though i feel more then make up for it.
The sound compliments the graphics perfectly with some really relaxing melodies for the most part and an amazing theme tune "Still alive" by Lisa Miskovsky and some really upbeat action pieces when the cops are bearing down on Faith. The voice acting is also perfect for pretty much all the characters, i certainly have no complaints and especially enjoyed Faiths voice.
Mirrors Edge is a short game and can easily be completed in 4-6 hours though there is plenty of other content to keep people busy such as level speed runs and time trials of hitting certain markers (there are extra DLC time trials up for purchase as well). If you want most the trophies though be warned, Mirrors Edge is very difficult when it comes to that, some of the times needed are just unreasonable.
If you have the patience, Mirrors Edge is a fantastic game full of high points with excellent use of colour and sound, it is however not a game for everyone as the trial and error aspect of the gameplay at first can be very frustrating. I would recommend a rental though if you are on the edge, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you experience.