A Daring Game That Begs For A Sequel.
Mirror's Edge, played entirely from a fairly deep first person viewpoint, takes place in a world of contrasting art styles, colours, and ways of life. It's strange when you realize early on what an encumberance guns are to Faith (your avatar in ME), and then if you're like me you start wondering about how this view and mechanic could be focused towards pure adventure, or brutal combat (Breakdown). I wonder why more games don't chose this perspective. ME feels very immdiate, ALL the time, and the perspective and way you move through space help solidify that feeling.
So, it is with regret that I outline flaws, or perhaps just the nature of the game that will turn some people off. First, this game is hard in a way only Shinobi for the PS2 has recently achieved. This will turn some on, and others WAY off, needless to say, but even seasoned vets will feel dissapointment when their "momentum" (a BIG deal in ME) is halted over and over again by their own mistakes, or the need to experiment. It's the double edged sword that makes ME work, but sometimes it makes you want to yell a little too.
Graphically the game is stunning. I feel a bit as though I'm running on the rooftops of the world Abstergo's offices inhabited in Assassin's Creed. This is the bleakness that exists in a stark contrast to a game I am currently in love with, Fallout 3. You could have some quality nerd chat (I'd be in for it) about the contrast between the desolation of total destruction, and the barren landscape of sterile "perfection". While some have called the different art styles into question, I would simply say "mirror's edge". What some have described as jarring, I would say is jarring as though one is seeing both sides of the metaphorical mirror. Of course, that's a big matter of taste, and some may not like it.
The sound is great, and helps to establish tension, and a sense of speed. A gunshot really stands out here, and so does Faith's laboured breathing and the sound of running. It's pretty impressive, and I can't think of a bad thing to say about it.
Replay value is going to depend on whether you see this as an average length "Story Campaign", or if you approach it as playing an episode in a kind of static world, with an Extreme Sports game at it's core. In fact, without going all the way into MMO land (which I loathe), this game could be made to contain MMORPG online experiences easily... but for now what features it has are great. You can race ghosts of rivels, and more. Like SSX and other favourites of mine, this game BEGS to be perfected... if that's your thing...
In the end, you'll KNOW that you want to play Mirror's Edge from the free demo... for some it will become an obsession, and others WILL be instantly turned off. Be aware of the polarizing nature of this gameplay style, and try the demo or rent before buying unless, like me, you know this is your taste.