Mirror's Edge

Mirror’s Edge offers an exciting alternative to the usual FPSs, but isn’t quite as revolutionary as it should have been. Still, if you’re after style over substance, Faith offers thrills and spills beyond the average action game.

Mirror's Edge is many things: invigorating, infuriating, fulfilling, and confusing. It isn't for everybody, and it stumbles often for a game that holds velocity in such high esteem. But even with all its foibles and frustrations, it makes some impressive leaps; it just doesn't nail the landing.

With only eight chapters Mirror's Edge is a particularly short game and the only thing that extends this is the trial-and-error gameplay. You're constantly left feeling as though Mirror's Edge needed something else to sustain it.

Dodging bullets and narrowly escaping capture (as well as an addictive Time Trial mode) make Mirror's Edge worth playing if you have the patience to survive its concrete jungle. Yet Faith's limited punches and kicks result in tedious combat, linear routes make the city surprisingly small and accidental deaths force you to restart numerous times.

Mirror's Edge is a shining example of when a game concept idea doesn't live up to its idea. The movement controls are solid and the graphics top-notch, but everything else just doesn't work. The level design begins excellent and grows progressively worse. The combat is awkward and tedious, and even as the levels grow less fun, the game throws more and more combat at you, as if hoping to distract you.

As a parkour simulator, Mirror's Edge is a force to be reckoned with, revolutionizing the first person genre with its fluid motions and the gaming market with its distinct design. But as a platforming and action game it leaves a lot to be desired, and theunforgiving control and haphazard placement of checkpoints are infuriating. Mirror's Edge could and should be amazing, but doesn't manage to be better than good.

It’s safe to say that despite its short (and irritating) story mode, repetitive gameplay and terrible indoor sections, Mirror’s Edge is a real kick up the collective arse for the first person genre.

Mirror's Edge is an intriguing and appealing concept that is wonderfully implemented in some respects and poorly so in others.

While it doesn't quite fulfill the high expectations, Mirror's Edge is a unique gaming experience that is certainly worth a look.

Clunky physical combat, lifelessly linear level design, horridly ill-fitting segue animations, a bland narrative, shallow characters, and an unforgiving first-person viewpoint all conspire to shatter the game's wafer thin novelty value, which all-too quickly reveals Mirror's Edge to be a fabulously innovative concept mired by the old 'all style and no substance' adage.

Mirror's Edge is both unique and stimulating, but it rapidly loses momentum after a great start.

Mirror's Edge is clearly an ambitious game, and you really should give EA credit for the interesting new elements. Unfortunately, the restrictive nature of the city, along with the completely odd and unnecessary shooting segments, really knock the score down a few pegs.

Mirror's Edge is the kind of game that you can see in the curriculum of some design school for its outside-of-the-box approach and polished style. But playing it is a different story. If you do feel the need to punish yourself, spend your money on a dominatrix instead of Mirror’s Edge.

It has some great moments in gaming, but most of the time there is only frustration awaiting you at every turn. While it could have been a great start for a new franchise, DICE should have made the game more friendly and open.