Metareview -- Mirror's Edge (PS3, Xbox 360)

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 11th 2008 at 5:30PM }

Mirror's Edge may not be perfect, but it's getting bonus points for trying something different and attempting to evolve the very exclusive genre of first-person platformers (Metroid Prime previously being the go-to example). Within the 'stiq network, PS3 Fanboy gave the game an 8/10 and Joystiq has posted its non-numerical verdict. As for platform purchase choice, the PS3 is expected to receive some "exclusive" content, which has yet to be revealed, but beyond that it's a controller preference issue. The game uses both rows of shoulder buttons constantly during gameplay, so having a big button on top is nice on the Sixaxis or DualShock 3, but some may prefer the trigger of the 360 controller. If you're versatile, the whole issue of top or bottom won't matter.

CVG (90/100): "Not your average gaming experience - Mirror's Edge takes the FPS format and flips it on its head. A brilliant and unique experience, even if the small shooting parts aren't quite up to scratch."
GameSpy (80/100): "The combat's unfortunately its Achilles' heel, since it lacks the spontaneity of the free-running and in many instances brings the action to a crashing halt. Thankfully, after you've beaten the game, the time trials and speed runs reward you for avoiding violent confrontation and emphasize the exhilarating rush of zipping through each gorgeous stage."
EuroGamer (80/100): "There's something broken thematically, deep within Mirror's Edge: it tells you a rambling story about freedom even as it confines you to the tight squares of its own personal hopscotch court, and for many that will be one wrong-footing too many. But for those who can shrug off the contradictions and the limitations, ignore the tearing cityscape and lingering qualms about value for money, this will shove you so deeply into the experience of being in someone else's body, and taking it on a terrifying, breakneck joyride, that nothing else will matter."
IGN (73/100): "Mirror's Edge is a classic example of some awesome ideas that just didn't pan out the way that was originally intended. The list of moves could be more expansive -- maybe by adding a fourth button to the mix -- and the world feels entirely too constricting for what could be a huge open city. ... I truly hope that a sequel is spawned, but this first attempt falls just a bit short."
GameSpot (70/100): "If you can overlook the array of quirks long enough to find your stride, you'll want to check out the beat-your-record races and level speedruns. ... The single-player story is simply a practice run for being a virtual show-off, yet the players repeating these levels, because they'll learn them to perfection, are also the ones likely to see Mirror's Edge at its most thrilling."

Tags: dice, ea, metareview, mirrors-edge

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

FSK405K @ Nov 11th 2008 5:33PM

Rental!

tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 11th 2008 5:36PM

That was obvious to anyone who played the demo. I knew right when I finished the demo that I could probably blow through that game in less than half a day.

Rubix42 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:02PM

I guess I'm of the minority. I thought the demo was a blast. And it upgraded the game from a rental to a purchase day one for me. Sure it will be short, but given the fact that I've already found about 7 different ways to go up the stairs, and that is just one set piece in a small demo.

I'm positive this game will have all kinds of replay value for me.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:20PM

rental only if i finish GoW2, fable 2, r2, and maybe cod5, l4d, last remnant before the next wave of great games comes out.

i did not like the demo.

Samo @ Nov 11th 2008 6:38PM

off topic: @sk8monroe81 (or anyone that can answer, really), what game does R2 stand for? All the other acronyms I know...

cc123 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:54PM

@Samo

Resistance 2

tmmoore_nc @ Nov 11th 2008 5:54PM

Definitely seems like the Assassin's Creed of this year review wise. Very polarizing.

Dracard @ Nov 11th 2008 6:22PM

I wonder how many people who haven't played it will complain about it and say the game "sucks major ass."

Master Bruce @ Nov 12th 2008 2:34AM

Well, I just think the whole "free running" fad is lame ;)

carg0 @ Nov 11th 2008 5:57PM

it can get the "bonus points for trying something new" all it wants, it's not going to justify it's $60 price tag unfortunately.

it's a solid rental.

JerJer @ Nov 11th 2008 5:58PM

ill buy it if they announce some kickass DLC like burnout. otherwise im waiting for the price drop.

Roto13 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:12PM

"If you're versatile, the whole issue of top or bottom won't matter."

Oh, my. *fans self*

Graham Wellington (formerly tyrone washington, or marsha goldberg) @ Nov 11th 2008 6:15PM

hahaha +1

Roosevelt Franklin @ Nov 11th 2008 10:24PM

That Alexander is such a naughty boy.

ben murray @ Nov 12th 2008 7:04AM

i know. i hope no southern baptists are reading this.

Roto13 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:27PM

The lack of length has convinced me to wait a while to buy this. I can only afford the one game until Christmas. Looks like that one game is going to be Tales of Symphonia 2, if only because it'll last me longer. :P

Mirror's Edge will be mine for Christmas, though.

Kspraydad @ Nov 11th 2008 6:30PM

I was waiting to hear how strong the 'story' is...and am disappointed it isn't very.

Put it on the $29.99 or better list.

phobic99 @ Nov 11th 2008 6:34PM

Agreed. $30 seems like a great price for this one.

See ya next year Mirror's Edge!

Menchi @ Nov 11th 2008 6:34PM

Heh these reviewers need to read their own reviews and take their own advice. Play the game and not think about how awesome it would be if it was a sandbox instead of a linear path.

This is not GTA:Rooftop Runners. Get that out of your head and you will love this game.

This is by far the most enjoyable game i've played all year and it's getting terrible scores it makes me sick. Buy this game people it's an amazing piece of work deserving of your money. Sure it's not absolutely perfect but it sure as hell beats GOW and any other stale sequel to come out this year.

Vcize @ Nov 11th 2008 6:39PM

So if the 8.0 that PS3F gave it doesn't qualify as a number, what does it qualify as?

ducttapeBigSexy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:52PM

PS3 Fanboy also said the story is 5 hours and the entire game could take upwards of 20 hours. Not an "approximately eight-hour adventure"

Vcize @ Nov 11th 2008 7:31PM

I was referring to the comment that neither PS3F nor Joystiq gave the game numerical scores.

ducttapeBigSexy @ Nov 11th 2008 8:59PM

Oh yeah, that's what I realized too - I just also noticed that they claimed the game was 8 hours, when PS3F said it was only 5.

But, either way, apparently the story has been updated without a note as to why it was changed :P

DangerMouse @ Nov 11th 2008 6:40PM

It was only a week ago or so that i finally saw some new locations in the game. The graphics looks nice, but the lack of media told me that they didn't have much to show.

SonofSeth @ Nov 11th 2008 6:44PM

The game to finally convince me how useless reviews actually are. Maybe a cheep laugh or 2 with Yahtzee, but that's it.

Dravean @ Nov 11th 2008 7:13PM

Thought the demo was awesome and am excited to see where this can push all FPGaming.

Day one purchase.

deaftly @ Nov 11th 2008 7:16PM

hello used game purchase!

Rudolphe @ Nov 11th 2008 7:23PM

do it eeeeeeeeeee-bay!

wiinterfang @ Nov 11th 2008 7:45PM

Faith looks like a that Chinese Basketball player with a wig.

Velocifaptor @ Nov 11th 2008 8:03PM

"Mirror's Edge is a classic example of some awesome ideas that just didn't pan out the way that was originally intended"

Just like prohibition. Oh wait, those weren't awesome ideas at all. Nevermind.

Zumer Khalis @ Nov 11th 2008 8:10PM

I couldn't be more excited about this game. Parkour is rad in general, and this game not only puts you in the shoes of a free-runner for the very first time, but does it beautifully. It may be short, but the time trial mode has hooked the racer in me... With a new shiny hook.

--Branch out, fellas. It's the only way the industry will ever see any change.

born2kill @ Nov 11th 2008 8:18PM

not for the first time actually: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxsxKFLLxsU

Zumer Khalis @ Nov 11th 2008 8:24PM

Aso, I stand corrected.

ColtonimusPrime @ Nov 11th 2008 8:08PM

I wonder how a multiplayer could work in this game...

ryan @ Nov 12th 2008 1:28PM

Tag You're It?

Duck, Duck, Faith?

Red Rover, Red Rover?

Co-op Decathlon? Gym class?

The awesome potential is there!

Easo @ Nov 11th 2008 8:09PM

I paid the full $60 for this game and let me tell you, I purchased it this morning and it will be on ebay tommorrow morning. The game would have been much better if they had dropped the whole fps act, and had gone with more goal oriented, competition style of gameplay (like Skate or Tony Hawk meets free running). As it is though, its a love it or hate it type game that has benefited from the innovation = good school of thought. Rent it or buy it used.

Orion @ Nov 11th 2008 8:17PM

People talk like these scores are bad. God knows I have many games in my collection that got mediocre scores online that are some of my most prized gems.

Everyone has different tastes, and for me, if the game is like the demo, I'm going to have a big smile on my face throughout the whole game :).

Don't always go by what other people think. While scores can give you an idea as to gameplay, the fact that these scores range from 90 to 70 says that it's all about your opinion in the end.

Xoviet chiK @ Nov 11th 2008 8:41PM

$60 will buy a game disc and associated packaging, a *thoroughly?* enjoyable experience, and possible development of a *better?* sequel and the confidance of EA to continue to support new IPs as well as the confidence of other developers to develop cool and unique ideas. I'm on board for supporting that with my cash moneyz yo.

Xoviet chiK @ Nov 11th 2008 8:42PM

Dancing on the mind? I'll never tell! - sp: confidence*

Roto13 @ Nov 11th 2008 9:29PM

That's something, too. I want to support this game so the infinitely superior Mirror's Edge 2 gets made.

Arnon @ Nov 11th 2008 8:43PM

I liked Assassin's Creed.. I didn't look at all the silly things to nitpick at.. I just played the game and didn't bitch. It was amazing.

If this game gets scores like AC did, then I'm still going to play it because AC to me was just outstanding.. and from demo impressions, this seems to be amazing as well.

Arnon @ Nov 11th 2008 8:49PM

"Mirror's Edge is a classic example of some awesome ideas that just didn't pan out the way that was originally intended. The list of moves could be more expansive -- maybe by adding a fourth button to the mix -- and the world feels entirely too constricting for what could be a huge open city. ... I truly hope that a sequel is spawned, but this first attempt falls just a bit short."

Wut in the hell? This isn't some game you run around shooting and fighting people.. it's to enjoy what it is... not to look for something that it isn't. Go fail somewhere else IGN.

Futuramaguy42 @ Nov 11th 2008 10:33PM

I hear this game is too short.

Ryoga Vee @ Nov 12th 2008 12:10AM

Parkour FTW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkEmGJ1myfE

t_m @ Nov 12th 2008 1:01AM

So if its a choice between this game (7.3 at ign, short campaign, original ideas) and Cod:World at war (9.2 at ign, short campaign, nothing new) which would everyone choose?

Personally I'd pick Mirror's Edge every time...

Roto13 @ Nov 12th 2008 2:06AM

I would choose to never give an IGN review any weight.

j.howlett @ Nov 12th 2008 9:15AM

the demo was challenging in a that made me want to keep trying not like say the bourne game

ratm @ Nov 12th 2008 10:52AM

I think it's near-perfect. Haven't had fun with a game in so long. I could play it over and over and over again...

Lee @ Nov 12th 2008 11:27AM

These are about the reviews I expected, to be honest. I never really pay too much attention to reviews, as people have already mentioned, 7+ tells you it's not an awful game, the rest is up to the player.

This game has impressed me. Sure I love to see my favourite shooters refined, or my fighters tweaked, but a new IP with a new mechanic that isn't totally rubbish, and in fact, is pretty good, that's something I'm far happier to spend my money on.

Maybe it's different for teenagers that only get a game or two a season, or gamers that will buy the 5 'MUSTBUY' FPS before considering another genre, but £10 for Braid, £40 for Zone of the Enders 2 for example, have been my more proud purchases.

I have a job, I want games to end, I want them to offer me a high standard of gameplay and then finish. I'm too old for my previous love of 60 hour affairs, fed up of games artificially extending gameplay.

Not every game has to be long, 'sandbox' is not the standard or always improves the experience (what happened to Direction in games?), and I had hella fun on the demo.

Sorry for the rant, not trying to convince people, just I've already made my preorder (time trial demo was awesome) and I need somewhere to vent my impatience!

Joe Smith @ Nov 12th 2008 12:04PM

I get motion sick on a merry-go-round, and am exquisitely sensitive to bad cameras in FS games -- 5 minutes playing the wrong game and I'm sick for an hour. So no matter how good this game is, I pass.

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