Mirror's Edge [360/PS3]

[randombs]

Bought this today on 360, just started playing it. So far it's one of the few games I've played where dying isn't necessarily frustrating (hopefully they're not keeping tabs on the number of deaths, it could be pretty embarassing!).

In fact, seeing the screenshots for it made me want to get a 360 again, and I was dead-set on it but still umm-ing and ahh-ing, then HD Remix came out and tipped me over the edge and here we are.

I'm so glad someone's finally decided to take all that processing power and make something genuinely beautiful. I'm fed up of all these games that try to find beauty in destruction and lump me in dark, dank environments to give an 'edgy' feel, and the copy/paste shaders that make most games look the same.

Blue skies, sun-bleached white buildings, dark blue windows, timed runs and the like really pander to the 16-bit Sega boy in me. I haven't felt this old-school since Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox.

It's a refreshing game in its own right, and I owed it to myself to buy it despite the shortcomings I've read about (mainly with the combat) if only to encourage more games like this. EA took a bit of a gamble and I don't know if it's paid off financially, but it's given me faith ('scuse the pun) in the current-gen a month after turning my back on it completely.

I also think Faith as a character is really cool, I'm glad they didn't go for the big-eyes big-tita stereotype or anything like that. I saw that mock-up of Faith redrawn according to Japanese tastes and it was quite funny, and I'm glad she looks the way she does and it's a shame we hardly get to see the model much in-game.

Hopefully they won't do a Prince of Persia and drastically alter her look for the sequel to 'fit in'. While on the topic of sequels, I'd love a free-roaming option where you can just play about. Not sure if this one has anything like that, unlockable or otherwise, but I'd love to just kick back and soak up the atmosphere, especially with the subtle soundtrack.

It's the best example of gaming being a form of escapism this year, at least for me sitting here in London where it's freezing cold and raining outside.

It's like a dream.

[fuse]

Just reached 1000/1000 points on this yesterday. Still love it to bits, probably my GOTY infact. Bring on the DLC.

[charlesr]

Longevity is an issue, mainly because its one first person game that doesn't lend itself to numerous multiplayer modes. Kudos to DICE for trying with the time trails, speed runs and DLC but once you've seen the city you've seen it all, and these will only appeal to some. Perhaps multiple routes and some multiplayer free-running racing are something to look at for a sequel.

I sooooo disagree with you.

The way I see it, the story mode is only a few short hours, whereas the Time Trials IS the the main game. In fact it's the whole POINT of the game. I've spent more time on just one time trial level than on the whole story mode. So there's no longevity issue.

You say once you've seen the city you've seen it all. But seeing isn't the point. Feeling is the point.

[Super Monkey Balls]

to some..

.....

[charlesr]

I'll give you that.

[Super Monkey Balls]

It's a nice addition and kudos to DICE for adding to it with DLC but anything involving time attack in video games takes a certain kind of gamer, and that isn't me.

The game just doesn't lend itself to the kind of extras that give the more traditional first person game longevity. It's also a very linear campaign whereas in an FPS something different can happen every play through.

These are the things that hurt games in reviews and its a shame as it was one of the most memorable few hours of the year for me.

[randombs]

Yeah but it could be the case (and hopefully is) that time trials, speedruns and DLC actually appeal to more than some, though.

anything involving time attack in video games takes a certain kind of gamer, and that isn't me.

There you go, now it puts things in perspective

Personally, (although I haven't finished it yet) I wouldn't mind if the story was even shorter than it is, as the time trials and whatnot will keep me busy for ages (my first go took 9 minutes the first time, then I beavered away at it and got it down to 1:45. Still rubbish but it's the just-one-more-go feeling that does it for me).

But then it's like me with MGS4 - once I finished it I didn't touch it again, didn't do any of the extra things, didn't replay anything. Nada. So I can understand when people will want the main game to be meaty instead of it suffering (in their eyes at least) on account of the 'extras'.

Although with Mirror's Edge, I think you need an EA account and be signed in to do the time trials, don't you?

[charlesr]

My review is written (being proofed atm) and hopefully it addresses all this, although there's a chance it might have swung too far the other way from most reviews I've seen....

[Kubrick]

I'd imagine most people will only do the time-attacks to earn the achievements/trophies and then never touch them again.

[fuse]

Would.

[randombs]

I noticed something weird playing this:

When you jump forward and press RB (or I imagine R1 on PS3), you turn around mid-air and lands on your back, which is just fine. But I decided to see what happens if you press RT (or R2) after turning around and I swear it looks like she's sticking two fingers up! Why would she do such a thing? Not one to make rash judgements until I have concrete facts*, I did it in the slow-motion mode and, sure enough, two fingers clear as day

I imagine it's just some cool thing they snuck in for you to use on people you've just escaped from by jumping off a building, but why, Faith?

WHY?

* time permitting

[Kubrick]

There's actually an achievement/trophy related to that...

->Open Spoiler<-

If you flick the V sign when you're falling to your death from a building, it'll unlock. You need to be in combat with baddies at the time.

[Paulos G]

->Open Spoiler<-

You don't have to actually fall to your death. If you run past a bad guy and do it the achievement also unlocks.

[randombs]

I'll try it next time I play it. I'm on a really annoying combat bit now in a subway where there's about 4-5 guys at the top of some escalators. When I turn around and run away, two more appear from the room I was just in and I keep dying no matter what I do. At one point I managed to get rid of one of them and he didn't drop his gun (at least, I couldn't see it anywhere).

It's driving my bonkers and I'm worried it'll be one of those occasions where, upon successfully negotiating it, it'll feel more like a head-slapping 'duh!' than a warm dose of fulfilment

[randombs]

Still beavering away at this, all that orange! It's like Stelios was involved!