Summary

With its unique blend of parkour-based gameplay and a dystopian storyline, Mirror’s Edge delivers an unforgettable experience that challenges players to rethink their approach to obstacle navigation and combat in video games.

• Release Year: 2008
• Genres: Adventure, Platform, Shooter
• Platforms: iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Windows Phone, Xbox 360
• Developers: EA Digital Illusions CE
• Publishers: EA Mobile, Electronic Arts

Introduction

Dive into the high-contrast, visually stunning world of Mirror’s Edge. As Faith, players experience the thrill of parkour in a city where information is tightly controlled, and the slightest misstep can be fatal.

Synopsis

“Mirror’s Edge” is a first-person action-adventure platform game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. Released in November 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in January 2009 for Windows, the game has since grown in esteem and developed a passionate fanbase due to its unique style.

The game is set in a near-future city and follows the story of Faith Connors, an underground parkour courier who transmits messages while evading government surveillance. The city is a gleaming, utopian unnamed metropolis where everything is regulated and controlled by the City regime. To transmit information without alerting the government, so-called Runners, including Faith, are commissioned.

The game begins with the murder of a popular politician, Robert Pope. Faith’s sister, Kate Connors, is arrested for the crime, while Faith manages to escape. As the story progresses, Faith tries to unravel the circumstances of Pope’s murder and rescue her sister.

The gameplay of “Mirror’s Edge” is intended to convey realism and physical contact with the environment, and instill a freedom of movement never before seen in the first-person genre. This is achieved not only by freely moving around the stage, but also by linking the movement of the camera with character movement. The arms, legs, and torso are prominent and visibility is used to transmit motion and momentum.

To progress through the game and its storyline, the player needs to complete a series of levels that involve performing a linear sequence of acrobatic manoeuvres. These include jumping between rooftops, running across walls, and sliding down zip lines. The game features hundreds of first-person animations to convey Faith’s movement and interactions with the environment.

The game deliberately makes use of strong primary colors, with outdoor environments predominantly featuring white and distinctively lacking in green. A new lighting solution was created to give the game a unique art style. The game was written by Rhianna Pratchett, and its score was composed by electronic music artist Solar Fields.

Upon release, “Mirror’s Edge” received generally positive reviews from critics. They praised its visuals and immersive first-person perspective, but some criticized its trial and error gameplay and restrictive levels. The game sold around 2.5 million units by June 2013, and won Adventure Game of the Year at the 2009 Interactive Achievement Awards.

A prequel to the game, also titled “Mirror’s Edge”, was released for mobile devices in 2010. A reboot that explores a new origin story for Faith, titled “Mirror’s Edge Catalyst”, was released in 2016.

Characters

The game centers around Faith, a daring and resourceful runner. Supporting characters include Faith’s sister, Kate, who is wrongfully accused of murder, and other runners who navigate the city’s rooftops, each contributing to the game’s rich narrative.

Gameplay

Gameplay emphasizes fluid movement and traversal over the city’s rooftops, challenging players with jumps, slides, and climbs that require precision and timing. Combat is secondary, with a focus on evasion and disarming rather than direct confrontation.

Conclusion

Mirror’s Edge stands out as a daring and visually captivating game that broke new ground in first-person action. Its emphasis on parkour and a compelling dystopian narrative has left a lasting impact on gaming.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern