Man, what a great game. I've enjoyed the Halo series as well as GoW1 and 2 but this, this is pure bliss. For those of you complaining about that lack of original games, this is one to get. I've never seen or played anything like this for a long time and it's one of the reasons for liking video games even more now than ever.
For one thing, the core aspects of the game lends itself an air of physical beauty, grace and style, thanks to it's parkour-inspired game-play which is based on a real-life art of running that involves a rapid succession of movement from one place to another. The result is a beautiful ballet of traversing the urban environment in ways that have never been seen before in the human eyes. Although I would've loved a 3rd person view, the 1st person perspective makes it all the more easier to navigate your surroundings and in the end makes the player more engrossed and involved in the game as a whole.
None of this would be possible without the guise of a hero and that is where Faith Connors comes in. Unlike many video game characters, Faith is female and it's nice to play as one, especially in this game. Tough, beautiful, and determined, Faith sets out to right the wrongs in a totalitarian society where everything is "sanitized" for the betterment of the people. Faith is unique in that she's Eurasian(or being of European and Asian descent). I must say that I was really impressed with this characterization because not too many games feature multi-ethnic video game heroines and Faith fits that bill perfectly. A breath of fresh air in my book.
It also doesn't hurt to marvel at the games graphics. Everything is rendered in stunning detail, especially if you have a High Definition TV. From steaming pipes, glistening sun, to dripping water, is all realistically put to screen. It's only that the game's cut scenes that took me out of it sometimes. Though nice to look at, had they been CGI, I would've've enjoyed them even more.
But it's the game-play in Mirror's Edge that truly is the star of the show. With it's parkour-based controls, the game is a blast to play. You can wall ride, vault over obstacles, swing from poles to even tightrope walking and more!!! All from the pursuit of your enemies that use guns, flash grenades, and even helicopters to impede your progress(and there's a surprise at the game that I won't spoil). You can disarm them and use their weapons against them but nothing is more thrilling than outsmarting and outrunning them with brains and agility. That is one of the most exciting aspects of ME. My 2 main gripes with this game is that it should had more levels and a more coherent storyline. The story is good but for those that want a deeper insight into the inner-workings of this despotic atmosphere will be disappointed.
But despite all that, I enjoyed Mirror's Edge immensely. Fun, original with potential that has yet to be fully explored, is simply incredible. I've heard that this was intended to be the first of a trilogy. With Dead Space 2(made from the same company as ME) on the horizon then it's a sure bet that this is not the last we see of Faith Connors.
