Mirror's Edge™ Reviews

Don't be fooled, this is a puzzle game, just like Portal or SUPERHOT. Gameplay - superb, visuals - impeccable, story - "dog ate my homework".

looks cool jumping around and stuff was fun

I wanted to love this game so bad, it seems right up my alley and is absolutely gorgeous, but this is sadly the single most frustrating game I have played in years. The sheer volume of times it just does not register a button press causing me to plummet is absolutely astounding. Not to mention every single time that happens it resets to the beginning of the area which means I then have to hope I can get back to where I was to begin with without it doing it again on the way, resulting in compound frustrations. The combat is awkwardly passable at best and level layouts can get disorienting at times, but those *could* have both be forgiven by the gorgeous visuals and great soundtrack, if the damn game functionally worked. Playing this game just makes me want to boot up the titanfall 2 multiplayer for its butter smooth advanced movement system.

One of my favorite games of all time. The story isn't the best written, but i think the gameplay, the movement and how you can solve environmental parkour puzzles are what really make this game shine as a unique piece of art. And don't even get me started on the art style. I'm a huge fan of brutalist structures, and Mirrors Edge does them excellent justice. Color theory is used to the FULLEST here, and i love how nearly each separate area you traverse has a unique color scheme. This games music is also absolutely immaculate, and you need to experience it for yourself. It really has an excellent OST. Aside from some absolute BS fights at the end of the game (i'm looking at you, shard server room) it's pretty decently balanced, and enjoyable for, again, most of the game. I seriously recommend dropping the difficulty, this game is absolute bull in some sections. It'll ruin your playthrough for you if you let it. Please drop the difficulty, i'm serious. Even if it's one of my favorite games, Mirrors Edge is far from perfect and suffers from difficulty spikes, some pacing issues with the story, as well as jank that comes with being from 2009. If you solve the tech issues, and treat it like a good old B-movie story, i think you'll probably enjoy it's narrative perspective on dystopian cities, and governmental corruption. If i was going to rate this for myself, 10/10, for nostalgia. But for someone new, it's a solid 7/10 game, and worth playing through to the end, in my opinion! I hope this review convinces you to give this unique game a shot! (Also, the Xbox 360 version of this game is probably the best version. This game works better with a controller too, so try that out!)

Awsome game. cool community. nice graphics! and you can play mods!!!!

Definitely one of the most unique games I've had the pleasure of playing. The art style in this game is unmatched, and I love the use of bold coloring. I like how it mixes the modern minimalist art style with tiny bits of frutiger aero, all with a dystopian bow tying it all together. I am a HUGE fan of dystopian cyberpunk games, and Mirror's edge stands out from all the others I've played. While most other games stick to a dark and depressing atmosphere, surprisingly this game does the opposite, and has a very colorful atmosphere, even though the game itself is dystopian. Story was decent, although a little bit short. Parkour felt great most of the time, though I did have a few frustrating bits here and there. Overall 8.5 / 10 game.

I have such fond memories of this game. The flow of the movement, the soundtrack, the style. The only thing I remember souring the experience for me back then was the combat. Coming back to it all these years later, the movement is not nearly as smooth as I remembered it. The level design is hard to parse, which kills the tempo (or you). And the combat... Hoo-boy, I'd had forgotten how truly terrible the combat actually was. Immediately it feels incredibly silly to run through showers of bullets. Helicopters following, just emptying mags at you. Guys kicking down door, spraying at you. The amount of bullets you're dodging is just plain silly. And what do you do? You just run and pray. It doesn't feel tense, it just feels like an old James Bond movie, where you have ridiculous plot armor - until you don't. Getting hit by a bullet feels so ridiculously immersion breaking - I'm a slim athlete in a tank top! Why am I not immediately incapacitated or dead?? But then of course some times you have to engage the enemy, which is often just you trying to zig-zag towards a highly trained professional with a gun, hitting them and disarming them. But let's be real, you're gonna get hit a couple of times. But thankfully, this lady has Wolverine healing powers! Putting guns in this game was a huge mistake. The game just can't narratively excuse why you're such an unstoppable bullet-sponge, and the gameplay can't properly handle you actually dodging bullets in any believable way. Coupled together with the hard-to-read level design (even with runner's vision), it's just incredibly frustrating. I didn't even last an hour... I will still remember this game for how it broke new ground with first-person park hour, and it's fantastic soundtrack and style. I'm basically just in mourning that I can't recapture the joy I felt with this game the first time I played it. This was an indie masterpiece of it's time, but - to me - it hasn't aged very well.

A bold leap that doesn't nail the landing. Mirror's Edge (2008) stands as EA's ambitious attempt at creating something genuinely innovative—a first-person parkour game that dared to be different in an industry dominated by shooters. Starring Faith Connors (voiced by Jules de Jongh), also known by her alias Phoenix Carpenter, this dystopian adventure introduces us to a "Runner" navigating the sterile rooftops of a totalitarian city. Faith Connors: A Standout Protagonist Faith emerges as one of gaming's most compelling female protagonists, both visually and narratively. Her striking design—short black hair, a bold tattoo around her right eye, black tank top, red gloves, and white cargo pants—embodies the game's minimalist aesthetic while making her instantly recognizable. Crucially, her design avoids oversexualization, focusing on practicality and athletic functionality that serves the gameplay. Her backstory adds genuine depth to her rebellious spirit. Having lost her mother during the "November riots"—peaceful protests turned violent by government oppression—Faith ran away at 16, surviving as a street thief before being recruited as a Runner by her mentor Mercury. This tragic foundation grounds her resistance work and gives weight to her cool, determined demeanor. While some critics argue Faith lacks personality depth, her role as a trailblazer in female-led action games cannot be understated. She's become an iconic character who frequently appears on "best video game characters" lists, serving as a positive example of thoughtful female protagonist design that prioritizes character over stereotypes. The Parkour Revolution Where Mirror's Edge truly soars is in its movement system. The parkour mechanics deliver an unmatched sense of momentum and flow that remains impressive today. Faith's acrobatic repertoire—wall-running, pole-swinging, precision jumping, and parachute rolling—feels genuinely thrilling when you find your rhythm. The first-person perspective, enhanced by dynamic camera effects, motion blur, and visible limbs, creates an unprecedented sense of speed and physicality. The Runner Vision system cleverly highlights interactive elements in red, guiding players without excessive hand-holding. When everything clicks, traversing the city feels like a beautiful dance of momentum and timing, delivering moments of pure gaming bliss that few titles have matched. Design Limitations Unfortunately, the world design undermines the freedom that parkour represents. Despite the sport's emphasis on finding creative paths through urban environments, Mirror's Edge confines players to largely linear routes with minimal branching. The sterile aesthetic—while effectively reinforcing the oppressive atmosphere—becomes repetitive as architectural variety gives way to similar-looking rooftops and corridors. For a game built around movement and exploration, the restrictive level design feels like a fundamental contradiction. Players expecting an open city to explore will find themselves disappointed by the guided, almost on-rails experience. Combat Frustrations Perhaps Mirror's Edge's greatest misstep lies in its forced combat encounters. The hand-to-hand fighting feels clunky, with poor collision detection making punches and kicks feel disconnected. Disarming enemies requires precise timing during slow-motion sequences, disrupting the game's otherwise fluid pacing. While it's possible to complete the game without firing a weapon, most players will find themselves reluctantly engaging in gunplay that feels antithetical to Faith's character and the game's core philosophy. Technical Presentation Visually, Mirror's Edge presents a mixed bag. The stark white-and-red color palette creates a striking, memorable aesthetic that serves the narrative themes well. Faith's character model is expertly crafted, though players only see her fully twice during the campaign. However, frequent aliasing issues and texture inconsistencies detract from the overall presentation. The audio design fares better, with a soundtrack that perfectly complements Faith's urban journey. Voice acting, while competent, lacks the emotional weight needed to elevate the story beyond its basic framework of clearing Faith's sister Kate of murder charges. Content and Legacy At roughly six hours, Mirror's Edge feels disappointingly brief. Once the campaign concludes, players are left with time trials and chapter replays. While the time trials offer some challenge, the lack of substantial additional content limits long-term engagement. Despite its flaws, Mirror's Edge succeeded in creating something genuinely unique. Faith's influence extends beyond gaming—she's become a cultural icon representing strong, practical female character design. The game's impact can be seen in subsequent titles that incorporated parkour elements, though few have matched its pure focus on movement. Final Verdict Mirror's Edge represents both the triumph and tragedy of ambitious game design. When Faith flows seamlessly from rooftop to rooftop, when the movement feels effortless and exhilarating, it delivers gaming moments that feel truly special. The foundation for greatness clearly exists in its innovative mechanics, striking visual identity, and memorable protagonist. However, restrictive level design, clunky combat, technical issues, and underdeveloped storytelling prevent Mirror's Edge from achieving its revolutionary potential. It's a flawed yet innovative cult classic that dared to be different, anchored by one of gaming's most iconic female protagonists. The game's reboot, Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016), would later attempt to address many of these concerns with an open-world approach, suggesting that Faith's core vision was sound—it just needed more room to breathe. Score: 7.5/10 - A bold experiment with brilliant moments and an unforgettable protagonist, undermined by execution flaws but essential for anyone interested in innovative game design.

The atmosphere and aesthetics are so...relaxing and good (average Frutiger Aero/Y2k enthusiast) and remind me so much of the old days when i was younger, so much nostalgia. A game one of a kind.

One of my all time favourite games, the movement is unmatched. The vibes and music are UNREAL and were formative in my youth. If you play, do yourself a favour and never use guns or engage in combat unless you absolutely have to (i.e. story requires it, I don't think there's many points where you have to but it's been a while since I've played). NEVER use guns