Mirror's Edge

Mirror's Edge is a brave foray into a new genre that pays off for DICE and EA in a stunning and very fun package.

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Mirror's Edge is a first-person action-adventure game set in a highly stylized dystopian future. As Faith, a "Runner" who delivers messages while evading the watchful eye of the totalitarian government, players explore the city's rooftops and walls using parkour mechanics. Combat focuses on avoiding confrontation and using Faith's movements to take down enemies. The game features a striking color palette and a focus on speed and fluidity in movement.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 13,625 reviews

story1,272 positive mentions

stability174 negative mentions

story
3,865 mentions
33 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story of "Mirror's Edge" is often described as simple and predictable, serving primarily as a backdrop for the game's parkour mechanics rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate its dystopian themes and character motivations, many criticize it for being underdeveloped, with plot holes and a lack of depth. Overall, the narrative is seen as a vehicle to connect gameplay segments, with a few engaging moments but ultimately falling short of being memorable or compelling.
- “The storyline: Faith’s journey through a dystopian, controlled city keeps you invested, and the story feels fresh and meaningful without being overly complex.”
- “The story is simple yet competently told, and the setting builds upon the visuals masterfully, presenting you a more grounded variation of dystopia; a bright and sterile police state that could probably pass for a number of real cities with just a tad more surveillance.”
- “The story is engaging and the gameplay is fun, with a unique parkour mechanic that makes it stand out in the genre.”
- “The story is okay but relatively simple, with a few plot holes, and mainly serves as a break between the parkour sequences that make up most of the game.”
- “The story is simple but there are themes of government surveillance and private militaries in the background but they aren't taken very seriously.”
- “The story is linear and way too short but still worthwhile.”
gameplay
2,932 mentions
44 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mirror's Edge" is characterized by its innovative first-person parkour mechanics, which provide a fluid and exhilarating experience as players navigate a beautifully stylized city. While the parkour elements are generally well-received, some players find the combat mechanics clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. The game is often praised for its visuals and atmosphere, but criticisms arise regarding its linearity and occasional gameplay inconsistencies, leading to a mixed reception overall.
- “The gameplay is focused on first-person parkour, where you traverse rooftops and buildings at high speeds.”
- “Unique gameplay: Mirror's Edge stands out with its first-person parkour mechanics, making movement a fluid and exhilarating experience.”
- “The parkour mechanics are really satisfying, not to mention the beautiful visuals and atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating and the levels repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged.”
- “The parkour mechanics are implemented quite poorly and you will often struggle to garner any consistent movement momentum thanks to persistent scenery/object clipping or needing to climb annoying pipes/shafts which really stall the action.”
- “The combat mechanics are absolutely horrendous - avoid at all costs.”
graphics
2,489 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Mirror's Edge" are widely praised for their stunning, minimalist aesthetic that combines bright colors with a predominantly white environment, creating a visually striking experience. Many reviewers note that the game's visuals have aged remarkably well since its 2008 release, often comparing them favorably to modern titles. The unique art style, along with the fluid parkour mechanics, contributes to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience, despite some technical issues related to performance on certain hardware.
- “The graphics are detailed and clean, with each area following a distinct color scheme; usually with white as the base, highlighted by bold, contrasting colors.”
- “Stunning visuals: the clean, minimalist art style with bold colors is refreshing and makes the world feel vibrant and futuristic.”
- “The graphics still hold up well for a 15-year-old game, and the soundtrack is great.”
- “The graphics are very dated, which is to be expected from this old a game.”
- “The graphics hold up surprisingly well, the game still looks great and stylish after over a decade.”
- “The graphics are simplistic and fit the style of the gameplay well, while the gameplay itself is for the most part seamless, though i wish more time had been put into the combat system.”
music
1,159 mentions
59 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "Mirror's Edge" is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack by Solar Fields as a standout feature. The main theme, "Still Alive" by Lisa Miskovsky, is particularly memorable and evokes strong emotional responses from players. Overall, the soundtrack is described as immersive, fitting seamlessly with the game's visuals and gameplay, creating a unique and captivating experience.
- “The music is another highlight, perfectly complementing the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, adding emotional depth and immersion.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece from Solar Fields, it accompanies the game greatly and is one of those soundtracks that is great as a standalone album separate from the game.”
- “The music stops, you're placed 3 'puzzles' back from where you died and you start to just slog through things because you're forced to accept the game on its own terms rather than yours.”
- “Sometimes when you die in the game and you start the mission again from the nearest checkpoint the soundtrack doesn't play or plays after a while so that time the game is basically just silent at some points, and that was quite annoying when playing this game.”
- “The soundtrack alternates between calming/cinematic themes, and absolutely mind-numbing techno imitations.”
atmosphere
299 mentions
68 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and immersive sound design, creating a unique and captivating experience. The combination of a minimalist art style, a dystopian setting, and an exceptional soundtrack enhances the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of freedom and nostalgia, solidifying its status as an atmospheric masterpiece.
- “The atmosphere and the concept of the game is very awesome.”
- “The ambient sounds of the city, the rush of wind as Faith soars through the air, and the rhythmic beats of the soundtrack all contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is bright and colorful, the soundtrack is very futuristic, and the gameplay is very fun.”
- “Overall a strong 3/10 because atmosphere.”
- “However, that actually helps build the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Still, there are major flaws that ruin the atmosphere.”
replayability
289 mentions
37 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, primarily due to its multiple paths, time trials, and speedrun modes that encourage players to master levels and improve their times. While the campaign is relatively short, lasting around 4-6 hours, many players find themselves returning to refine their skills and explore different routes, making it a rewarding experience. However, some reviews note that the lack of achievements and limited content outside the main story can detract from its overall replay value for certain players.
- “The leaderboard system encourages friendly competition and replayability, as players strive to improve their times and master the intricacies of each level.”
- “The campaign is rather short (4-6 hours) but infinitely replayable as I've beaten it dozens of times now trying to go faster or try different routes.”
- “This game is really replayable, especially with higher difficulties, time trial modes, and some mods.”
- “The story is too short, but the replay value offered in its speed runs and time trials is great.”
- “However, as much as I love the looks and feel of this game, I'd recommend getting it while on sale, as the game is dirt short (takes about 3 hours to beat), and lacks in the replay value department (unless you like trying to beat the levels as fast as you can in time trials).”
- “The only downsides are that the campaign is too short and that it lacks replayability.”
stability
188 mentions
6 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous users reporting bugs, crashes, and freezes that can significantly hinder gameplay. While some players find the glitches add a layer of fun, many express frustration over the game's unresponsiveness and the need for troubleshooting to resolve issues. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," particularly on PC, making it a challenging experience for those who encounter these technical problems.
- “Also runs great in Linux.”
- “Beautiful game, it runs great even on a sub-par computer.”
- “Overall the game was reasonably bug free and worked fine on modern hardware.”
- “The aesthetic and gameplay is great but unfortunately due to how buggy it is, it is frustratingly unplayable.”
- “This game is a steaming pile of bug-ridden EA shit.”
- “The game will take your computer hostage if you alt-tab (cannot use task manager to fix it, must fully restart computer), combat is buggy and unpredictable.”
optimization
184 mentions
35 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on modern systems. While some users found it runs smoothly on lower-end machines, others experienced severe stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, especially when certain graphical features like PhysX are enabled. Overall, the game appears to be poorly optimized for PC, leading to a frustrating experience for many players despite its visual appeal.
- “The pc port is actually very good, maintaining great performance on a lower-end machine without any noticeable impact visually - I don't even recall if I touched graphics settings.”
- “Good game, amazing gameplay, amazingly optimized and FPS smoothing, worth every cent I paid.”
- “The game is very well optimized, so you don't need a four thousand dollar rig to play the game smoothly.”
- “But despite the fact that this is a 2009 game, the optimization leaves much to be desired.”
- “Game's optimization is so bad, there are points in this game that become unplayable.”
- “Bought it for the nostalgia, but unfortunately it's so poorly optimized that certain areas make it lag to the point it becomes unplayable even on a PC with great specs.”
grinding
92 mentions
3 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
77 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the game features enjoyable core mechanics, the grinding aspect often detracts from the experience due to tedious level design, forced combat encounters, and a lack of clear direction. Players frequently express frustration with the repetitive nature of certain tasks and the interruptions to gameplay flow, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is described as having moments of fun overshadowed by its grindy and frustrating elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The game is short overall, you can beat it in like 6 hours, but it's grindy as hell.”
- “While the game offers some great moments, these are far too often broken up by unintuitive/poorly designed areas that turn the gameplay into a tedious grind.”
- “My only issue with the game is that combat sections are very tedious and boring.”
emotional
82 mentions
90 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, with many players praising the immersive soundtrack and gripping gameplay that evoke feelings of freedom and anxiety. However, some reviewers criticize the lack of depth in the story and character development, leading to mixed emotional engagement. Overall, while the game has the potential to create powerful emotional experiences, its execution varies significantly among players.
- “What a heartbreaking game.”
- “I will never not love and appreciate this game for everything it has made me feel and experience. If I could have my memory wiped just to play this game again for the first time, I would. But even knowing the plot, I would still play it over and over again. 10/10.”
- “It's more than just a game; it's an experience that resonates on a deeply emotional level.”
- “5/10 - a good concept hampered down by sluggish gameplay, a boring story, and frustrating combat.”
- “Boring storyline, with no real entertainment behind it besides the parkour.”
- “Boring story, way too short.”
humor
58 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-3 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, stemming from clunky mechanics and absurd situations, such as characters falling in exaggerated ways or the contrast between serious themes and comedic gameplay moments. Players find amusement in the game's dated visuals, awkward animations, and the often frustrating parkour mechanics that lead to frequent, laughable failures. Overall, while the game may not deliver intentional humor, it provides plenty of laughs through its quirks and mishaps, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends.
- “Probably the funniest game I have ever played, not because of anything that was intentionally funny, but because of how frequently a near miss of a ledge would result in me falling to a Looney Tunes-styled death over and over while being surrounded by this very serious atmosphere the game was trying to present.”
- “Mirror's Edge is the perfect game to play with friends - you can take turns trying to beat each other's high scores, and you'll all have a great time laughing at each other's mistakes.”
- “Moments that should have been cool and empowering were almost-hilariously subverted by an ill-timed jump or a slide into a wall.”
- “Is this supposed to be funny?”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
character development
38 mentions
24 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
26 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with many reviewers noting that the protagonist, Faith, remains static throughout the story despite her intriguing design and solid voice acting. While the character designs are praised for their quality and style, the narrative fails to provide depth or growth for the characters, leaving players wanting more in terms of backstory and emotional engagement. Overall, the game is recognized for its gameplay and aesthetics, but it suffers from a shallow storyline and minimal character development.
- “Her character design is flawless, her voice acting superb, and her journey is one that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
- “The storyline is adequate - more character development wouldn't have hurt and the story itself seems a bit rushed at times, but it gets the job done, connects you to the character, and honestly I'm not sure if there was really room in the game for much more elaboration.”
- “Her character design draws intrigue to the world she belongs to, yet it's referential to just her in a really cool way.”
- “The idea written on paper is good, it's executed well, but it lacks much character development - Faith just kind of stays the same throughout the whole game.”
- “The character development is also not great either, yes we do learn that Faith has a sister, but that’s all we get.”
- “Best parkour game I've played, but the story and character development is not deep enough which made it quite boring just running to escape from enemies.”
monetization
28 mentions
7 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
46 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions and downloadable content (DLC), which is a refreshing change for an EA title. Players appreciate the focus on a complete single-player experience without the pressure of forced multiplayer or predatory monetization schemes, allowing for a more enjoyable gameplay experience. The game's world-building through in-game advertisements is noted as a clever design choice, enhancing the atmosphere without detracting from the core gameplay.
- “Nice to know that this is one of EA's games without microtransactions.”
- “No microtransactions or loot boxes.”
- “The entire game looks like an advertisement.”
- “It also came out in a time when EA wasn't that greedy as it is today, so there's no DLCs, no microtransactions, no nothing.”
- “Imagine a game with no microtransactions.”