Mirror’s Edge is one of the two major original IPs that came out of EA in 2008. For those less informed, “IP” stands for intellectual property which translated to “Original plus the ten sequels” as far as gaming goes. On the Mirror’s Edge review, I mentioned there is a new EA which is basically what I’m talking about here. When was the last time EA actually created a high value new IP? They’ve got Madden, Need for Speed, Sims and they buy older IPs like Command ‘n Conquer but the last time they created a new IP, I was still eating Oreos and playing my Gameboy Gray Brick. (I’m now eating Oreos and playing my DS. Gaming… Gaming never changes.)
EA’s new CEO from 2007, John Riccitiello, originally announced his views of the company and his plans to change the company to the better from Big Bad EA to Gaming World Savior EA. Considering games of Mirror’s Edge or Dead Space level require immense R&D time which in turn means a fuck ton of money, I can now say that Riccitiello has made good on his promises… *Insert politicians joke here*
Going back to the game, Mirror’s Edge is a game that really has some innovation built into it. I’m not talking about Wii Motion control which has been done, although less refined and not nearly as successful. Mirror’s edge is about free running and jumping. If you don’t understand this concept, a quick Youtube search for “parkour” will give anyone a decent idea of what this game is all about. Mirror’s Edge takes place in an extremely bloomy and blurry world where planks and pipes magically turn red as the character nears. People move in ways that would make Newton cry. For example, a character that could not jump much more than a foot could reach the floor above them if there were a few boxes of varying sizes so the character can start jumping like Mario.
The game is rough around the edges and many of the stunts done are ridiculously over-the-top. Story was extremely mediocre and graphics were crisp but simple. Another issue is the extremely short single player experience which I would usually defend but you will get more hours of enjoyment from just buying a few movie tickets. Time trials relieve the game from this problem slightly but there is only so much a man could get out of pressing “w” and the space bar occasionally trying to beat my older times by milliseconds. From a game critics’ view, I can remark the game is a pioneering point of the first person perspective game and a proverbial beach head for the Normandy Invasion into gaming innovation. From a gamers’ view, I have to say this game is a fairly awful with lots of buyers’ remorse added in.
