Mirror's Edge is possibly the best game i've ever played. DICE took a break from making generic battlefield games, and created something special, something that hadn't been done before or since. Ever since I played it for the first time a few years ago, I go back to it periodically and run through it again - it's not very long and it's just such a wonderful experience.

Such a special game in so many ways, Mirror's Edge is firing on all cylinders for most of its runtime, delivering its beautifully timeless art style meshed with well designed levels, the music and ambient sounds filling the space and making it feel alive.

The City, Mirror's Edge

Despite the game coming out back in 2009, it still looks beautiful to modern sensibilities - the art style fills it with a timeless futuristic appearance that's still grounded in the present. That, its story and in world level of technology give the game a general feel of a world that we could slip into just a few years from our own.

The real star of the show however, even more than the city, is the movement. When running, Faith is able to move fluidly through the cityscape, building up to a flow which is both natural and engaging, jumping from rooftop to rooftop in seconds as the city speeds by. The running is the defining feature of Mirror's Edge, and it complements the hyper-urban level design perfectly.

Mirror's Edge does falter on its story, it feels like it was shoehorned in more as a way to link the game's maps than anything else; The same can be said for the combat. Personally, i don't care too much for the combat as it can sometimes break the flow of running as you are forced to deal with a large number of enemies, however most combat encounters can be avoided while maintaining a satisfying flow by employing clever movement.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the game is how nothing has really done what it did again. EA have left the franchise to rot, for the most part. It got a sequel in 2016, which people have mixed opinions on, and which reworked the story and history of the world significantly. Admittedly, I haven't played it myself (maybe that'll be a future post, who knows); However, since the release of Mirror's Edge Catalyst, there has been silence on the franchise.

If you haven't played Mirror's Edge already, you should. It's available DRM free on GOG and often goes on sale for very little, so it's worth picking up and playing. The main game is relatively short, and you can finish the campaign in a few hours (something like 3-6 hours).