- Developer: EA Dice
- Publisher: EA
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Release Date: 15th September 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Game Supplied by: Xbox
8 years ago Faith first graced our console screens and 3 years ago we first found out about Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. Years before the events of Catalyst, Faith Connors’ family was killed during the November riots against the ruling corporations, with her parents, scientists Martin and Erika shot dead and her sister Cat apparently suffocating from a gas grenade tossed into a vent, through which the girls were trying to escape. In the prologue to the game, as told by the tie-in comics Mirror’s Edge: Exordium, Faith, now a Runner, began to work on the side for black market boss Dogen, after he promised her a painting by her late mother. She was to retrieve a vaccine prototype for Dogen by stealing it from fellow Runner Celeste (who stole it herself). After finding that Celeste intended to use the vaccine to cure her sister, Faith surrendered to K-Sec personnel in remorse. Dogen uses his influence within the city to reduce her sentence to one year in juvie.
As a first time player to Mirror’s Edge I had only seen some videos of running around what seemed like impossible walls and buildings being traversed but as the game brings you in softly with a tutorial I found this very easy to pick up and play.
It’s quite easy at first as you have limited abilities but as you progress and unlock more advanced combat, and running skills your button combinations increase and the amount you can do in game and ultimately how fast expands making it a much more fulfilling experience.
The screenshot below gives you a basic idea of upgrades.
Movement itself is incredibly graceful, responsive and frankly perfect. It does not seem to matter if it’s jumping, wall running, landing, punching or kicking everything just seemed to be effortless, you didn’t need to button bash either, wait and press for perfectly timed combinations making stunning action scenes.The last time I played a game like this was Remember Me, and much like Remember Me it was the story that grabbed me but on top of that fantastic movement and simple yet enjoyably upgrades coupled with a great visual presentation.
Mirror’s edge is somewhat different from some other high quality visual games, it’s clinical textures and bright navigation make it so clear how to progress in the game, yet when required the cut scenes show the power of the Frostbite 3 engine.
In your ear it can be a little repetitive, especially with the scraping of sneakers on the floors and walls, But with surround sound in combat you are listening for low level sounds to pick up and and attempt to continue your movement ensuring when you attack it’s with full strength.
I’m still jumping in and doing a mission or two here and there and can honestly say for the first time in a year or two that I have found a title that keeps me interested enough to keep coming back and it doesn’t need weekly challenges to do it.
Summary:
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst as a first time player is for me right up there with the top 10 of this current generation of games, perhaps it does not have the longevity of some multiplayer titles but the game itself on it’s own merits are fantastic and I can highly recommend this title, and now like many others will be eagerly waiting 8 years for the next installment (should there be one).
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!