IGN Hands On Preview Mirror's Edge is the kind of game that might frighten some people because it has this crazy quality of being original. It's a game in the first-person perspective, but the only bit of display on the screen is a single dot in the center. There are guns, but the point of the game isn't to collect them and shoot other people. Think of it like a platformer if you want. This game is all about momentum and skilled jumps.
Mirror's Edge is a story driven game where you progress from one level to the next in a linear fashion and will last roughly 10 or 12 hours. You play as Faith, a courier who delivers messages in a dystopian future where all electronic communications are monitored a little too closely for some. To get the package from deliverer to recipient, she runs. In a towering city filled with a hostile police presence, this can get a bit hairy, especially given the fact that she never gains any new abilities through the game. The only thing that is unlocked, according to DICE, is your ability to play better.
The level that has been shown the most is the first, right after the tutorial. It takes place on the rooftops and gets you acquainted with some serious leaps. Remember, momentum is key. Get a running start and you can leap or slide and you'll carry much farther if you're going faster. This can be the difference between clearing a gap or biting the big one. With a little practice, you can run along walls and locate perfect lines to keep your momentum from one obstacle to the next. Even if you're not so good, the game will help you out by pointing out key places to leap or grab by coloring them red (you can turn this off if you're hardcore).
I got the chance to play through this entire first level. It's easy to see that there are fast ways of getting through it, but I was happy to just stay alive. Halfway through the level we grabbed a yellow courier bag before getting into a few fist fights. Occasionally you'll have to deal directly with the cops. If more than one or two show up, it's a good idea to run. Otherwise, you can run up and tap a single button to punch, kick, or slam them. It's all context sensitive; you just have to get close enough to deliver the blow. You can also disarm the guards, though that is a bit more difficult, and grab their weapon. If you do, know that it slows you down enough to prevent you from making tough jumps. These guns are intended to be quickly used and then discarded. Once we took down a couple of guards, the level ended with a timed jump off of a building where Faith grabbed on to a helicopter's leg.
In a non-playable demo, DICE also gave us a look at the third level. This took place down in storm drains inspired by Tokyo. There they have built towering drains intended to prevent flooding from tsunamis. At the floor level, we were shown two possible routes. Many levels are designed to have multiple paths in Mirror's Edge. Some are intended for a second play through. They're faster, but significantly harder. You will be rewarded for beating levels quickly, we're told, so mastering the game rather than just beating it is the intended goal. This level showed a bit more of the platforming and a great deal of action. This is where we got an extended demo of hand-to-hand combat, disarming guards, and firing off a few rounds. It's also when we were told that there would be an achievement for beating the game without using a gun. Sounds like a challenge that's right up my alley.
clicky