The Game Boy: Mirror’s Edge, We Hardly Knew Ye
The Game Boy: Mirror’s Edge, We Hardly Knew Ye
Posted 05/20/2009 at 8:00am
| by Nathan Grayson
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I’ve been playing Peggle lately, and – confession time – I love it.
Despite the attached “casual timesink” stigma and even though the game’s main gameplay conceit is essentially as complex as watching a slinky bounce down a staircase, I can’t get enough of it. On top of that, it serves as a perfect contrast to the other stigma-prone game I’m currently loving in that can’t-let-the-family-find-out sort of way: Mirror’s Edge. Why the wariness? Well, Mirror’s Edge was supposed to lead EA’s innovation charge, but the game’s over-reliance on frustrating trial-and-error-based gameplay caused it to fall slightly short of its lofty goal.
As with Peggle, though, that “controversial” gameplay conceit is my main reason for loving it so much. So, to sum up: Peggle is simple and fun, while Mirror’s Edge is brutal, but still enjoyable. Playing one when I’m fed up with the other makes them perfect compliments. End of story, right?
But this complimentary contrast isn’t without a point. See, typically, the ridicule Peggle receives is purely in jest. The game’s casual and addictive, so – obviously – you’re putting your hardcore gamer cred on the line by playing it. “Oh that Nathan! Giving [Big Name Game X] the cold shoulder for Peggle? What a loon!” And then hilarity ensues. Etc. But the truth is, Peggle’s a fantastic game, and most will acknowledge that.
Mirror’s Edge’s jump-die-jump-die-???-profit shtick, though? That’s the kind of thing that inspires gamepad-shaped holes in the wall and cursing strings that’d make Q-Bert blush. Lower than expected review scores and a general air of disappointment shortly after the game’s release reflect that. As a result, I’d wager that the type of gameplay Mirror’s Edge took so many verbal blows for is on its way out. Which is a shame, because I think it still has a place in today’s gaming climate.
See, the beautiful thing about Mirror’s Edge is the way it presents the ever-looming specter of death. Other games, of course, do this to an extent, but Mirror’s Edge exemplifies it. One slightly incorrect leap and you’re pavement pizza. Fail to immediately incapacitate that police officer and his shotgun will splatter the city’s white rooftops with red. Stop moving forward and some form of boogie man – be it cop or helicopter – is bound to gobble you up and set your progress back a few minutes. Thus, the possibility of failure is never out of sight or mind, making any kind of success a thrill of the highest order. Going for a sustained amount of time without dying, then, is like achieving a big combo. It’s something you really, actually earn.
In spite of all that, though, many gamers still jumped aboard Mirror’s Edge’s hate train, creating an object lesson in why this type of gameplay probably won’t be sticking around for much longer. As evidenced by Mirror’s Edge’s mixed reception, gamers’ tolerance for “unforgiving” gameplay is dropping. Mirror’s Edge isn’t even all that unforgiving (not compared to many old-school games, anyway), and yet much of the gaming populace wouldn’t let it catch a break when it came to criticism. As a result, the game’s sales definitely weren’t as high as EA was hoping for, and if the game receives a sequel, I imagine it’ll attempt to toss the trial-and-error altogether. Money speaks loudest, after all.
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tweeve
May 20, 2009 at 5:51pm
Mirrors Edge while at times could be hard. It wasnt that bad. The thing I hear the most about the game is people dying a lot becasue they think its a shooter. Once you make the connection that you cant shoot your way out of everything, and the shooting and fighing skills are sub par then the game is great. You start thinking about other ways to do things and start thinking outside the box. The best achevement in the game is when you beat the game without shooting anyone. That made the game freaking hard, the last level took me a few days to get right without getting mowed down. I beat the game not long ago on hard, this time I used weapons and the game seemed easy compaired to not using a single weapon.
You know what is hard, the bonus time trial levels. Its all I can do to find my way though the levels, much less do it in time to get even bronze.
Ilander
May 20, 2009 at 10:34am
Genuinely enjoyed Mirror's Edge...but, probably the saddest part about it is that it's not playable in any way by the handicapped.
You see, my girlfriend has limited functionality of her right hand, and as such, well, can only reach one side of the gamepad or the other...not both.
A keyboard/mouse might actually allow her to play the game, but it's one of those things that could easily been fixed if EA had mapped the jumping to the face buttons, or allowed you to create your own button mapping.
So, that's pretty much my only complaint about the whole game. Goodness knows that I enjoyed the heck out of it!
publicimage
May 20, 2009 at 10:24am
Although no one seems to be specifying the platform on which they're playing, may I be the among the first to offer that playing Mirror's Edge on a PC with the FPS-superior mouse and keyboard combo led to none of the frustration that seems to plague the gamepadders. Sure, there were a few head-scratcher moments and some repetition to get things right, but really nothing out of the ordinary for checkpoint based games. Was the PC version more forgiving? Or was it the extra level of control offered by the mouse/keyboard? Just as I don't understand how to play racing games with WASD, I really don't understand playing FPSes with a gamepad. Try the PC version when you get a chance, you may be surprised. :)
atomaweapon
May 20, 2009 at 9:49am
I enjoyed the art direction for Mirror's Edge, but the gameplay left me a little frustrated. I got to a point when you're underground, and I had no idea what to do next besides try some crazy off the wall jump manuever and kept dying in the process. I tried a few times later but still couldn't get it and promptly sent the game back to gamefly.
I do applaud EA for trying something new and I think they could take the same concept and do really well in the sequel. One thing for sure that jarred me was seeing the beautiful, almost beach like quality of the city, and then the story being presented through some sort of esurance animation. Needless to say all the beauty and ambience that they showed through the presention was lost with that garbage. I hate the esurance commercials more than you can fathom, and that was an instant turn off for me.
Also, again I applaud them for trying something different in the heroine, but just a tad more sex appeal would have been nice. I am a 24-29 demographed male, and I'd like to be catered to a little. I'm not saying give her double D breasts are a leotard, but maybe up a cup size and just a tad more curvature.
Personally I grew up gaming, but now as I'm older, I'm a little less forgiving when it comes to overly difficult and frustrating games. When games like Mirror's Edge simple don't let me progress because of a ridiculous gameplay mechanic, or overly frustrating level or boss, I'll usually just pack it in and send it off. I have a fulltime job and other priorites and don't really have time to deal with a level designers solution to extending the game a couple of hours.
I don't want a game to be overtly easy, but I want it to progress naturally. I don't want to waste time and get frustrated by a level or gameplay gimmick. Games that do that never get my time, and that's what Mirror's Edge did.
LatiosXT
May 20, 2009 at 8:57am
I didn't find Mirror's Edge's trial-and-error gameplay (for the most part) to detract from the fun. Granted some places were annoying, but otherwise I didn't find the game that bad (in fact I died at the moment I reached a check point, and for some reason it let me bypass the obstacle that got me killed). Though not to sound rude, you could try and attempt to do something different if the third time isn't a charm (or go to Gamefaqs.com).
But there's one game that I find that detracts from the fun because for no apparent reason, it's frustratinly hard. It's Ratchet and Clank Future. What I don't understand is that this is supposed to be a older kid's game but it's annoyingly hard towards the end. You can buy armor, but enemies are still chipping at 25% of your life. The final boss fight, I can die in four hits tops. What's the point of having 200HP if you can only take four hits? I promptly gave up on the fifth try to play Resistance.
To me, that's when a game starts going downhill.
anonuser
May 20, 2009 at 9:32am
I'm with LatiosXT, partially.
I don't see where you guys are coming from, at all. The game was easy, actually too easy even at harder levels. I passed it the first time in less than 4 hours. Good thing there's "decent" replay value in the form of time trials, though I'll give you this, THOSE are hard unlike the main story.
The trick is not to go straight forward towards your enemies. This isn't a shooter, i'm sure you noticed. Otherwise follow the red path in easy and normal difficulties and all should be fine. No trial and error, it's a fixed course.
I will myself buy the expension maps once I get the MS points, one could say I'm a mirror's edge junkie. :P
bingojubes
May 20, 2009 at 8:39am
I liked the game because it was somewhat of a different concept - running instead of shooting. sure, it had unbalanced weapons, but I liked the fact that i had to think a bit more because i didn't have a weapon. being in first person, it was almost like actually running, and the timings of jumps added frustration, but also a neat addition when i eventually was able to chain combos together super speedy and such.
the fact that this FPR (First Person Runner) was set in a brightly-colored city was very attractive for me, 'cause most are either too dark or overly filled with stuff to look at. I guess I liked the plain white buildings a lot more after playing through the first time. Sound effects were a nice touch, as well.
Only downside I could think of was that after finishing the last area/level, i almost wanted to switch to e-surance. Should there NOT be a ME2, I guess a more promising title then would be Assassins' Creed 2. Parkour + Knives = pure un-adulterated fun & win.
sparkz
May 20, 2009 at 8:24am
just saying, heres one loyal fan of the game that agrees with what your saying. I think gamers of the modern day has become pansy. Does any one remeber mario (especailly the lost levels) how hard that was. I think the game industry needs more games like this
jcollins
May 20, 2009 at 9:59am
Yep, they're all wimps these days. Why, I remember, back in the day, you died, you restarted the whole level. There was consequence. There weren't things like checkpoints or save games. You could spend several days just getting past a level. These days, gamers expect things given to them on a platter...
/crotchetyoldman
Of course, the reality of the situation. Back in the day, it was mostly kids with tons of time who played the games. There wasn't a lot of competition for the entertainment space, so game companies didn't need to implement save games and checkpoints. Parents didn't care because the kids were occupied.
These days, it's a lot tighter arena, with a lot of competition for time. Plus, the kids have all grown up and gotten jobs, and don't have multiple days for frustration. They play games to have fun, not to have a second job. Successful games have changed accordingly (become shorter, and less complicated).
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