STUDIO: Electronic Arts
RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2008
CONSOLE: PS3
ALSO AVAILABLE ON: XBox 360, PC
DEVELOPER: EA DICE Stockholm
GENRE: First-Person Action, Adventure
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)

Mirror's Edge is a landmark, revolutionary gaming experience that doesn't go far enough with its extraordinary vision to truly become the instant classic that it could have been with a more expanded game. I love Mirror's Edge, and your first hour with this game is likely to blow your mind, but, with more and more games offering full-realized, multi-layer, customizable experiences, Mirror's Edge's very-short single-player mission and lack of really anything beyond it is going to disappoint some people. What IS there in Mirror's Edge is incredible, but I don't think it will be enough for most people. It's like having the best meal you can imagine, but only two bites worth. The food's great and those two bites are spectacular, but you'll have to get something else to eat to be fully satisfied.

In Mirror's Edge, you play Faith, a runner in a city where Big Brother has truly taken over society. Everything has been sterilized to the point of insanity, and only a select few are allowed to communicate freely. They are the runners, who live up to their name by dodging bullets on rooftops as they jump from building to building. In the game's story, Faith has uncovered some serious corruption that has made her and her friends even more of a target than she usually would be. Through a series of chapters, Faith/You have to figure out how to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, leaping rooftops, climbing walls, sliding down poles, and even taking out an armed guard or two (with firepower or not... it's up to you). The missions are relatively repetitive, but the pace of the game is so quick that you won't notice. You'll be too riveted at trying to figure how to plan your escape.

I loved every minute of Mirror's Edge, even if the first time through seems a bit based on "try and repeat" too heavily. What I mean by that is that you pound open a door (which is a gorgeous effect), run out on a roof, try to jump one way, and die. Try another way... and die. Repeat until you find your way. There were a few moments of repeated death-after-death that grew frustrating, but when you do figure out what needs to happen to get Faith to safety, it's an incredible, wonderful rush of adrenalin that's not easy to describe.

What truly sets Mirror's Edge apart is its individuality. In a year when the FPS game has taken over the market, it's refreshing to find an experience that's thrilling without (if you choose) a single shot fired. You've never played anything like Mirror's Edge. The design of the levels, the character, the controls - all flawless.

What holds back Mirror's Edge is something very simple - depth. The single-player mission is shockingly short - around six hours - and, after that, there's nothing but a series of time trials and trophy aspirations. There's no multi-player at all or even two-person, offline racing capabilities. The potential of online Mirror's Edge is incredible. Think of the map editor they could put in place and allow fans to create their own time trial tracks. Think of the online races. And yet, none of that happened. If you know that you're not going to have a lot of variety in game types and no multi-player, you face a responsibility in today's market to make a single-player game that's at least ten hours.

Everyone should play Mirror's Edge at least once, but I wish I could more heartily recommend a purchase instead of a rental or waiting until it shows up used. It's a love affair, but it's a brief one.