ZeroTolerance writes:
"Creating something new and fresh in a world driven by sequels is no easy task. Most companies usually don't have the money to lose on an unknown franchise. Thankfully the fine folks at EA have decided that 2008 is the year to usher in some new franchises and so far the results have been pleasantly surprising. Mirror's Edge is the latest in this trend and it comes from the same folks responsible for the Battlefield franchise. The idea is relatively simple; create a platformer that moves at blazing speeds in first-person and throw in some spectacular acrobatics (based on the free-running phenomenon known as parkour) and a hint of combat. All of this results in one of the most innovative experiences on a console to date.
The story follows Faith, a runner whose job is to deliver information in an underground network. The catch to the story is that it takes place in a future where the government has removed a lot of the freedoms we take for granted creating a dull and unimaginative society. During the course of the game you quickly discover that Faith's sister Kate has been framed for murder and it becomes your job to clear her name. The rest of the game has Kate using her slick running abilities to evade Blues (cops) and uncover the mystery behind why her sister was set up."
Pros
+ Great sense of style
+ Pleasant visuals
+ Very cool concept
Cons
- Very short
- Combat doesn't always feel solid
- Cheap deaths
It seems that in Season 4, DICE has snuck in a Battlefield 2042 Mirror's Edge Easter egg in the new Flashpoint map.
GF365: "There are some games with extraordinary visuals that impress us to this day. Here are old games with outstanding graphics."
I always thought the first 3 Gears of War games looked great and still hold up for today.
Far Cry 2 was awesome. In addition to having demonstrably better physics and AI than later games in the series, it had a lot of design decisions that, criticized at the time, have since been praised in games like BOTW and Dark Souls.
It might not be super amazing by today's standard but I thought Mgs3 looked really good
Ubisoft Massive lead gameplay designer Fredrik Thylander, previously of DICE where he worked on Battlefield and Mirror's Edge, has spoken out about achievements and trophies, arguing that they "have been bad for gaming."
The achievements in Mirror's Edge opened my eyes to a whole other way of approaching the game. Since some of the toughest and most rewarding ones are basically whole levels turned into time trials with very strict time requirements, they force you to become much better at the game - in a way that difficulty levels just don't - and made me appreciate the mechanics that much more (especially the momentum-based running and platforming).
They actually made the game better for those like me who really enjoyed the game but wanted more of it, basically adding a new level of difficulty that took a long time to master/overcome. It added some extra longevity to a very short game.
He says "it eats resources that could have made the game better". I'm curious what he thinks the time he spent designing the achievements for the game would've been better spent on, because I expect bang for buck-wise achievements are a pretty efficient way of adding value to a game for the people who end up loving it.
I don't know. I used to think Achievements / Trophies were ruining games at first but then I saw the positive, if you totally love a game then they would offer you replay value by going after the last achievements to 100% the game. It made you explore every last bit of the game to achieve this and sometimes pushed you into areas or scenarios you probably might have missed.
It was a blast to get them on Oblivion / Skyrim, Fallout, Witcher, God of War, Elden Ring etc
Don't get me wrong, I do think there's achievements which are annoying, the ones where you need to find all collectibles which end up being missable AND are like trying to find a needle in a haystack are a kick to the balls, you know the majority of us are just going to use a guide to find them so what's the point.
Kind of a shame Nintendo haven't gotten a full system in place, they are so behind.
I enjoy having something to go for and feeling accomplished when doing something hard. I just hate it when achievements are based on things you can't really control. Like when something is for MP and the MP is just dead.
I used to be a hardcore achievement hunter back in the day, but I couldn't care less nowadays. I just want to play games the way I actually want to play them, and don't care to waste my time just to get a little pop-up.
Never been a fan of achievements. I just want to play the game however it may present itself to me, there's an overflow of achievements to seek in real life lol
Great for those that enjoy them though, much respect to the platinum hunters, it ain't easy lol
Pros
+ Great sense of style
+ Pleasant visuals
+ Very cool concept
This game is awesome