The Real Problem with Mirror's Edge...the Players

People apparently just don't know how to play this game.

[italianbreadman]

People really just don’t seem to get Mirror’s Edge. Every negative review of the game reads like someone crying that it’s too hard for them, while the positive ones talk about the effective, genre-breaking design.

I can’t help but feel like your suggestions would pretty much break the game, though. What’s the point of even playing if the main motivation for quickly and efficiently pursuing your goals is removed?

Maybe making combat easier would be ok, but there should at least be a choice between "normal" mode and "easy" mode, so that people who play the game how it is meant to be played can enjoy it, too.

[cain141]

I don't know. I get how to play it. It was fairly easy. I just didn't love it. It's not bad, just not that special to me...

[InMyOpinion]

Blaming the gamers eh? That's like when a teacher blames the kids cause he/she lacks teaching skills. Mirror's Edges level design was produced by ignorant baboons. It doesn't give you any indication as to where you are supposed to go. You need to stop and press a button to make her look a certain direction, and not only does that kill the flow of the game(gets you killed),it's also not helpful enough. They should have designed and tested it better to avoid the trial & error gameplay that plagues it.

Here's a quick idea; Show subtle arrows when Faith stands still for more than 1-2 seconds. Could even tweak it so that the longer you stand still the more of the path the arrows reveal.

[JCDenton]

I very much enjoyed Mirror's Edge. My only complaint is that is too short (~5-6 hours of gameplay on NORMAL difficulty).

Everything else - immersion, graphics style (and graphics in general), sound, animation.... is brilliant!

One of the best games I played in the last few years.

[predator]

i loved Mirror's Edge, felt like a breath of fresh air compared to some titles I played last year.

[James Abels]

I really want to get into the time trials on this game, but still haven't bothered picking it up

[italianbreadman]

...curious who disagreed with JamesAbels' statement...

[Viatrophy]

They are a blast, but getting 3 stars on some of the levels are really hard.

[PirateThom]

It's a fun enough game, but too much trial and error...

[InMyOpinion]

Something we agree on.

[duarteq]

Really nice game, with great game play. and the best thing, new for gamers, tired of FPS where arms are the right thing to use. This game is almost a pacifist FPS :P We need this kind of innovation to games

[lordgodalming]

Amen to the change of pace idea. I love that you earn a trophy by completing the game without shooting anyone. Can't wait to pick this one up.

[Gue1]

mirror's edge is awesome!

[ihaten4glol]

I understand how to play Mirror's Edge just fine, and I thought it was a different and enjoyable game, but I'm simply not in love with it. Many things could have been executed better. It's true that a good portion of gamers who sit down with it and find themselves "too good" for it, or simply not "getting it" are to blame for the majority of the backlash, but also because the game was not exactly a masterpiece, in my eyes. The whole game is a glorified time trial, which is awesome, but it's over in the blink of an eye (not worth the money, IMO). Blues were easy to disarm and take down if you absolutely had to, so I found no real problem with this. It simply wasn't as good as it could have been. Doesn't mean that EVERYONE who played it just "didn't get it."

[wibble]

I also feel that games need to start moving away from the "try to prevent the player from reaching point B" mentality and instead just let the player take their time and enjoy the scenery.

It's becoming more about enjoying digital art and less about trying to kill monsters. The missions, monsters and obstacles are just annoying.

But maybe it's just me.. :)

[italianbreadman]

I think it is just you. For YOU, that's the type of game to play -- the take-it-easy-and-enjoy type of game. And that's perfectly fine.

The beauty of the gaming industry's evolution is that games can be different from standard conventions, offering a variety of different styles of play. Because they're different doesn't make them wrong.

[JCDenton]

I'd like to add two more great things (for me, at least) about this game - "cyberpunk feel" and the feeling that you're "fragile" (like in the fantastic PC survival-horror PC game PENUMBRA), and that running away is the best option in most cases (just like in real life ;) ).

[italianbreadman]

Black Plague was one of the best of 2008, in my opinion.

[Scruffy_K]

Oh great, another one of these people. Don't blame a game's flaws on the player. This game has a sh*t ton of flaws and most of them can't be put off on not knowing how to play a game. Although, if you can play your way through a game without knowing how to play it, well, there's a serious problem with the learning curve in that game. Most games are suppose to teach the player how to play it.

[flakko]

i would have to disagree with you. If you look back on games past, they just plop you down in the first level and have you fend for yourself. Megaman, Castlevania, contra, Resident evil, etc. It wasnt until probably the end of the ps2 era did the Hand-holding start, to make the games easier. also IIRC while playing the demo, your instructor says "sometimes its best not to get into a fight. Be aware of your surroundings" or something like that. Its just people are conditioned to playing games for the kill nowadays.

[Scruffy_K]

All of these games you listed you knew how to play. Castlevania, what do you do? Well you go left (or right, depending on the level) and you kill stuff. It's fairly simple and the design of the game taught you how to do so. I've never seen someone play Castlevania (or Megaman) and go, "well what do I do now? I'm so confused" it's obvious what you're suppose to do. I'm not talking about the game holding your hand, saying, "here's an enemy, in this case you should fight it". I'm also not saying that Mirror's Edge doesn't teach you how to play it, I picked it up fairly easy, but does that mean the combat isn't flawed? No, it's still very flawed. And yes, you are suppose to avoid the enemies but there are certain areas where that just isn't possible.

[flakko]

wow great article. games to a certain extent are meant to be frustrating. It just adds to the OH YEAH!! reaction when you complete a section. dang new age gamers and thier hand-holding violent conditioning games.

[NaiNaiNai]

the game was amazing, and most of the problem was players, i could beat the game in less then 2 hours on hard mode, and i still loved it i played and beat the game a good 8-9 times now, and its just fun to find new ways to get past stuff, the people who say the game sucks usually end up taking the long way,the way that doesn't take any thought. you know those people who suck at puzzle games.
-nai-

[ThePimpOfSound]

Great article.

I played the game without shooting any guards, didn't have too much difficulty doing it -- certainly not more than some of Halo's Legendary challenges -- and felt like a better man for it.

I don't agree with the suggestions, and the game does have its flaws, but the thrill of the chase is what makes it great. If people can't enjoy that without nanny telling them it's okey, then that's their loss.

[outlawlife]

it wasn't the difficulty i didn't like...it was the game

too short, rather repetitive and linear, overhyped in my opinion

[TheColbertinator]

I enjoy Mirrors Edge.One of the most refreshing games in the past 3 years.I hope the DLC and sequel are good as well

[primordialmeme]

Right idea. Wrong way.

A very rushed title. Short game with little depth, and not great graphics. EA ruins everything.

[OOG]

waiut when did Mirrors Edge become hard??? is was basically running and jumping for 6 hours...and didnt really have a story to peak any interest...and this was on hard... I start all my games on the hardest mode available....this game wasnt hard....it just lacked a lot of depth...

[JD_Shadow]

Hard mode isn't unlocked until you complete Normal.

[OOG]

well i must have started on normal....the hardest mode available .... lol

which I mean is say..the typical game will normally have 3 or 4 modes to start from and most often I start on whatever mode is the hardest that is available.....so I guess that must have been normal...

Anyway...beating it the first time was enough that you do not want to play the game again...just the same shizit different setting...and still wouldnt be hard.

[JD_Shadow]

Although it's not the best game I've ever played (the controls are somewhat broken and the game IS rather short), it's not as bad of a game as some of the reviews are making it out to be.

Oh, and besides, aren't we SUPPOSED to be getting DLC for this game (some of which will be PS3 exclusive...sorry, had to rub that in a little).

EDIT@BELOW: To me, the controls could've been tweaked just slightly to be a little more responsive, and a lock on system in combat was sorely needed for this game (I think there's sort of one because I've seen times where Faith would just keep looking at a blue no matter WHERE I walked to, but I could not remember anything I did to initiate that and looked more like a bug than something intentional). They still did what they intended to do, but it could've been better.

[FantasyStar]

Controls are definitely not broken, unless you're referring to SIXAXIS. Then yes, I did find those unreliable at times.

[MaximusPrime]

i just bought this game today (good deal)

i must say, i like it.

im a serious gamer so i know how to play. There are some people who may not play computer alot, they are the one finding mirror's edge a little difficult.

[typikal82]

Are we talking about Mirrors Edge or LAIR here? These arguments sound familiar.

[kingme71]

Strangely enough this article was written by Denis Dyack.

[bassturd]

nah...the real problem is it was so SHORT.

Rented it, played it casually, beat it in 2 days.

Given, there are time trials and things to do afterwards. Which, honestly, are probably more fun than the actual story mode. I'd have to say it was probably the worst ending fight in a game I've ever played. One move and it was over.

Good game, I hope to see more like it but maybe with more content multiplayer-wise or a better story or something. Sorta how I felt about another game, "The Club". I loved the gameplay so much in that game but after awhile there is little more to do.

Then it doesn't help when you release it among a bunch of other great games that are getting better reviews.

[mastiffchild]

This guy was talking about the PC version which controls way better. On PS360 I found the controls not unforgiving but plainly erratic. I'm the first to admit when I'm playing crap but with ME it WAS often the game. You could feel you'd puled off the 180 wall move perfectly and still have to run back and try again then muddle through with the feeeling you hadn't done it as well when you were successful. The same with the combat timing-hit and miss even where you felt you nailed it and it happened too often to just be me and many gamers agree.
Great idea but hard to pull off and they just missed for me but I applaud bravery and hope thesequel is less woolly in controls and less cliche ridden storywise.

[BrianC6234]

I find it funny to see so many people write about how the problem with Mirror's Edge is gamers. I played the demo and didn't care for it. Maybe it just isn't for everyone. If EA really wanted it to sell better they should have waited until after Christmas to release it.

[HungPHAT]

I loved it ! , it's new different , it's fresh feeling to me , I'll buy the sequel for sure

[Guldevito]

I thought ME was a great change of pace. I really enjoyed it. My problems were the story and cutscenes( Esurance commercial). The time trials were almost impossible for me. Anyone here get platinum or all achievements.

[KidMakeshift]

The problem was the lack of variation in level design, cut-scene art style, combat, parkour abilities and obstacles

I'm looking forward towards the DLC, which looks very abstract, but Dice really needs to flesh out the problems previously stated

[NJShadow]

GREAT article.

[OOG]

o yeah also another big problem was the fact that you didnt seem to build any abilities or anything...basically you could do everythig in the first levels that you could do in the last..... no new moves etc...

[ar]

I liked that part. Made the game feel more realistic. Improvements is all up to you perfecting your timing. Made you feel more connected to the character since her improvements is your improvements.

[ar]

If you haven't played time trail or speed run you haven't played the game. Connecting all your moves perfectly from the start of a level to the end, keeping up the momentum, is the most exhilarating part of the game. I can spend hours on the same level perfection my moves and finding the best route just to shave of a second or two on my time. It's addicting.

[andron]

When a game takes a little time adjusting to it often gets panned by "critics" and some gamers.

The only thing I found wrong with ME was that it was a bit short. You do have the time trials and collecting to extend the game, but a longer story mode would have been great.

I think EA didn't want to spend to much money on this game since it's a new IP. It would explain the short length. They made DICE use the Unreal engine to cut development time. It worked out good for the game. But that's probably why it's so short also...

[Andrewww]

I really love this game. It is really thrilling when it chases you through levels in a way which makes most of the FPS games look like Sunday afternoon walks (I'm thinking here of single player campaigns I've played through, e.g. RFOM, Half-Life1/2, Uncharted, etc. - not meaning to criticise these, but you just have plenty of time there to do your thing).
So, to take the "blues" out of ME seems a strange idea, it would destroy the game completely.

But it sure was a risky decision, sales-wise, to try out new and quite clever ideas, and come up with a shooter style game which is definitely not made for the hardcore shooter fans. So if people don't like it for that, fair enough, it's not their game (for whatever reasons). But criticising the game for it just misses the point. It isn't a shooter. This reminds me of Portal, which got away with it, probably because of the clever storyline and general positive bias towards anything Valve does.

BUT, Mirror's Edge is definitely NOT too easy.
Sure you can finish story mode in under 10 hours, but playing speedruns now, I think I never actually played anything as difficult as this. I never before chucked my controller through the room, never had pains in my thumbs after gaming, and still I'm completely addicted to it. And I'm only fighting with getting level 2 done under these bloody 11min. But, one gets better at it over time, so I don't think the controls are broken at all.

And yes, this is frustrating, but in a good way, like Pixeljunk Eden, for example. It would be very interesting to see some sort of comparison of percentages of people making it through games or to Platinum. I really don't think there's too many of them for Mirror's Edge.

[demonwor]

I love the game and I can easily play it. Well for me trial and error is not an old thing and it shouldn't for a game that focuses on perfection for an incentive to play more and more.

Any way I can easily imagine players that would play the game and JUST don't get it.

The only solution is to make the great for future fans and better for the current fans