Mirror's Edge
 

When I got the demo for my 360 I was somewhat impressed, but not enough so. It felt entirely too demanding for the awkward right analog stick to handle direction alone, as it isn't very precise. So, when the PC version came out, I got a copy.

I'm enjoying it immensely so far. Really feels at home on the PC, and aside from a few crashes it's much more fun and less die/reload/die/reload.

Of course lots of the complaints have been that the dying/reloading is frustrating and silly in the first place, which I find odd since the checkpoint system (For the four chapters I've played) is perfectly adequate. It ain't no Sands of Time but I'm having a great time with it.

Anyone else have their thoughts?

I've heard it wasn't very good, and personally I don't really see the appeal -- why play a game about Parkour when you can go out and actually do it? -- but I'm still interested to hear some thoughts on the subject -- does it live up to the hype?

Oy, Kepor, please never listen to Yhatzee for reviews. He doesn't review fairly, he just trolls.

If you trust reviews, go here. Most of the ones linked are correct, but many reviewers got frustrated with the dying-and-restarting.

And honestly -
Dude. Have you ever even seen or done Parkour?

It doesn't quite live up to the hype. It is a difficult game in the trial-and-error scheme. But to me that's kind of missing the point of the game. It's kind of like a difficult version of Rez; most of the appeal to me is the thrill of hauling-ass over a rooftop, gliding down a zip-line, busting open a door, swiping a guard's assault rifle and bashing his head in, and using it to mow down someone nearby, then taking off again.

It really is Matrix and Parkour fused together and I get a huge kick out of it, but that's because the music and atomosphere and graphics get my blood pumping.

If you had problems with the console version I would highly suggest at least looking into the PC version, because having a mouse to control direction makes the game much, much, much more intuitive and less aw crap I missed the pipe because I was an inch to the left when I jumped.

EDIT: I also love the humor they put in.

http://pics.livejournal.com/miraigen/pic/00062wyg

I advise you to pay particular attention to the last line of "Signs Someone You Know Might Be A Runner."

I know, right? And hey what's with all these jokers playing their Call of Duty and Team Fortress, when they could just as easily go out and get shot in the head for real?

Or those racing games! Or those football games! Or those snowboarding games!

Besides, even if you can do parkour in real life, can you do parkour in a dystopian future in real life?

EDIT: Not mention Guitar Hero! There would be so many real rock bands if it weren't for Guitar Hero. Now all we have in Nickleback.

Yeah I really enjoyed Mirror's Edge. It just didn't end up lasting very long. Only 10 chapters which I ended up blowing through in two days and I dunno, I wasn't really into the Time Trial mode, even though it is good. I love the chase sequences in the game, especially in the chapter where you first run away from the new and improved guards in the testing facility. I would have to say that the most I have in the game is when you're able to string together a long sequence of maneuvers.

But yeah seriously, you could argue going out and playing basketball instead of playing NBA Live, but parkour? Incredibly, incredibly hard. The music in the game is great too. It really sets that creepy but calm atmosphere. I love the BGM in Chapter 8 at 4:01.

Also, there's apparently new time trial maps coming out too. I love the concept, hope it turns out nicely.

The only thing that gets me thinking is the replay value. I haven't really bought it because of that and only ran the first levels a few times. It's incredibly cool, but the reviews keep me away from it (mainly, the excesive ammount of "fighting" needed later on).

Y'all are ragging on Parkour and yeah it's not nearly as super glamorous as it's hyped up to be- but it's getting at least some kids out of the house saying "Fuck I can do that", and the terminally stupid among those are leaping off buildings and breaking legs but the others are outside exercising so I can get behind it sort of.

And when it comes to just hopping over some benches and shit, yeah, that's some fairly easy stuff to do and I enjoy doing it.
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I dig this game so hard. I've beaten it and some of the time trials are fucking hard. I seem to be the only one of my friends that can find the damn hidden bags consistently without the aid of Gamefaqs and a bloody map.

I wasn't really ragging on parkour so much as the idea of why play a game when you can go out and do it yourself.

Parkour is the act of going from A to B without stopping especially in a rural environment. It is especially physically taxing considering you have to be able to run and climb and leap long distances the entire way across.

I mean honestly Nikose this shouldn't be something I have to explain - Parkour is just as difficult and taxing and dangerous as any other video-game simulated gameplay, which is something people generally don't want to spend the months to years getting into shape to be even physically capable of doing.

Which is why they get a game.