Mirror's Edge is really the best of both worlds: it's got an incredible aesthetic combined with well-executed gameplay. It takes about a couple of hours to complete but has good replay value, as you can practise completing the levels as fast as possible. Mirror's Edge is one of the few games I've played where everything just feels good. I'm jumping about the city, fighting against corrupt politicians and their goons. Definitely recommend.
I have not been able to launch the game since I bought it. Launching the game opens a black screen that crashes after a couple of seconds, and it seems that a lot of people are affected by it. There's not a single guide online that works. You should definitely not buy this game until this issue has been fixed.
I'll preface my review with some perspective: my partner recommended this game to me. It's the first time I've played it, and therefore I do not have the same nostalgic connection that some other players seem to have - which is not inherently a bad thing. BG&E had a lot of potential as a game. You can feel the hard work that was put into it right from the first cutscene. However, BG&E is one of those games with a strong start that fizzles out near the end. When we meet Jade, everything goes smooth. In a couple of minutes we learn that she's skilled, honest, brave, and empathetic. It's clear from the dialogue that she cares a lot about the children she's guarding - and all interactions with her partner show how much they care and trust one another. In short, we get to know Jade as a character early on, in ways that are natural to the player. We do not get to know anyone else, which is a bummer to be honest. One of the strongest aspects of BG&E is its atmosphere. The planet, Hillys, is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals who co-exist with humans. We are not told why and how they're there, they simply are. This makes the game different from many other sci-fi and fantasy titles that focus an awful lot on the surface-level of their world. Which is what brings me back to my previous point: not getting to know the characters. We don't get to know Jade's acquaintances in the Pedestrian District, and worse, we don't get to know the members of IRIS, or even our second companion who we spend 70% of the game with. When we reach the ending, one wonders: "how did we even get here?" From the meeting with IRIS and onward, the plot speeds up to such an extend that a lot of potential character growth is lost, especially by the ending, which felt very rushed and underwhelming. However, this game is still worth playing. For the world, characters, the AMAZING ost, and overall adventurous feel. I would have loved this game as a kid, and that's enough reason for me to play.
