Like beautiful spacescapes? Like flight arcade games? Like crunchy weapons and deep upgrade systems? This game is right for you. I would buy it on sale, but it's a game that's fairly easy to come back to albeit difficult to master.
Strictly as a game, Mirror's Edge is fun and memorable but imperfect and definitely flawed. The combat is clunky and awkward, the collision detection can be insanely frustrating and the story ends abruptly and in a manner that feels decidely rushed. However, this game is more than just a product and is far more of an experience. It's one of the few video games that genuinely deserves to be called art. Not merely because of the striking and timeless art style that will live rent-free in your head for decades, but due to the fusion of soundtrack, aesthetics and purity of vision that it achieves. This game is about flow, speed and movement. Everything else is just there to facilitate it. The sense of speed and momentum imparted in this game along with the aesthetics flow over your brain in a way that's particularly satisfying. Moreover, as most of us lead unfortunately sedentary lives, this game gives you a vision of freedom and adrenaline that we lack in our lives. It may even inspire you to get up any move more! TL;DR, this isn't a game, it's a VIBE. BUY IT. Note: at time of review I had already beaten this game twice on console but just finished my first PC playthrough in a little under 4 hours. The game is short but offers decent replay experience.
First, as an owner of an original physical copy of this game, I just want to say that it's incredible GOG has acquired the rights to have a digital version now available. GOG is rapidly outperforming Steam in their dedication to adapting old games to new ahrdware and mediums. Next, the game itself is an old-school masterpiece. I remember being in 5th grade when this game came out. After endless, tiresome waves of Jedi and fighter pilot fantasies in Star Wars games, we fans of the movies could finally answer the question: "yeah but what if we could play as a Stormtrooper?". This game blew my mind. Today, I go back to play this title and am simply astounded by the mountains of content it offers. Dozens of maps and faction-specific vehicles (not always balanced, but that forces you to get creative) and positively tireless attention to detail from the movies. Factions have unique units and each class has a rigid loadout that you must adapt to in able to maximize your effect on the battlefield. The maps are wide-open and present numerous options to fight in. The only limit is your creativity. Honestly, I find this game to be superior to 2005's somewhat-rushed Battlefront 2. EA's pale abortions won't even be spoken of here. Star Wars: Battlefront hearkens back to a time when video games were made by the passionate, for the grateful and Star Wars was still about a galaxy far, far away instead of profits and modern political agendas. Step into this game and let the simpler times wash over you.
