Regarded as a cult classic of its time, theMirror’s Edgeseries is one of the more formative games of its generation despite its lapses into gaming limbo, with no new entries since 2016. Arguably the game that popularized parkour in gaming,Mirror’s Edgecould be seen as the foundation to other series likeDying Light,Titanfall,orGhostrunner. Despite this, after an attempted soft reboot of the series and fresh hope for its future, the series failed to reignite, meeting a mixed reception from critics but decent sales among players.
However, it’s likely thatMirror’s Edgeonly stumbled because, despite having all the right pieces for a great game, it lacked the execution putting them together. For instance, most critics agreed thatMirror’s Edge’smovement mechanics were commendable, but that its poor combat and lack of mission variety let it down. It’s possible though thatMirror’s Edge’sflaws are just symptomatic of the design changes it had to make between its first game and its reboot. A sequel then - or technicallyMirror’s Edge 3- is needed to at least give the series a fair chance.
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Where Mirror’s Edge Left Off
WhenMirror’s Edge wasfirst released, it was generally well-received and was praised for its movement mechanics and innovation. In spite of its flaws, such as the trial-and-error nature of gameplay or the linear limitations of level design, the game quickly became beloved by fans and accrued a cult classic status. This was likely what prompted DICE to consider a second game, and in the face of nearly a decade passing since the original console release alongsidethe extensive work needed to develop aMirror’s Edgesequel, a reboot was probably the best path forwards.
Mirror’s Edge Catalystmade a plenty of changes from the original game, including moving to an open world level design and removing Faith’s ability to use guns, while also adding in new features like the Mag Rope to allow for grappling and traversing level environments. Though it’s clear the reboot tried to stay true to its source material, it offered a more complex narrative with extensive new lore such as Faith’s reimagined origin story while leaning more on its dystopian setting with a minimalist, futuristic aesthetic.
In spite of this radical departure from the first game, there’s plenty the reboot didn’t use that could carry through to a sequel, and the game’s ending left the door wide open for future entries with Faith fully equipped and prepared to run in the new world laid out before her. In addition to this, much ofCatalyst’sonline services are still available at the time of writing, including the franchise’s official site. Without any official word that the series has been discontinued and the ongoing popularity ofparkour video games, it means the series could still have a future yet.
How Mirror’s Edge Should Improve
Putting narrative aside, there’s a great deal a sequel toCatalystwould need to do to refine the flaws in its design and mechanics. While the Mag Rope was an excellent addition with the capacity to upgrade Faith’s own skills further,DICE can do moreto improve the overall gameplay experience. For example, since much ofCatalysttakes place on the rooftops of the City of Glass, sending Faith plummeting to her demise was all too easy, and with a frustrating wait on a loading screen, keeping the player in the action should be the sequel’s focus.
One fix could provide Faith with a means of saving herself from falling, such as using the Mag Rope to grapple to a nearby ledge in an emergency, though this would need a trade-off to ensure players were encouraged to play well. Other uses could allow the player to have the Mag Rope in combat, providing greater proficiency in combat, especially sinceCatalystplaced emphasis on running over combat.The aim of the sequel should be to address the faults that had been levied by critics and should streamline the gameplay experience.
Moreover, a sequel would need to address the issuesCatalysthad with mission variety, with many just resorting to variations upon running from point A to point B under certain conditions and were reduced to very linear paths. To fix this,Mirror’s Edgecould embrace an open worldand tie these missions in with the main characters instead of howCatalystapplied this to generic NPCs. Missions that could affect the ending of the game, for example, would be far more interesting if players could side with characters or groups like Black November, the Runners, or Dogen.
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What The Series Should Do Next
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst’sstorydid a substantial amount of work in deepening the lore that the original game saved for other mediums, such as its associated comics or mobile game. For example,Catalystreestablished Kruger Security as a primary antagonist while also introducing Black November, inspired by the November Riots of the first game, as an ally. Despite thwarting Kruger’s plans for Reflection inCatalyst, Kruger Security and Black November still operate and exist in the game’s conclusion, serving a possible future plot.
Additionally, future games should revisit more of the first game’s story or characters and incorporate them into their own. For instance, the originalpremise ofMirror’s Edgecentered around mayor candidate Robert Pope’s death, a conspiracy to preserve the dystopia seen inCatalystwhere free will is eroded away. Reintroducing Pope and setting the stage for a political subterfuge narrative would complementCatalyst’s own themes of anti-corporation rebellion.
Whether a new game will ever be planned will remain to be seen, as hopes continue to be dashed with announcements fromDICE considering the risksand stating they don’t currently have time to develop a sequel. But the series continues to hold on to its cult following, andMirror’s Edgestill deserves a seat at the table among the growing number of games that use parkour. After all, it remains visually distinct from other games and served as the starting point for a first-person take on parkour.Mirror’s Edgeis still alive and well with prospects of a sequel.
