It took many years before developers DICE and Electronic Arts decided to realize their vision of a sequel to "Mirror's Edge." And although the debut game faced considerable criticism, it was a success and sparked a true cult following for the heroine Faith and the franchise.
Eight years have passed since then, and some radical changes have been made to the game. A linear experience has been transformed into an open-world concept, the events of the original haven't even taken place yet, and the heroine Faith is only just beginning to find her way to her destiny. Find out in our review why "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" is once again a game that almost stands on its own.
Complete surveillance is imminent
Even back then, "Mirror's Edge" was a game unlike any other. The first-person jump 'n' run genre was celebrated as an innovation in the gaming world, its minimalist style was elevated to art circles, and its fitting soundtrack was re-recorded countless times. In "Mirror's Edge Catalyst," everything is now much bigger, more open, and more expansive than before, making the core concept of parkour accessible to absolutely everyone, at least virtually. The setting is Cascadia, a hypermodern city largely constructed of glass, controlled by powerful corporations like Kruger Security and Anansi, who have formed a powerful conglomerate to gain complete control over its inhabitants, extending even to their thoughts. It's the idea of a total surveillance state that the conglomerate strives for, and it's this vision that our heroine Faith, along with the so-called Runners, opposes.
With the reboot, DICE seized the opportunity to delve into Faith's past, giving her a genuine personality and making her much more relatable to fans. Where Faith comes from and what motivates her are just a few of the questions that now form a solid foundation for the franchise. The story itself has been tailor-made for this modern future and doesn't seem so far-fetched in today's world, even if the idea of privacy disappearing or one's will becoming susceptible to manipulation remains a frightening one. The overarching narrative of "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" is engaging, neither too far-fetched nor unrealistically told, yet still offering dramatic and unpredictable twists. It's also important to note that it promises a length comparable to modern games and can't be completed in just a few hours like the original. Ultimately, it also leaves room for further story development.
An entire city as a playground
Perhaps the most interesting aspect and new approach in "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" is its open-world concept. Even in the original, the sheer fascination of being able to climb anywhere, explore "forbidden places," roam construction sites, and crawl through ventilation shafts was far more compelling than the actual story. How many hours did I spend finding ever shorter paths, mastering spectacular routes, and exploring even the most remote corners? For me, it was definitely a lot. Cascadia offers even more possibilities – an incredibly complex level design that stretches from streets and rooftops through gigantic data centers and sewers hints at endless possibilities. I couldn't wait to leave the story behind so I could truly do whatever I wanted. This is what makes "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" stand out from all the others: the focus isn't on completing tasks or chasing rewards, but simply on exploring the entire world and trying out different things. It sounds simple, but it never gets boring, even after hours of play. I also appreciated that you play through some sections that are clearly taken from the original game or strongly reminiscent of the Portal franchise, primarily due to its unique art style.
Minimalist beauty
Visually, "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" once again embraces the minimalist approach that defines the entire franchise. The predominant colors are a few basic hues – white, blue, green, and yellow – but never too many on a single screen. One might think that "Mirror's Edge" laid the foundation years ago for current trends, which are now particularly evident in web development. This not only looks stylish but also perfectly complements the vision of this futuristic setting. This interplay of colors is especially impressive during longer runs – one moment we're zipping through a building shrouded in blue, the next everything is bathed in red, and then, with a 180-degree turn, back to yellow. Also striking in this glass city are the reflections on the building facades and roofs, the impressive lighting effects, and the transparent textures, all of which combine to create a harmonious and captivating overall impression.
The biggest concern, however, was that, especially after the Impressions in the BETAIt's concerning that DICE can't maintain the graphical level promised by the screenshots released over the past few months. This point is indeed subjective and varies considerably. Overall, "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" looks much better than the beta version and largely impresses with crisp textures and a modern look. This makes the occasional weak textures and blurry panoramic landscapes all the more surprising. Some minor characters are also overly softened, resulting in a somewhat blurry appearance, both in the game itself and in cutscenes. It's a bit of a shame, but certainly forgivable. Part of the problem likely stems from the lower 900p resolution, which, however, promises excellent performance at 60 frames per second, thus delivering an incredible gaming experience.
Liquid like water
From the very beginning, the development of "Mirror's Edge Catalyst" focused on the movement system, which in the original game constantly delivered adrenaline rushes but also had its share of issues. This has now been refined even further; Faith has significantly more moves, can utilize gadgets, and, as mentioned, zips across the city's rooftops at a smooth 60 frames per second. This difference is not only immediately noticeable compared to the original, but also offers a truly unique and fantastic feeling when you manage to move in the flow and with momentum. Acrobatic moves like wall runs, 180 turns, jumps, and landings with rolls are now executed with precision, and enemies can be taken down directly from within these moves. Much like Spider-Man, you can now swing from rooftop to rooftop using a rope, although thankfully its use has been kept to a minimum to avoid undermining the original runner concept.
The combat system was one of the biggest criticisms, but it's impossible to do without it entirely, and it would probably have become too boring otherwise. This time, Faith has completely abandoned weapons and instead added tactical components that can be learned gradually via a skill tree. This includes sidekicks against enemies, kicks while sliding, attacks from behind, and much more, which must be constantly combined to avoid being immediately blocked. Initially, this is quite complicated, and you feel at a disadvantage; frustration was frequent. It's clearly still not perfect and is somewhat limiting, but this is somewhat compensated for with increased abilities, if you ignore the ridiculous final fight against two Sentinels at once.
Cascadia also offers a plethora of side quests, runs, delivery missions, collectibles, or you can simply compete with the community, create your own runs, or try to break their records. Much of this remains optional, however, and only really benefits you in further developing your skills. This is more suited to players who want some guidance while still exploring the world of Mirror's Edge.
The Mirror's Edge Sound
As distinctive as the game's visuals are, so too is the signature Mirror's Edge sound, once again composed by Solar Fields, which bathes the city in a pleasant, trance-like atmosphere. The sounds still whip up alongside your adrenaline during escape sequences and lend the city's underground a mysterious air. Everything here fits together perfectly, almost perfectly complementing the image of this modern and sterile glass city, were it not for the occasional audio dropouts. The German dub is also flawless in terms of voice acting and can therefore be enjoyed to the fullest.
Developer: DICE
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release: Available
Official homepage: www.mirrorsedge.com
