[standardman]

I got a free week's rental at a new place in Manchester - picked up Mirror's Edge and I've just finished it (with the no shooting achievement and all the bags).

While I enjoyed the free running, the beautiful yet unnerving city and the feeling of a physical body (rather than a tripod on a hovercraft), I hated the combat.

The last thing I want while exploring and moving through a clean, bright city is to be told HURRY UP OR WE'LL STOP YOU BEING ABLE TO PLAY AND RESTART YOU WITH OUR ARBITRARY CHECKPOINTING. Yes, I know than I can disarm them or kick/punch them but it's not why I bought the game and it felt like a tagged on excuse to force you through the level.

The story was utter nonsense too - I would have liked the delivery of information thing to have been explored, rather than spending my time trying to run up to a man and kick him in his armoured face while he slips a submachine in my ear. Oh and there's even a boss fight where I have to beat someone up, rather than use my free running to, say, out run them.

Perhaps it was a panicked move to put shooting into a puzzle game so it could sell to the Call of Duty/Halo/Gears of War market but it felt like the developers lost sight of what made their game stand out in the first place.

Regardless, I mostly liked it and I hope for an improved sequel - I really wanted to do the Sands of Time thing, though.