Staying Alive on the Mirror's Edge

• By Will Herring
• November 14, 2008 11:49 AM PST
• Print
• Email this!
• Share
  • Digg
  • Yahoo Buzz!
  • FaceBook
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us

The futuristic landscape of Mirror's Edge is a playground to those known as free-runners; information couriers working as revolutionaries in a corrupt world. In EA's parkour-based adventure, you fill the shoes of free-runner Faith on her quest to clear her sister's name from a murder she didn't commit. With these five essential tips to staying alive on Mirror's Edge ultramodern rooftops, sewer systems, office buildings and train stations, you may just find yourself a few steps ahead of the Blues long enough to free-run your way through this extraordinary first person experience.

(Don't run past the rest of GamePro's Mirror's Edge coverage! Check out our Mirror's Edge video gallery, some high-res screenshots from our Mirror's Edge product page, and our official GP review!)

Red vs. Blues

The world of Mirror's Edge is a colorful one, but the quintessential shade to keep an eye out for is red, and I can't stress this enough. When something in your environment turns a crimson tint -- the brighter the better -- it means that you're able to use that to your advantage as a free-runner. From scaling red ladders to vaulting over red boxes and crates, if you ever find yourself lost and in need of direction, keep your eyes peeled for the next red pathway, ledge, zip-line, pole, wall, or door.

Blues, the loving nickname adapted to the police that patrol the rooftops of Mirror's Edge are another color that you should watch out for. Armed with a variety of weapons from pistols, assault rifles, sniper rifles to shotguns, Blues are vicious and unrelenting foes. Just remember: Faith isn't bulletproof. When barrages of bullets are flying your way, your best bet is to simply do what Faith does best: run. There are plenty of times where running isn't going to be an option, which brings me to my next point...

Know when to fight

While it's possible to complete the entirety of Mirror's Edge without firing a single bullet, that doesn't mean Faith won't be forced to get her hands a little dirty. Thankfully, there are plenty of non-lethal ways to deal with your opponents in such situations -- which can even earn you the prestigious Pacifist achievement/trophy. When you're forced into a fight with a Blue and there's nowhere to run, you have two options: Faith's hand-to-hand fighting skills, or a forceful weapon-based takedown. When using Faith's melee abilities, remember to switch it up to find the most effective combo; this means jump-kicks, jabbing your foes in the guts, and kicking in a Blues' kneecaps while crouched. If outright fist-fighting doesn't do the trick, wait for your enemy to make the first move. Faith's Reaction Time ability is an incredibly helpful asset during enemy takedowns -- just keep an eye on your foe's weapon as they attack you. As the weapon nears you, it will turn a bright shade of red. Right before impact, press the grab button to snatch the weapon away from your enemy and take them down in one fell swoop.

If you do choose to bloody it up, you can use any weapon that you've snatched from your downed foes, but keep in mind -- carrying a weapon will slow Faith down, and the bigger the weapon, the less you can do. That means carrying an assault rifle or shotgun will take away Faith's abilities to scale ledges, latch on to a zip-line and even wall-run. When using a weapon, however, make sure to preserve your ammo. There's no HUD to tell you how many bullets you have left in your clip, so use your shots sparingly. Be sure to constantly switch weapons as well, so once you've taken out a rifle-wielding Blue, swap out your gun for theirs for a fresh batch of ammo.

• Previous Page Prev
• Next Page Next
• 1
• 2

• Print
• Email this!
• Share
  • Digg
  • Yahoo Buzz!
  • FaceBook
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us