KEY POINTS:
PS3, M
Pros: The world's only first person jumper, Mirror's Edge casts players as Faith, a courier in a futuristic Big Brother world who runs data around the rooftops of a perfect city, avoiding armed cops. This involves free-running, all-running parlour-style movement, jumping between buildings and using ziplines to get to her destination as quickly as possible without getting shot. The environment is impressive, cleanly rendered in white and blue. Levels are adrenalin-fuelled sprints that tie together slick rolls and slides as you try to keep ahead of the law. It is possible to fight "the man" but producer Tom Farrer hinted to me that if you get through the game without killing anyone, there are big rewards.
Cons: If you're scared of heights this is not for you - when Faith falls, it is a long and terrifying ordeal that involves hitting the ground with a disturbing thud. It's quite frustrating, as momentum is key to making big jumps and getting the flow right can take a few attempts.
Verdict: Unique, impressive and ground-breaking - a nice change from normal 'kill or be killed' FPS titles. One of the year's best. Also available on Xbox 360, out on PC in January.
