This game is simply brilliant - it practically makes it's own genre. The graphics are simple but they're clean and polished, giving the futuristic city a natural and at the same time eerily cold feeling. You play as Faith, a 'runner' - those determined not to be caged by the restrictions of the city and who act as efficient mail-carriers to get information and packages to other people trying to escape the corrupt legal system. It's a marvelous game in that it makes you use your head constantly to keep up with relentless enemies as you try to get out of situations; besides worrying about getting shot, you must also keep focused so as to coordinate your movements to keep from falling off the skyscrapers you frequently run atop. For the rating, the panel above gets it right on key - a bit of language, brief animated blood and some violence; probably the most disconcerting thing is the sound effects when you fall off of buildings - it very loudly announces when you're crunched on the pavement below. Other than this, I'd say most kids would love the game itself, though some may skip the cutscenes; I have a brother who has played this at the age of 11 and he had no problems.
Tools for this page
Mirror's Edge
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14. -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
A refreshingly different take on first-person action.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14 and Up
The good stuff
-
Educational value:
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Mirror's Edge was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know this action game can be played without firing a weapon at all. But if you want to, Faith, the heroine, can aim and fire a gun, killing enemies who are after her, including the oppressive police force of this futuristic city. Blood can be seen when shooting targets and they fall to the ground in a lifelike fashion, but there is no gore or excessive violence. Faith can also punch, kick, and slide into enemies to cause them to trip, or disarm them to get their weapon. What makes this game interesting is the camera perspective -- you play as the strong female character and view the world by looking over her shoulder as she wall-jumps, slides under barriers, leaps across chasms to land on ledges, and performs other heart-stopping feats. Players who suffer from acrophobia (fear of heights) or vertigo may have trouble playing this action adventure.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the concept behind this interesting game, about a society that slowly became increasingly controlled by the government. Why is it that we periodically see Orwellian-like worlds similar to this one appear in literature, movies, and games? Do you think new technology developments such as survellience cameras, GPS phones, passports with computer chips, and satellite imagery make people wonder about the possibility of government abuse?
More on Mirror's Edge
What’s the Story?
An action game played from a first-person perspective is usually considered a "shooter," those popular run-and-gun video games, such as the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or Halo titles, where the protagonist roams through the world toting all types of weapons. Now, Sweden's EA DICE studio is offering this first-person perspective in an action game with MIRROR'S EDGE. In Mirror's Edge you play as Faith, a "runner," or information courier, in a world where all communication is tightly monitored by the state. Your job is to act as a messenger between those who oppose the state's control over people's lives. By traversing rooftops and alleyways and navigating through underground waterways, you'll perform your tasks while remaining undetected by the "Blues," or police, as well as cameras and other monitoring equipment. After the tutorial and prologue, you also learn about Faith's twin sister, Kate, who was framed for a murder she didn't commit.
Played entirely from a dizzying first-person perspective, players control the agile Faith as she navigates through the city by running across ledges, climbing ladders, jumping from roof to roof, shimmying across ledges, and sliding down ziplines. Gamers might liken it to a Prince of Persia experience, but from a different view of the action.
CloseIs It Any Good?
Mirror's Edge is an exciting, immersive -– and for the most part, non-violent –- video game. What's fun is that while you'll have many missions to complete, how you go about it might vary from player to player. For example, in one memorable scene early on in the game, you're being chased by police in a building, with bullets whizzing past your ears. You can choose to frantically climb the staircase and find a hiding spot behind some boxes, climb up onto a shelf and find an opening to an air vent to crawl through, or kick open a door to the roof, hop over an electric fence and run like mad. While you're encouraged not to use weapons in the game (in fact, you can unlock a special Xbox 360 Achievement or PlayStation 3 Trophy for not firing them) it is possible to pick up and fire a gun, if you like. Otherwise, our heroine will punch or kick to confront baddies and disarm them.
Another fascinating aspect of this game is that along with the main campaign, there is a special Race mode. While playing in Race mode, you're dropped back into the city and can compete against other Mirror's Edge players to see who has the best time; every move throughout the obstacle courses is recorded and your time trials appear as red silhouettes of your character for others to beat. There are a few minor issues, such as some moves are hard to pull off (such as hopping between two walls) and the first-person view can make it tough to know when to jump from one building to another, but overall, Mirror's Edge is a fantastic first-person adventure worth every dime. But be forewarned: those who feel nausea from watching first-person films like Cloverfield or anyone who suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights) or vertigo might want to forego this dizzying adventure.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 11/11/2008, price $45-60, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T (for Blood, Language, Violence)
ESRB rating: T (for Blood, Language, Violence)
Our Members Say
See all 15 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
One of those rare, near perfect games
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
One of the best first person games out there.
Mirrors edge is and acrobatic shooter in first person view. The graphics are amazing and the controls are easy. The game is not shoot em' up unlike it's relatives (strangle hold, Wet, max payne), in mirrors edge combat is only a portion of the gameplay. It is really a new genre of games, where you get enjoyment by hoping around and sliding and doing jumps with acrobatic summrsaults all in first person. This is a must get title I strongly recomend.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great game!!!
Maybe there is some swear words but this game is one of a kind, great graphics and brilliant gameplay, also, the main charictor (sorry if i spelt that wrong) faith is a great rolemodel for yound girls to stick up for what they thing is good, but dont try theese stunts at home!!! 12+
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Great game with just a little language
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
Its iffy
It earned its teen rating by having alot of s words in there and when you shoot the enemy like said above for watch out for violence you get a almost cartoon blood when shooting an enemy but you use your fists and feet more than a gun. Great game though
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Do you play it? 
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
