Mirror's Edge Catalyst Reviews
Overall, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is a fairly solid addition into what will surely be a large franchise for EA. With a beautiful world, interesting characters, and some truly memorable missions, Mirror’s Edge easily surpasses the original. That being said, be prepared for an unrefined combat system and nothing remarkable to do once the credits role. During Mirror’s Edge Catalyst’s sprint to glory, it thankfully only stumbles a few times alone the way.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst tries to improve on the good parts of its predecessor. Most of the time it fails to do so. The open world city is way to repetitive in many areas and fighting enemies just doesn't feel right.
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A solid free running game that is bogged down by it’s own ambition into changing the formula, come the city but stay for the gameplay… But PLEASE just disregard the story.
The overall rating might be harsh, it could have been a bit higher, but for a game that has "Mirror's Edge" in the title there must be consequences. The rating is more of a warning not to make the same mistakes again. ME deserves far more than average.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst is an exhilarating experience when you find yourself running in perfect harmony through the cityscape while knocking K-Sec around. Unfortunately all of that comes with a slightly confusing narrative.
I want this franchise to excel, but just as the first game struggled to get off the ground, Catalyst struggles to soar as well. The core gameplay and artistic direction have vastly improved for this entry, and while it explores new territory with an open world and a grander narrative that act as solid foundations, they're squandered since little is built atop them to make this game tower above its peers. Despite these letdowns, DICE now has an even better framework to construct a phenomenal sequel, and I earnestly hope it will seize and run after this opportunity. I have faith in Faith's future, but her time to shine hasn't been struck just yet.
"I quite enjoyed my time with Mirror's Edge Catalyst, but the thin plot and uninspired world prevents it from becoming a cherished memory"
I simply didn't like this game. I went into it with high expectations, after having loved playing through the first game past its prime, and ended up being utterly disappointed. Between the numberous gameplay problems, between combat feeling weak and clunky, movement being gutted in favour of a progression system, and the open-world making the game repetitive, this was not something I found almost any fun playing. It's not the worst, but there are so many things done wrong, and so little done right, it just wasn't an experience I could personally enjoy, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of the series.
We've been waiting a long time for another Mirror's Edge game, and we finally have it with Catalyst. While the storyline is quite predictable with dull characters, the gameplay is where it truly shines. The movement feels fluid, the time trials and social integration allows for replayability.
Fails to find its flow or rhythm
A radical city in a failed system
Those looking for a Mirror's Edge 2 would do well to ignore every scrap of side content and smash straight through the story. I know reading back that it seems as if I'm down on this game, but it's only because of the potential I know Mirror's Edge has. Deep down lies the very same core that made Mirror's Edge so fantastic. DICE might have done its best to hide a quality game, but it's still there beneath the piles of filler.
Mirror's Edge: Catalyst could easily be my favourite game of the year. The whole idea of the game is what captivates me, it's sleek, fast and immersive!
Mirror's Edge Catalyst resolves the biggest issues of its forbearer and remains enjoyable thanks to strong core mechanics, and despite a weak narrative and uninteresting open world content.
I won't be going into spoiler territory but it's clear that the best thing Mirror's Edge Catalyst has going for it is the core gameplay mechanics. When they work (which in all fairness is the majority of the time) then the parkour style of movement is a ton of fun and makes you feel like a badass.
A huge improvement over the first release in the franchise.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst is best when you're on the move, climbing up a tall building and booking it across rooftops. When the world is like a puzzle that you are solving on the fly using all your skills. These moments are in the game, there just isn't that many of them.
We've waited almost too long for Mirror's Edge to make a comeback, but now that it has returned, was it worth it? Yes it was.
I really, really wanted to like Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, and when the game lets me run wild and focus on building momentum and stringing together parkour moves, I genuinely do. Then I'll be forced into some mandatory combat section or forced to sit through a monotonous cutscene and the entire game just grinds to a halt.