Mirror's Edge was a really nice addition to the last generation. The futuristic jump-and-runner was a simple but effective game that focused on urban exploration through parkour - scrambling up and over and under doors and walls and buildings and fences - and looked unlike anything else out there.
It was original but didn't lend itself to an obvious sequel. Because, well, when the game is all about such elemental physical movements, where else can you go?
Well, here we are. The sequel, titled Catalyst, lets us step back into the shoes of Faith, the acrobatic young woman who must play a key role in overthrowing the frighteningly evil corporation controlling the city of Glass. Yes, that's its name.
Faith has slipped back into her running shoes and, as in the original, must navigate the city looking for scalable walls, pipes to shimmy up or down, zip lines to grab, and gaps that can be leaped without the risk of serious damage.
There are the usual missions and side quests to complete, but the scale of the game is far more ambitious. Where the original was quite linear - and predictable, eventually - Catalyst takes more of an open-world approach, allowing you to roam much further.
This works to the point where you can check out all sorts of unexpected corners, but there is never really much to be gained by doing so, and the most obvious way to a target is generally ... obvious. In saying that, I did find myself leaning on ``runner vision'', the tool that blazes a suggested path, liberally.
A small but noticeable improvement is the overall feel of the game. Faith glides, sprints and turns with real grace and style, and pulling off a perfect jump or landing can be immensely satisfying. Trial and error remains a huge part of the gameplay, but the difficulty curve is gentle.
Getting from A to B remains at the core of the game but it does feature some combat. Strictly fists and feet - the original had the odd gun made available - and it's really just a minor interlude between exploration segments.
The setting of Catalyst comes across as a little barren and sterile, but I guess that is the idea of a dystopian world: you are not meant to be enthralled.
I'm neither excessively delighted nor excessively disappointed by the first (possibly only) sequel to Mirror's Edge. It's well done and it's fun to play - sometimes that has to be enough.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst
For: PS4, Xbox One, PC
From: Electronic Arts
Rating: (M)
★★★+
