Mirror’s Edge Catalyst seemed like one of those games that was never going to happen, a sequel to a beloved game that wasn’t exactly a best-selling hit. Fans who have been waiting for more beautiful free-running are happy that it’s coming out soon, but some don’t like how it’s handling its upgrades.
The original Mirror’s Edge was sleek and spare, leaning hard on a minimalist approach to its visual and mechanical design. Based on the preview footage hitting the internet over the last 24 hours, its sequel seems to diverge from that just a bit, with regard to how it’s treating some movement abilities.
You can see a quick glimpse the upgrade menu at about 7:46 in the clip below.
The grey icons appear to be default abilities that players can use at the start of the game, while the one below will need to be opened up as the game progresses. While this is a typical way to treat skill progression in most video games nowadays, some reactions to this change have been grumpy:
wait, apparently stuff like quick turns and raising your legs are now xp unlocks??? what the FUCK pic.twitter.com/iVX2aEvpHU
— Crushed (@CrushedGAF) April 14, 2016
A level / upgrade system in mirrors edge catalyst …
Rip my hype— thiefbug (@thiefbug) April 15, 2016
Apparently #MirrorsEdgeCatalyst features an XP system where you unlock parkour moves. That is one ill-conceived game design choice…
— Paweł Durczok (@NorthofRapture) April 15, 2016
I have to assume this is a consequence of their open world design. It’s kind of a bummer, really. https://t.co/ApkD1RCQ8z
— Chris Franklin (@Campster) April 15, 2016
This does solve the big problem w/ Mirror’s Edge: stretching an speedrunning game out to commercial game length.
— Chris Franklin (@Campster) April 15, 2016
comment from this NeoGAF thread
Catalyst senior producer Jeremy Miller talked about the changes with GameSpot:
“We’ve got a different control scheme. It’s a little more intuitive and fluid. Part of having this progression in there is to allow you to be able to master your tools, and to give you a little bit of breathing room so you feel confident and excited about what you can do.”
When asked specifically about not giving players immediate access to basic moves such as Quickturn, Miller noted that by introducing it gradually, players tended to explore the new opportunities the ability provided more.
“The quick-turn is a slightly more abstract tool and people didn’t use it as much [in Mirror’s Edge],” he said.
“We’ve seen a distinct increase in people going, ‘Oh, I’ve got this, how do I use it?’ It’s worked into people’s movement language much more successfully as a result of doing that.”
It makes sense for new moves, especially combat ones, to be used as incentive to play and explore more. But doing the same thing for skill players could already use in the original Mirror’s Edge doesn’t follow the same logic. Folks everywhere will get to see for themselves how these changes feel when open beta hits on Mirror’s Edge Catalyst on April 22.
Comments
7 responses to “New Mirror’s Edge Game Locks Some Basic Skills Behind Upgrades”
But the game’s a prequel, right? So obviously she had to learn how to quick-turn at some point before the original game happened 😛
They did well to hide all the spoilerific screen-shots of her as a toddler, learning to walk and run. I doubt anyone expected the prequel to be set this far before the original.
There’s things called tutorials, champ. Use them.
There also used to be these things called “manuals” where you could look stuff up.
Most games these days just integrate the tutorials into the first few levels (and in some cases won’t let you use a move until it’s been “taught” to you.) Can’t see why they didn’t do that (minus the blocking part.)
We can just be thankful the extra moves weren’t locked into DLC. You know that sooner or later it’s going to happen in some game or other, Arguably, it already has.
She should also dress in a less urban ninja way if it’s a prequel.
Saggy ass trackpants and curry stains on her singlet top.
Well, that’s a bit deflating.
good heavens to think some gamers might have to actually play a game to unlock some stuff… whaaa whaaa