Ben-DutkaA couple days ago, we heard via social media that the new Mirror's Edge project is actually called "Catalyst."
As it turns out, that was true. Developer DICE has confirmed as much at the new game's website , and they've also clarified an important point: Mirror's Edge: Catalyst is not a sequel.
The game's senior producer, Sara Jansson, says the game builds on the foundation of the 2008 title:
"The first game had a lot of promise. It was unlike anything else in terms of the gameplay and style–it had a unique soul. But as much as we loved that game, we knew it could be more. So that's what we have set out to do as we introduce Mirror's Edge to a new generation."
Jansson added that this is not "Mirror's Edge 2" and while this new game "honors the first game" the designers will introduce plenty of new and interesting gameplay features. Well, guess that means it's another open-world/sandbox action game with some free-running elements. 'sigh'
Catalyst is supposed to release during EA's fourth fiscal quarter, which puts it somewhere between January and March of 2016. And yes, they're showing it off at E3 so stay tuned!
If I understand correctly, the previous Mirror's Edge is essentially something like a proof of concept and the Mirror's Edge they are working on now can be viewed as the "true" Mirror's Edge, yes?
No, it's just marketing-speak for "this is a sequel, but we want you to think it's something more, something special, so here are some vague buzz words that could mean anything".
Nice marketing scheme.
Regardless, this is one of the very few games I have been excited about in recent memory. Mirrors Edge had a lot of flaws but left such a sweet taste on the tongue.
"it had a unique soul" so we're gonna rip it out and make sure it falls in line with everything else.
I don't see where they said that.
They didn't but this is EA we are talking about, I would be shocked if they didn't make it more about shooting than free running, or at least put more of an equal emphasis on both of them.
The first game guns were almost worthless and were more of a powerup type thing where you would disarm someone shoot someone with the limited ammo and keep moving.
Actually it's DICE we're talking about, and with the exceptions of tacked on non-gameplay EA crap like micro transactions and stupid DRM, etc., DICE usually gets a pretty free hand when actually developing their games. Something like Mirror's Edge would have never existed in the first place.
The assumption that 'new gameplay elements' means open world/sandbox gameplay, or that such a direction is automatically bad, is kinda weird. It might be open world, but in a series that is literally all about exploring a city in a fresh way, from a unique perspective, I don't see how opening that world up is anything but good.
As for the guns, they certainly weren't 'useless', they were just intentionally limited because it wasn't a first person shooter. If you could just disarm the first cop you come across and spend the rest of the level shooting people, it completely defeats the purpose. You're supposed to be completely outgunned, on the run, with your only defense being your speed and agility.
I doubt DICE is going to make Catalyst another generic shooter. I DO expect them to give Faith more hand-to-hand combat options in the event that she is surrounded by cops.
DICE is still under EA, while they do a good job EA can still hold sway over where things go if the shareholders bully them enough.
Granted EA has done a much better job lately, as Dragon Age inquisition was pretty well handled.
I don't have a problem with the world opening up, my problem is if they try and mainstream this game and add more of an emphasis on gun play.
Guns IMO were useless because they were limited, and getting the best ranks, and trophies required you to stay away from lethal force if I recall correctly.
I am excited for the game BIO but I have my reservations. EA has to earn my trust back, and DA:I was a step in the right direction.
So, a remake.
Between this and Deus Ex, I don't care about anything else that might appear at E3 this year.
But Mirrors Edge I have an especially soft spot for. Every E3 I wish for more Mirrors Edge news, then a couple of years ago we got some but little else since. So I'm extremely stoked to hear it'll be making an appearance this year.
I love the original game. I love the soundtrack and hope they get Solar Fields in again as he really nailed the vibe for each chapter.
However, as much as I really, really love the original, there were some problems I had with controls. Especially when having to do a side wall run and leap backwards to another ledge. I struggled (still do) with some of them sections of the game. I don't want a dumbed down version of the control scheme, I just want it to work a little better. There's always room for improvement, especially considering that the first game was doing something a bit different.
Now it could turn out to be as Ben said a more sandbox game with some free-running, but that's just speculation and I'll hold off judgement until next week when we see more on how they plan on improving the game. There is room for improvement without ruining the game.
I'm being optimistic that DICE know what made the first game so endearing to fans and will just enhance the experience rather than turn it into something generic.
Sidewall kicks are definitely the hardest maneuver to pull off in the game, but they're also the rarest required ones. That said I also had problems with them when playing with a controller. I never even thought to try m/kb until my controller busted halfway through my first playthrough and I HAD to use m/kb.
Sidewall kicks, as well as the rest of the controls, are so, so much better with m/kb. It's really weird, because that shouldn't be the case, like at all. It's completely counter intuitive if you ask me. Other free running games like Assassin's Creed play like hot garbage with a m/kb but obviously play just fine with a controller, for example.
Anyway, I'm sure the controls will be a bit more fine-tuned. As for those pesky sidewall kicks, inverting the bumper controls on your controller might help. I was doing that until I switched to m/kb and it did make them, and other moves, a bit easier to pull off.
I don't care if it is a sandbox game and open world. What I do care about is if the emphasis is more on shooting than it is free running.
Guns need to remain worthless and hardly worth using like the original.
I have a sinking feeling that the are going to make the gameplay more like the Matrix though, where there is a lot of gun ballet. This would be cool sure but it wouldn't be Mirrors edge.
I agree with you about the guns.
i guess its a bit of a shame that its not a true sequal if it isn't but should hopefully be a great game anyway
happy gaming
I don't care if it is a sandbox game and open world. What I do care about is if the emphasis is more on shooting than it is free running.
Guns need to remain worthless and hardly worth using like the original.
I have a sinking feeling that the are going to make the gameplay more like the Matrix though, where there is a lot of gun ballet. This would be cool sure but it wouldn't be Mirrors edge.
"it had a unique soul" so we're gonna rip it out and make sure it falls in line with everything else.
They didn't but this is EA we are talking about, I would be shocked if they didn't make it more about shooting than free running, or at least put more of an equal emphasis on both of them.
The first game guns were almost worthless and were more of a powerup type thing where you would disarm someone shoot someone with the limited ammo and keep moving.
I agree with you about the guns.
Between this and Deus Ex, I don't care about anything else that might appear at E3 this year.
But Mirrors Edge I have an especially soft spot for. Every E3 I wish for more Mirrors Edge news, then a couple of years ago we got some but little else since. So I'm extremely stoked to hear it'll be making an appearance this year.
I love the original game. I love the soundtrack and hope they get Solar Fields in again as he really nailed the vibe for each chapter.
However, as much as I really, really love the original, there were some problems I had with controls. Especially when having to do a side wall run and leap backwards to another ledge. I struggled (still do) with some of them sections of the game. I don't want a dumbed down version of the control scheme, I just want it to work a little better. There's always room for improvement, especially considering that the first game was doing something a bit different.
Now it could turn out to be as Ben said a more sandbox game with some free-running, but that's just speculation and I'll hold off judgement until next week when we see more on how they plan on improving the game. There is room for improvement without ruining the game.
I'm being optimistic that DICE know what made the first game so endearing to fans and will just enhance the experience rather than turn it into something generic.
Sidewall kicks are definitely the hardest maneuver to pull off in the game, but they're also the rarest required ones. That said I also had problems with them when playing with a controller. I never even thought to try m/kb until my controller busted halfway through my first playthrough and I HAD to use m/kb.
Sidewall kicks, as well as the rest of the controls, are so, so much better with m/kb. It's really weird, because that shouldn't be the case, like at all. It's completely counter intuitive if you ask me. Other free running games like Assassin's Creed play like hot garbage with a m/kb but obviously play just fine with a controller, for example.
Anyway, I'm sure the controls will be a bit more fine-tuned. As for those pesky sidewall kicks, inverting the bumper controls on your controller might help. I was doing that until I switched to m/kb and it did make them, and other moves, a bit easier to pull off.
So, a remake.
DICE is still under EA, while they do a good job EA can still hold sway over where things go if the shareholders bully them enough.
Granted EA has done a much better job lately, as Dragon Age inquisition was pretty well handled.
I don't have a problem with the world opening up, my problem is if they try and mainstream this game and add more of an emphasis on gun play.
Guns IMO were useless because they were limited, and getting the best ranks, and trophies required you to stay away from lethal force if I recall correctly.
I am excited for the game BIO but I have my reservations. EA has to earn my trust back, and DA:I was a step in the right direction.
i guess its a bit of a shame that its not a true sequal if it isn't but should hopefully be a great game anyway
happy gaming
Actually it's DICE we're talking about, and with the exceptions of tacked on non-gameplay EA crap like micro transactions and stupid DRM, etc., DICE usually gets a pretty free hand when actually developing their games. Something like Mirror's Edge would have never existed in the first place.
The assumption that 'new gameplay elements' means open world/sandbox gameplay, or that such a direction is automatically bad, is kinda weird. It might be open world, but in a series that is literally all about exploring a city in a fresh way, from a unique perspective, I don't see how opening that world up is anything but good.
As for the guns, they certainly weren't 'useless', they were just intentionally limited because it wasn't a first person shooter. If you could just disarm the first cop you come across and spend the rest of the level shooting people, it completely defeats the purpose. You're supposed to be completely outgunned, on the run, with your only defense being your speed and agility.
I doubt DICE is going to make Catalyst another generic shooter. I DO expect them to give Faith more hand-to-hand combat options in the event that she is surrounded by cops.
No, it's just marketing-speak for "this is a sequel, but we want you to think it's something more, something special, so here are some vague buzz words that could mean anything".
I don't see where they said that.
If I understand correctly, the previous Mirror's Edge is essentially something like a proof of concept and the Mirror's Edge they are working on now can be viewed as the "true" Mirror's Edge, yes?
Nice marketing scheme.
Regardless, this is one of the very few games I have been excited about in recent memory. Mirrors Edge had a lot of flaws but left such a sweet taste on the tongue.