The Blogtastic Blogfest That Is Getmeoutofthis.net!

Running games like Canabalt just work good on iOS. The interaction can be simple, because the character will move with no input, and it’s great for little pick up and play sessions. However, unless you have a Hook Champ, they tend to be just that. Just a little something you do for a little while, and then put down.

Mirror’s Edge manages to keep from being that, and be a pretty solid game, one I probably had more fun with than with the full-blown console version.

Faith is a lady who has to run about. You do this with a set of fairly logical and completely functional gestures on the touch screen. Swipe left or right to change direction, swipe up to jump, swipe down to slide. Simple. You can do a few more “complex” moves, but it’s mostly just about doing that at the right time. Not having buttons on the screen works really well, and I never had trouble getting it to recognize a swipe when I did it. The only problem I had was being very confused about how to pause at first. (It’s swiping two fingers up.) Other than that, it’s a really solid control scheme.
Obstacles are colored red with “Runner’s Vision” like in the console game, but unlike in the console game, because this game is 2D, Runner’s Vision is actually useful. It lets them make the backgrounds a bit more interesting than they would be able to otherwise, because you can always tell what’s something you will have to deal with as you approach it. Sure, following that path will keep you from getting all the collectible bags on each level, but at least you always know how to get to the finish line. I appreciate always knowing how to proceed.

Levels slowly ramp up in difficulty, but don’t vary too too much. Eventually they will start throwing gunners and other obstacles that could kill Faith, but the basic gameplay doesn’t really change up. It played almost like a very relaxing Super Quick Hook. Though you’re encouraged to go fast, rarely do you feel rushed and against the clock. Succeeding requires a level of precision, but nothing near the level of skill required to successfully grapplehook. It hits a nice point, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a game worth playing.
Of course, the game ends weakly with a stupid “boss battle.” There’s another dude running around the screen, and you have to trip him three times. However, he’s just as fast as Faith and annoying as fuck to actually catch. That sequence was no fun, and then it just kind of unceremoniously said “you win” and dumped me back to the menu. It was kind of a letdown, but so it goes. Didn’t make the rest of the game less fun.

I do feel like I have to mention the price, though. I bought this on a sale for a buck, but it’s normally ten dollars. This really isn’t a ten dollar game by any stretch. It’s a bargain at a dollar, and is worth more, but if you compare it to an XBLA game or indie game on Steam, which is what it’s competing with, you are not getting enough game for that. I can’t really suggest it at full price, but it’s the app store. It’ll go on sale again. When it does, do consider it. It is one of the flashier action games I’ve played on iOS, and is a solid amount of fun while it lasts.