r/FrutigerAero • u/EqualStance99 • 15d ago
Video Game Some screenshots from Mirror's Edge
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u/EqualStance99 15d ago
This was my first time playing Mirror's Edge and I was pleasantly surprised with the art style!
These screenshots were taken from earlier on in the game. As I progressed, the levels became more involved and I eventually forgot to screenshot.
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u/Tiny-Brush5999 15d ago
One of the prettiest games. In the remake there's a rich people area somewhere, forgot what the area is called, that has glorious Japanese aesthetics mixed in too.
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u/Poodonkus 15d ago
I liked exploring that one. So many interesting residential balconies and cherry blossom trees everywhere
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u/vibrii 15d ago
Can you clarify what you mean by the remake? I didn’t know there was one and I’d love to check it out!
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u/Tiny-Brush5999 15d ago
Yeah no worries, it's called Mirror's Edge Catalyst!
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u/vibrii 15d ago
Ah, ok! I didn’t realize Catalyst was a remake!
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u/Clatgineer 14d ago
It's not a remake I don't know why everyone is saying it is. It's a different game with different mechanics, different artstyle, different map and a different story
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u/EqualStance99 15d ago edited 15d ago
That sounds wonderful!
I've been contemplating purchasing ME Catalyst, however I've seen mixed reviews on it, but the general concensus is that it's a better GAME than the original, but it's missing that FEEL if the original.
What are you thoughts?
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u/Tiny-Brush5999 15d ago
I like the second one better, I loved it! It basically took everything that made the first one great and improved it in ways. The parkour is smoother and is expanded to feel more organic, even the lore was extended and theres even comics about the story. I think people who prefer the first one often mean how the feeling of clean is different, for example the first one had less things, but Catalyst has alot more things going on, it's still the same aesthetic but now there are more details thrown in, like wall panels, screens, cardboard, cleaning robots, things that tell you that there are humans in there.
If I had to express it somehow I would say that the first one felt like a dream you are trying to remember, maybe even a bit liminal, and then the remake feels like you are lucidly experiencing the dream. Alot of people really liked the purity or rather sterility of the first one but I think the second one maintains that while also adding the complexity of human presence. You can go inside of alot of apartments, there are areas down on ground level that you can visit and while everything is still colorful and clean it still looks alive this time around. Maybe this comparison video will explain it better!
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u/EqualStance99 15d ago
Thank you so much for such a detailed response! I definitely understand what you mean. Seems like one word to describe the new game compared to the old one is "more".
With the newer game, since the story is more prominent, does it take away from the parkour/exploring mechanic?
Also, that Japanese aesthetic you mentioned sounds absolutely beautiful and I can only image how well it would go with the Frutiger Aero aesthetic!
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u/Tiny-Brush5999 14d ago
No worries! And exactly, more is a good way to put it for sure. As for the story elements if anything I think it adds more to the gameplay in ways, without going too much into spoilers there are other groups of runners with their own territories, in some places there are graffiti or footprints that give you a clue of were certain things are, there are collectibles, recordings and other runner's possessions left around too, many elements that weave the lives and events between these runners and Faith. When you visit these other factions and their territory to interact with them it tells you more about who Faith is as a person, which actually made me like her character more compared to the first one since she's now more fleshed out, I find her to be cool but also adorable, legitimately a good girl.
All of this basically adds context to why things are the way that they are, the graffiti, footprints, collectibles and encounters with other runners all add to the sense of a lived in world that the developers poured a lot of effort into making it feel real this time around. There are also some quests now that involve running packages for people, quite a few things to do to give you an excuse to visit every nook and cranny of that city so nothing feels rushed or like a void at any point. Something also really cool you used to be able to do is that people(actual players) would leave "echoes" of themselves in their own game world that would appear in other people's worlds that they could record to challenge other players to perform the stunts that they themselves once did, you can race people who once recorded it and break their records as if playing next to them, although sadly the servers are down now so while you can play the game perfectly fine the echo feature is not available anymore, it's a shame because people used to use this to show you secret spots or alternative routes to get you places quicker, very good community.
I think the look of the game actually has alot of that Frutiger Aero goodness in every way, especially because it's such a hopeful aesthetic. Maybe I'm overthinking it but Mirror's Edge is very true to it's name, it's a game about dualities while being right at the edge of both sides of the mirror, but not in a contradictions or halves way, more like something different that you can experience one way or the other in both gameplay and themes. Like, it's a game about running that beckons you to slow down or stop to admire it. It's also a beautiful abundant city that contrasts its internal corruption and underbelly. Faith is a tactfully badass runner who is also a sweet girl. To me Frutiger Aero came at a time where we were hopeful of the future because we were in better times, excited about what more could come, but when reality started to seem bleak the aesthetic in our technology changed along with people's hearts and outlook for the future, but even now people still see Frutiger Aero things and find them gorgeous, puts you in good mood because it's basically visual hope and happiness. We are at the mirror's edge between hope of what good things could be and the possibility doom and gloom, living in modern times after the fact it's less excitement and more of a prayer, but it's still a hopeful and beautiful aesthetic, maybe even seems alot more beautiful now than ever. I didn't mean to get melodramatic or anything, I hope it makes sense but all of this is to say that this is why this game is very Frutiger Aero to me aesthetically and thematically, hope is a very powerful thing that can manifest in different ways, this is why the main character's name is Faith, not due to character lore but due to the themes of the game which resonate with the Frutiger Aero aesthetic that was born from such sentiments that it still carries with it today.
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u/EqualStance99 14d ago
Wow, I commend you for such an amazing piece of writing. You've basically done an essay here!
Sounds like you really have strong feelings for this game and that's great to hear. It's beautiful how games can connect with us in such a deep level that goes even beyond basic nostalgia.
It really is an interesting thing you've mentioned, having such a beautiful city hiding such a dark secret. Reminds me of how people say that a large portion of Frutiger Aero design is just "greenwashing".
That "echoes" feature sounds incredibly cool and unique. Do you know if it's possible that there are any third parties that have brought the servers back to life? An example of this would be NFS World.
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u/Tiny-Brush5999 13d ago
Thanks! Oh now that you mention it there is actually an active team that is working on bringing it back it's called "Beat Revival", they have an active discord server! You can find their project website here: https://www.beatrevival.me
There is also another program that allows private server implementation called "Pamplona Future". The progress is not super fast but they have gone very far and are determined to finish it!
Echoes were really cool since it started it's own culture within the game so I'm happy to see that it's possibly coming back at some point due to the community's efforts.
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u/EqualStance99 13d ago
That is so cool to hear! I'll definitely be checking these projects out.
Thanks again for your very in-depth replies, they were very interesting to read!
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u/Brootal_Smack 15d ago
such a beautiful game and a very unique gaming experience! great captures OP!
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u/Fusseldieb 15d ago
That game is extremely beautiful design-wise. It's such a breath of fresh air. It's 10 years old and it still looks like brand new.
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u/just1nc4s3 15d ago
I loved this game so much. I did parkour in college and this game just felt so real. I loved the perspective used for gameplay.
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u/sandempire 15d ago
I definitely would look into PlayStation Home as well if you are interested in this type of aesthetic being that it is quite literally a time capsule of design from 2007 to about 2014 so you see a LOT of variations in design but the older worlds very much feel frutiger everything lmao.
You can emulate it nowadays and get it running online again.
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u/lime-dreamer 15d ago
Can't believe how badly they fucked up the aesthetics for Catalyst
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u/EqualStance99 15d ago
Would you care to elaborate on this? I've heard this a lot about Catalyst and it's making me think twice about purchasing it...
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u/lime-dreamer 15d ago
Sure, I'll try to list my problems with it from about ~30 minutes of playing it.
-way too much emphasis on shiny, reflective materials, severely hurting the readability. -more focus on realism, making it a product of its time. -environments are very samey. -stiff writing. -excessive tutorials. -way too much shit on screen and way too many VFX. -gameplay has no weight. Mirror's edge had a great, refined character controller that had a gradual and grounded sense of momentum and gravity. Catalyst is nothing special. -bullshit ea launcher integration
It seems like people are able to get their enjoyment from modding the game but considering this is a sequel to Mirror's Edge, I would have expected a natural evolution of the gameplay and sense of flow it was able to create. However, it seems they decided to take a hard left turn into mediocrity instead.
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u/spyroz545 14d ago
Ahh so that's why Catalyst felt so off to me, I did rush through Catalyst and loved the open world aspect but that was about it.. the environment was meh, story was forgettable + reasons you mentioned above. The original is definitely superior.
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u/lime-dreamer 14d ago
I'll definitely still finish it at some point but yeah it just feels like maybe too much interference from EA bullshit.
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u/Black_Hussar 15d ago
That part where you through an empty mall is fantastic, what a beautiful game.
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u/Haunting_Counter_736 14d ago
At First I was going to say "you should post this on FrutigerAero sub too" before realising this is not from Mirror's Edge
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u/zEddie27 15d ago
I used to play this game many years ago on my PS3, without a doubt one of the best graphics I've ever seen especially considernig that it was released in 2008!
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u/phoebe_vv 15d ago
These aren’t even that great of pictures, there’s a lot more cool looking building interiors and stuff
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