: Time-trial races where you compete against other players' ghosts on global leaderboards.
The game's identity is built on fluid, momentum-based parkour and urban exploration. Open World Traversal : Unlike its linear predecessor,
Upon release, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst received from critics. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 69–73 depending on the platform. The critical consensus praised the graphics, the art direction, the soundtrack by Solar Fields (who also composed for the original), and the exhilarating moment-to-moment parkour. However, it was universally criticized for its weak story, its forced and clunky combat, and the padded nature of its open-world design. User reviews on Metacritic are similarly split: 41% Positive , 27% Mixed , and 32% Negative .
Released in June 2016 by developer and publisher Electronic Arts , Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a reboot of the cult classic 2008 original. It aimed to refine the series' signature first-person platforming while expanding it into a seamless open-world environment. However, like its predecessor, Catalyst is a game of incredible highs and frustrating lows—a beautiful, exhilarating experience whose flaws keep it from achieving the greatness its fans had hoped for.
The city of Glass is a futuristic metropolis with a unique blend of Asian and Western architectural styles. The city is divided into several districts, each with its own character and challenges. The city is filled with tall skyscrapers, cramped alleyways, and abandoned buildings, providing a rich environment for parkour and exploration. Mirror-s Edge- Catalyst
is the definition of a flawed masterpiece. It tried to scale a linear masterpiece into an open-world epic and stumbled on the landing. Yet, the core loop—that golden feeling of chaining a wall-run into a zip-line into a perfect roll—is so addictive, so pure, that it transcends the game’s structural flaws.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst: Running Free in the City of Glass Released in 2016 by EA DICE, serves as a soft reboot of the 2008 cult classic, Mirror's Edge . It aims to refine the core parkour experience, shifting from a linear narrative structure to a sprawling open-world environment. Players step back into the shoes of Faith Connors, a runner navigating the dystopian, minimalist City of Glass. The World of Catalyst: Redefining Glass
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The game's asynchronous multiplayer allowed players to place custom checkpoints across the city, creating unique races for the global community to compete in. : Time-trial races where you compete against other
To help players navigate the city’s complex architecture, Catalyst includes a tool called Runner Vision. This system dynamically highlights optimal routes in red, guiding players along the most expedient path toward their objective. The game can also display an outline of a person performing the exact parkour move required to advance—subtle enough not to be intrusive but clear enough to stand out against Glass’s gleaming white environments.
While the combat can occasionally feel clunky compared to the seamless parkour, it’s most effective when you use the environment. Kicking a guard off a ledge while mid-wall-run is a peak "Runner" moment that reinforces the idea that your greatest weapon is your movement. Why You Should Play It Today
Mirror's Edge Catalyst is a first-person platformer game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts (EA). The game was released on June 7, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. It is a reboot of the original Mirror's Edge, which was released in 2008.
Unlike the original game, Catalyst uses a . Faith starts with a basic moveset, and players must earn experience points (XP) from missions and activities to unlock advanced techniques like the quick turn, the roll landing, and even the ability to tuck your feet while jumping. This proved incredibly unpopular with series fans, as it artificially restricts the core gameplay and forces players to grind for hours before they have access to all the moves necessary to fully enjoy the world. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 69–73
Unlike the original, Catalyst features an upgrade tree. Faith unlocks advanced moves—such as the roll, quickturn, and skill roll—as players earn experience points through missions and exploration.
The City of Glass in Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a masterclass in "Frutiger Aero" aesthetics, defined by sterile whites, vibrant primary colors, and high-gloss surfaces that feel both utopian and deeply oppressive. While the game iterates on the original’s parkour, it shifts the focus toward a persistent open world that invites players to break the societal "mould" of movement.
Its online component, , was quietly brilliant. Instead of traditional multiplayer, it allowed players to create custom time trials (Dashes) in the open world and place hacking pods for others to find. It fostered a tight-knit community of speedrunners who spent hundreds of hours shaving fractions of a second off rooftop routes, proving that the game’s core mechanics had immense depth.
Source: GameSpot Review Roundup