An Ode to the Demo
Anthony Nicholson
November 4, 2008
Thank goodness for the demo!
Once again it has saved me from making the fatal mistake on the gaming borders of I will play or I won’t play.
When I first saw pictures of Mirror’s Edge I thought, “that looks neat”. Then realising that this isn’t the fifties, I moved onto better phrases like “wow this looks different” and “this could be cool”. It showed us that maybe a full blown version of Parkour (free jumping/climbing) could be done within a gaming system. I got very excited.
However, as the months went on I began to question some of the mechanics.
“What if they get the perception wrong?”
“What if the controls are awkward and clunky?”
But thanks to a quick look on Xbox Live the other night, I noticed that Mirror’s Edge had a demo for download. So while I waited I played Fallout 3 (RPG not a FPS!), and then I got my plink that the download had finished. So I switched over to the Demo and wow, I’m impressed.
Everything about the demo was right. The setting, the intensity, the totally hawt azn (hot Asian for normal people) and best of all, fluid controls. There were times during the brief but excellent demo where the sweat rolled down my face as I was chased by four gun toting policemen while being told not to fight and just run the whole time, only to be confronted by more gun toting maniacs. There is also some great martial arts set pieces that are easily controlled, combos a plenty while running and a nice little soundtrack. If the main game delivers a game as good as this demo I’ll be quite delighted to hand over my hard earned Euros to DICE.
Thank goodness for demos, otherwise maybe we would miss out out on some gems. And then again we would make the mistake of buying the wrong game.
If only I had played a Mercs 2 Demo :’(
November 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I was pleasantly surprised. It felt tight enough, still not sure if I’ll purchase it though.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’m really interested in Mirror’s Edge. It looks great.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Definitely buying this, for the same reason as Nick – awesome demo.
Can’t wait after playing it, and this is right in the middle of a HUGE bundle of games that need buying.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I have managed to scour the net and find some other videos on different parts of the game and not have to watch one of the so called developers make a total James Blunt of the demo on livewire.
I wasn’t going to buy this game but I am now
November 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I have a copy of the game here now. I’m licking it as I type this.
Also did you know the script was written by Rhianna Pratchett who wrote Overlord and Heavenly Sword. I totally know her too. We’re like that!
*holds fingers quite near each other*
November 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Licking it Kirsten? Does it taste good?
November 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
suppose it makes a change from licking windows :P
as for the demo, totally loved it, but i knew i did all those months back when i saw the first gameplay footage, even with all these big hitters fighting for out pocket money, this one is definately a front runner*
*geddit? front runner-free runner? ugggh nevermind…..
November 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Yeah, paradox, I got it… it was terrible. Sorry.
I didn’t know she wrote it… the script or the story? Is there even a difference between them in games?
November 4th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Liked the demo alot.
V. tempted to get this now.
But if its all the same, I think I’d like an unlicked copy. Do you think that’ll be possible, or was Kirsten let loose at the developers?
November 5th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Liking this demo very much. EA sure has bucked up its ideas somewhat.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I’ve just played the demo… *deep breath* OOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
November 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I just read what James said as “Licking this demo very much”
You’ll get a licked copy and you’ll like it, Skill!
November 6th, 2008 at 2:31 am
If you can shoot people in first-person view, it’s an FPS. Can it also be an RPG? Sure!