Mirror's Edge Catalyst locks abilities behind XP upgrades

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A user on Neogaf posted the above image showing the movement section of the skill tree.

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by Chris Brand

@pass_controller

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It appears that many abilities - such as 90 degree turns, swinging on poles and landing into a roll - will need to be unlocked before you can use them. Some are upset by the RPG-like levelling system and it's easy to see why. ​

In the original Mirror's Edge, Faith had all of her abilities from the off; a number of them had to be performed just to progress through the tutorial level. Neglecting to tuck your feet in as you jumped over an obstacle or failing to execute a roll after a lengthy drop could be disastrous, or at the very least cause you to lose momentum.

It's not just movement abilities that require unlocking; there's also combat and gear upgrades.

Combat unlocks will grant damage boosts to specific enemy types, whilst spending points in the gear skill tree will allow you to disable AI drones and provide you access to Faith's grappling hook, among other things.

Some see the change in a more positive light. Unlocking each ability separately will permit you the chance to get to grips with the mechanics before moving on to the next. It could also add replayability in the form of hidden rooms, only accessible with a certain gadget or a flawless chain of parkour perfection. Not to mention the inevitable speed-runs that the game seems built for.

Next week's closed beta should hopefully allay any misgivings some may have about this new approach.

How do you feel about the levelling system? Looking forward to the beta? Let us know in the forums.

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