Jump across the elaborate rooftops performing death-defying stunts as Grace in Mirrors Edge. Reaction and timing plays a huge role as you jump, slide, climb and scale buildings running from swat teams. Reveal the complex plot as you help your sister in a murder mystery.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Mirror's Edge in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Mirror's Edge. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual:
PlayOnLinux Explained


Mint 14 32-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.1
Wine: 1.7.8

Installing Wine

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 1.7.8
Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

PlayOnLinux will automatically download it and save it in this directory:
/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wine/linux-x86


Note: username is where you put your login name

Its a good idea to backup this directory to another computer because you won't have to keep downloading wine versions when you need them.

Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 1.7.8 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam


Do not click "Install Steam Now" it will automatically install Linux Steam.
Since Mirrors Edge isn't made for Linux, we will download the Windows Steam instead.
click "Windows" under the green button


Navigate to your desktop
Click Save


Setup PlayOnLinux

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name you virtual drive: mirrorsedge
No spaces
Click Next


Select all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 1.7.8
Click Next


Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive.
Always select 32-bit virtual drive.

Configure Wine

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows XP
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click Ok


Install Libraries

Check the following libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_Physx
• POL_Install_registeredfonts
• POL_Install_tahoma
• POL_Install_vcrun2005

Click Next


Installing Steam

Click Browse


Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamInstall.msi
Click Open


Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam


More updating, extracting and installing


When Steam is done installing the login screen will pop up. You probably won't see any text because there is a font bug.
Click the "X" to close Steam login

PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Steam
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


More PlayOnLinux Configuration

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure
Select Steam virtual drive

General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite -no-cef-sandbox
This fixes the missing font and store problem


Note: -no-dwrite only works if you launch Steam from PlayOnLinux. Steam is automatically set to launch when Windows starts, which means if you do a "Windows Reboot" from the Wine tab -no-dwrite won't execute. Just close Steam and try again.

Display Tab
Direct Draw Renderer: opengl
Video Memory Size: size of memory on your video card
Offscreen rendering mode: fbo


Wine Tab
Click "Windows reboot"
Close Steam because it will automatically launch when Windows reboots and won't execute -no-dwrite.


Close Configure

Installing Mirrors Edge

Select Steam
Click Run


When you select the Steam icon you will probably get this pop-up error
Just click OK and continue


Login with your Steam account

Select Mirror's Edge
Click Install


Click Next

Click "I agree"

Uncheck: Create start menu...
Uncheck: Create desktop shortcut...
Click Next

Click Finish

Mirror's Edge will begin downloading

Launching Mirror's Edge

Select Mirror's Edge
Click Play


Click Play


Optimizing

Click Options


Click Video


Mirror's Edge automatically set my graphics setting according to my GeForce 550 Ti performance capabilities.
If you game runs slow, try lowering the Resolution, Texture Detail and Graphics Quality.
Vertical sync can remove screen tearing, but lowers your frames per second
Physx can also slow down frame per second (specially when lots of glass breaks) so make sure to turn it off.
Depending on your video card and memory, you will need to adjust these settings and then try playing the game.

Click Save Settings


Conclusion:
WineHQ test results will tell you that Mirror's Edge runs slow and has to be set on the low settings, but I was able to run it at 1680x1050 resolution and all the settings on high.
The game performed perfectly and frame rates were very smooth. Don't forget to turn off Physx otherwise you will get some extremely low frame rates when glass is broken.
I recommend at least a GeForce 550 Ti or newer to get good performance.

Not to mention Mirror's Edge is pretty intense and fun! Reminds me of Assasin's Creed as you run, jump and climb around the skyscrapers.

Screenshots: