Occasionally, a video game will reshape the way gamers see virtual worlds. Much like “Wolfenstein 3D,” “Super Mario 64” and “Half-Life” before it, the stunning first-person action-adventure game “Mirror’s Edge” (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, $59.99) smashes the conventions of its predecessors.

As a superagile courier named Faith — who’s usually being chased by bad guys — players can run, walk, leap, hop and slide across rooftops, within warehouses, through sewers and inside office buildings. Faith’s goals are never more complicated than getting from Point A to Point B. How she accomplishes that is where “Mirror’s Edge” comes alive.

Created by Swedish video game developer DICE, “Mirror’s Edge” mimics real-life running — complete with panting sounds. There’s no on-screen meters, so the minimalist display lets players’ eyes focus on the game’s parkour-inspired moves. (You know, that froggy style of movement made famous by “Casino Royale” and all those soda and sneaker commercials.)

Luckily, the free running isn’t disorienting. It’s liberating, especially when players gain enough momentum to acrobatically parlay a series of maneuvers into an impromptu ballet, resulting in a spring from a construction crane or lunge toward a helicopter. Of course, the fear of going splat or being shot to death by your pursuers is omnipresent.

To keep the action moving, objects and surfaces that Faith can bounce off of or use to her advantage glow a distinct shade of candy apple red and are usually easy to spot within her sterile urban environment, which resembles what it might look like if Ikea erected a city in Japan. Once you get the hang of the light-footed game play, it’s strangely blissful.

Players can also tackle what few foes get in Faith’s way and apprehend their firearms. However, guns sorta seem to slow her down. Ultimately, this game is all about the chase. So, with the tap of a button, she’ll toss weapons aside and continue on her way, making “Mirror’s Edge” a surprisingly nonviolent yet continually adrenaline-pumping affair.

“Mirror’s Edge” isn’t perfect. The story line is pedestrian and the wannabe anime cutscenes aren’t compelling. Those issues aside, the game’s 10 chapters will definitely leave players craving more places to lunge and run.

New Game Releases

“Mirror’s Edge”

Electronic Arts for Xbox 360 and PS3

ESRB rating: T for Teen

Top SALES The Top 10 games sold for week of Nov. 9. 1. “Gears of War 2” (X360)2. “Gears of War 2 Limited Edition” (X360)3. “Resistance 2” (PS3)4. “Fallout 3” (X360)5. “Fable II” (X360)6. “Fallout 3” (PS3)7. “WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009” (X360)8. “Wii Fit” (Wii)9. “Little Big Planet” (PS3)10. “WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009” (PS3)Blockbuster via McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

The following games were scheduled for release, according to GameSpot.com:

Nov. 16

• “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” (X360 and PS3, genre: 3D, rated T)

• “Animal Crossing: City Folk” (Wii, genre: virtual life, rated E)

• “Shaun White Snowboarding” (X360, PS3, PSP, DS and PS2; genre: snowboarding; rated T on X360 and PS3, E10+ on PSP and PS2, and E on DS)

Nov. 17

• “Need for Speed Undercover” (X360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS and PS2; genre: GT/street, rating unavailable)

• “NCAA Basketball 09” (X360, PS3 and PS2; genre: sim, rated E)

• “The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition” (PC, genre: fantasy, rating unavailable)

Nov. 18

• “Left 4 Dead” (X360 and PC, genre: sci-fi, rated M)

• “Castlevania Judgment” (Wii, genre: 3D, rated T), Tomb Raider Underworld (X360, PS3, Wii, PC and DS; genre: modern, rated T)

• “Naruto: The Broken Bond” (X360, genre: fantasy, rated T)

• “Legendary” (PC, genre: fantasy, rated M)

• “Sonic Unleashed” (Wii and PS2, genre: 3D, rated E10+)

• “Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods” (PC, genre: PC-style RPG, rated T)

Nov. 19:

• “Skate It” (Wii and DS, genre: skateboarding, rated E)

Nov. 20:

• “The Last Remnant” (X360, genre: console-style RPG, rated M)

— McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Top RENTALS The Top 10 games rented for week of Nov. 9. 1. “Gears of War 2” (X360)2. “Fallout 3” (X360)3. “Bond 007: Quantum Of Solace” (X360)4. “Fallout 3” (PS3)5. “Saint’s Row 2” (X360)6. “Far Cry 2” (X360)7. “Midnight Club: Los Angeles” (X360)8. “Guitar Hero World Tour” (X360)9. “Bond 007: Quantum Of Solace” (PS3)10. “Fable II” (X360)Blockbuster via McClatchy-Tribune News Service