User Review : Brink

Brink Review - Xbox 360 - AverageGamer.net

With the extreme hype that brink has gotten before its March release, fans were sure that this game was going to be the dawn of a new era for first person shooters. With Splash Damage’s revolutionary S.M.A.R.T system that allowed players to free run around the maps Splash Damage was beginning to change the genetic code that FPS was written on.

Brink introduces you to a post apocalyptic world covered by water on an artificial island called the Ark which may possible be the last stronghold of civilized man. You are split between 2 factions, the Resistance forces and the Security forces, which the Resistance is trying to reach out passed the Ark and make contact with the outside world while the Security is trying to hold back the Resistance forces from overthrowing the Arks leaders.

Campaign

When starting the main campaign you are made to choose your side from the beginning of the game but, not to worry you are allowed to play through both campaigns under the same character. Once choose your character you are sent right into the character customization section with is limited but very cool! You can customize yourself from facial and body tattoos and, also scars but be warned once they are applied they are permanent and cannot be changed! The clothing that each side has differs vastly from one another. If you play as the Resistance you see that your clothing is dirty and shredded so that you can tell that they are not living in good conditions, but if you are to choose Security you are given clean clothing and armored vest even hair styles are different from one side to another. Last but not least there are 3 different body classes Heavy which give you limited free running but max damage intake while medium class if even between free run and damage, all while light class gives you max free run range but at the cost of limited damage.

Weapon Customization

Now the interesting part is the weapon customization Brink gives you a moderately diverse set of weapons to let you choose from starting with long range sniper rifles to sub machine guns and they even give you grenade launchers and a mini gun. The weapons are also class variant specific Heavy class can use all weapons, Medium can use everything EXCEPT mini gun and Light classes are limited for sub machine guns. The weapon customization for Brink is fun but, sadly all the customizations feels the exact same way for every gun and what I mean by this is that all Assault Rifles and SMGs are allowed the same attachments. Given that there is nothing cooler that seeing a SMG with a giant Drum magazine it also is very pointless when you can do the exact same thing with an AR or even add the same Red Dot Sight attachment to both an SMG or AR it makes all the guns feel the same except ammo cap and unless you have the right class having a drum mag will hold you back rather than give you the edge (will go into detail soon about classes below).

Player Classes

Brink gives you 4 classes to choose from having the soldier class being the default this class allows you to refill your own ammo and give ammo to other players but that is all it is only good for what I described about gun customization. The other classes are operative which opens up different objectives in the game and allows you to disguise yourself as other enemy players, then there is Engineer with can build sentry bots, build MG nest in specified places, and the last class is the medic pretty basic you run around and heal any down players if you can. Now each class can boost their own health or weapon damage based on the class you choose.

Multiplayer

Now to the most important part of Brink is the MULTIPLAYER this is what this game is all about playing online with your friends and having a good time which would be great IF the multiplayer worked the way it should have when this game launched. Sadly the game did have issues involving lag and connection issues with multiplayer BUT did fix it right away and are releasing a patch in June along with FREE DLC that’s right FREE only because of the inconvenience that this problem cause to player who solely bought the game for multiplayer. The game play is very solid it is a very simple concept it is a simple hack, blow up, and escort game with a few side objectives to do to help the team out or add health boost. The best and most awesome part of this game is the SMART system it works perfectly with the game and is smooth no jittery movements and very small delay overall they couldn’t have done it any better.

Overall Brink is a great shooter well worth the $60 pricetag. Brink has tons of replay value and is the beginning to what I hope to be a great franchise.