Brink

 Xbox 360
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 409 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 140 out of 409
  2. Mixed: 148 out of 409
  3. Negative: 121 out of 409
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  1. cass500
    Jun 1, 2011
    6
    Brink is so far my biggest disappointment of the year. I love FPS but really don't have the time or skills to kick it hardcore on multiplayer, so a decent solo campaign is crucial to my purchase decision. Unfortunately the solo AI in Brink is so broken that there is no point in playing. Your virtual teammates are completely useless so unless you do all the mission specific tasksBrink is so far my biggest disappointment of the year. I love FPS but really don't have the time or skills to kick it hardcore on multiplayer, so a decent solo campaign is crucial to my purchase decision. Unfortunately the solo AI in Brink is so broken that there is no point in playing. Your virtual teammates are completely useless so unless you do all the mission specific tasks yourself (switching roles mid map as needed) you will never finish some of the missions, as your teammates will run off to guard command posts rather than assist with escort duty. In addition the really limited number of maps means solo play gets pretty boring pretty fast. It is not that hard to make an FPS with a solid solo campaign. Cyrsis II being just one recent example. Brink had a number of things going for it , a quirky art style, good customization of weapons and play style, a potentially good story line. But it fails to deliver where it really counts in the game play. Solo is a nonstarter and unless you are playing with a group of friends the online "team play" that should be the selling point is non existent. The two days I played everyone just went their own way. This is one more game i am glad I rented first.… Expand
  2. TheQuietGamer
    Jun 4, 2011
    7
    This was one of my most anticipated games of 2011, all the cool features I heard about had me excited, but in the end it let me down, don't get me wrong it's not a bad game, and the ability to fully customize your character is cool, and it's fun to play with friends or a well organized group of people, so it's good but not great, this game was built for multiplayer, so if your notThis was one of my most anticipated games of 2011, all the cool features I heard about had me excited, but in the end it let me down, don't get me wrong it's not a bad game, and the ability to fully customize your character is cool, and it's fun to play with friends or a well organized group of people, so it's good but not great, this game was built for multiplayer, so if your not connected to Xbox Live I wouldn't recommend it, and only then if you have friends who will play this with you, if your not connected to Xbox Live you'll have to play with the stupid A.I. , who rarely work with you, when you have to stop enemies from hacking a computer, instead of working with you the A.I. will run off to hack a computer or something while your left to fight off the endless hordes of enemies by yourself, so it's frustrating at times, and the smart system doesn't always work like they said it would, but if you get some friends together and play this, and manage you time and choose the correct classes, this can be fun, but in the end it's good but not great.… Expand
  3. benoski
    Jul 17, 2011
    7
    I was really looking forward to Brink, but when it got mixed reviews I decided to think about it. But I bought it anyway early in July. I was a bit disappointed, since I did not get excited about the single player for one bit. That explains how bad the campaign is. The same goes for the A.I, since even on the Easy setting I keep getting incapacitated a LOT! There are custom settings forI was really looking forward to Brink, but when it got mixed reviews I decided to think about it. But I bought it anyway early in July. I was a bit disappointed, since I did not get excited about the single player for one bit. That explains how bad the campaign is. The same goes for the A.I, since even on the Easy setting I keep getting incapacitated a LOT! There are custom settings for multiplayer, but they are for Private matches only which sucks.

    The parkour mechanic is alright, but it doesn't work well. I actually would have loved it if you just pressed LB to turn parkour mode on or off, but instead, Splash Damage just HAD to do the following: Press LB to turn sprint on or off and HOLD LB for parkour.

    There are ONLY 4 challenges to do, all have 1 star, 2 star and 3 star level. So the challenges are terrible.

    Brink is, to me, quite an unfinished title. I may hate the A.I, but I can always go on Multiplayer right? The SMART mechanic is a nice addition to the game and I will hopefully be getting the free DLC when it releases at the end of the month. If you have an Xbox 360 and Brink, I'd be happy to play with you. Brink is a great shooter, but designed for multiplayer experiences. Ignore the problems and you should have a fine shooter.    … Expand
  4. nufrequency
    May 24, 2011
    5
    Brink was suppose to be a fps revolution, too bad it turned out to be mediocre product (at least on xbox) with more annoyances than you can imagine.Muddy, washed out, low resolution textures that constantly load here and there, unfriendly confusing GUI, unlocks for weapons that can be only obtained by playing single player challenges and extremely clunky non responsive controls that makesBrink was suppose to be a fps revolution, too bad it turned out to be mediocre product (at least on xbox) with more annoyances than you can imagine.Muddy, washed out, low resolution textures that constantly load here and there, unfriendly confusing GUI, unlocks for weapons that can be only obtained by playing single player challenges and extremely clunky non responsive controls that makes you feel like ur character has bunch of bricks in his pants ...throw in so called single player and you end up with a $60 game that forces you to ask yourself " what the **** did I just bought !" There are some cool aspects like classes and team objective gameplay but at the end its just not enough (at least for me) and only way I could recommend this title is to wait for a bargain bin price… Expand
  5. s0cks
    May 24, 2011
    5
    Funnily enough I quite liked Brink. I bought the game without much prior knowledge or hype and was pleasantly surprised. The character customization is great. The game objectives give you something to actually play for, and the level design is rather good for the most part. So why have only given Brink a 5? Player base. I've purchased the game a mere 2 weeks (if that) after release andFunnily enough I quite liked Brink. I bought the game without much prior knowledge or hype and was pleasantly surprised. The character customization is great. The game objectives give you something to actually play for, and the level design is rather good for the most part. So why have only given Brink a 5? Player base. I've purchased the game a mere 2 weeks (if that) after release and there is NO-ONE playing. Or at least not in my area of the world (Australia/New Zealand). Playing against bots just doesn't have the same appeal. The game is pretty much dead, and so soon after release is disappointing. This game could have been good, but I cannot recommend it to anyone as it is no longer played. Now I have to try and sell.… Expand
  6. PevMaster
    Dec 10, 2011
    6
    After playing Black Ops half to death, the symptoms of CoD-itis were beginning to show. I wanted to try out a new, fresh shooter that actually did something different rather than used the same old rinse-and-repeat mechanics that plague every new Call of Duty. Brink's prospect of a free-flowing parkour system, fresh ideas, joyfully customisable and teamwork-oriented gameplay.

    Well, when I    After playing Black Ops half to death, the symptoms of CoD-itis were beginning to show. I wanted to try out a new, fresh shooter that actually did something different rather than used the same old rinse-and-repeat mechanics that plague every new Call of Duty. Brink's prospect of a free-flowing parkour system, fresh ideas, joyfully customisable and teamwork-oriented gameplay.

    Well, when I got into the game I discovered this was not the case. The maps were as boring as a brownbread ham sandwich, the customisation elements seemed rather pointless, the SMART system felt tedious, the voice actors lacked talent, the graphics are average, and the story was.....wait, what story?

    Despite all of its flaws, to its credit the guns do feel pretty solid and the teamplay works pretty well. In addition to the multiplayer, there is a pretty neat challenge mode, but there's only about four challenges, and the only replay value attached to them is in trying to achieve more points.

    But there's yet more flaws. The game is CRAMMED with bugs and graphical issues, and in a foolish attempt to 'unify' single-player and multiplayer, there is only eight levels. In the entire game. Each of these maps have one mission. And that's it. The game doesn't even have enough replay value to keep its players occupied.

    In spite of all the teamwork-gameplay and 'freshness', the most Brink is capable of achieving is the status of 'just another shooter'. Behind the illusion, you still have unlockable guns, perks and abilities, which, at heart, makes Brink a CoD clone, really. While it's new ideas could have been revolutionary, a lack of a story and bad voice actors keeps players disinterested in the missions; you quickly tire of the eight missions; the dull graphics make you want to fall asleep.....I could go on forever.

    In conclusion, Brink is probably simply best for the kind of person who's sick of Call of Duty to pick Brink up for five pounds when the price drops. They'll be entertained by the moments of fun, but to be fair Brink will probably end up being condemned to the bottom of the games collection, forcing you to wonder what this could have been.    … Expand
  7. baddeadtaste
    May 24, 2011
    6
    While I did enjoy my time with brink it also left me wondering.....what just happened? The overall interface is a little confusing IMO and I often had a hard time understanding who was on my team and who or what was a bot. Perhaps I am just ignorant and the execution of the team mechanic was lost on me. Nonetheless I was left with a feeling of wanting more by the time I decided to callWhile I did enjoy my time with brink it also left me wondering.....what just happened? The overall interface is a little confusing IMO and I often had a hard time understanding who was on my team and who or what was a bot. Perhaps I am just ignorant and the execution of the team mechanic was lost on me. Nonetheless I was left with a feeling of wanting more by the time I decided to call it quits with Brink. That is not to say the game does not have it's strong points and should be outright dismissed, it just did not work for me. Both the movement and gun play in Brink is excellent. Hit detection seems to be overall excellent and clean. The movement system really had me smiling from time to time. It was great to run, jump and slide around the map avoiding enemy gunfire on the way to my next objective. There is also a great deal of character and weapon customization at ones disposal. Everything from grips, silencers to under mounted grenade launchers. Mostly standard fare but still cool. You have enough character options to truly craft a unique persona and probably not run into anyone else that looks even remotely like you, if you can determine when you are actually online with other human players which was my main problem. Some may read this and think I am a fool for not being able to determine a bot from the human counterpart, but so be it. I have been a gamer for over 30 years now and overall Brink left me a little confused. IMO it is worth a rent to check it out and see if it may be for you, but I do not think this game is worth the full $60 price tag by any means.… Expand
  8. L00neyT00ns
    May 20, 2011
    6
    An opportunity wasted to bring something new & fresh to an increasingly stale genre.Brink could have been so much more but instead it gets let down by dated graphics & sound,lack of maps,poor single player,lag in multiplayer & a poorly implemented Parkour system.
    It does have a few plus points though,the character customization & character balancing are good and splash damage should be    An opportunity wasted to bring something new & fresh to an increasingly stale genre.Brink could have been so much more but instead it gets let down by dated graphics & sound,lack of maps,poor single player,lag in multiplayer & a poorly implemented Parkour system.
    It does have a few plus points though,the character customization & character balancing are good and splash damage should be applauded for trying something new.
    I hope they make a sequel but learn from this game as it can only get better.    … Expand
  9. MechMarine
    Jun 5, 2011
    7
    While Brink is a wonderful multiplayer game, it is just that: A multiplayer game. The singleplayer AI lacks the intelligence to create a full experience, while the objectives are often much harder when you have no competent allies to help. Beyond the bad AI, Brink is a wonderful game. While it could use a better tutorial, and perhaps more of a backstory, the gameplay is phenomenal.
  10. slsoccer7
    Jul 11, 2011
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. All in all, I say this is a rental. I got this about a week after it came out, eagerly waiting to play it. I heard so much about the character customization and how many different possibilities there are. That is a very cool feature. As for the rest of the game, I wish it could have been done differently. I don't like how the multiplayer is almost the exact same thing as the single player. The other thing I do not like is how the resistance missions and the security missions are just flipped around. For example, instead of guarding the person, you need to kill him. You also don't get new maps for different campaigns. The reason it got a 7 from me is because the first time playing, and getting to use the parkour system "SMART" is pretty neat.… Expand
  11. jcop678
    Jul 25, 2011
    7
    well frankly im disappointed i thought for sure this was going to be fun and it kind of was the multiplayer was fun the controls are smooth and i love the parkour. The thing i hate and is why it gets a seven is the AI... this is the worst AI i have ever seen in gaming you have to do everything your self and its just annoying and another reason is the graphics they aren't what I expectedwell frankly im disappointed i thought for sure this was going to be fun and it kind of was the multiplayer was fun the controls are smooth and i love the parkour. The thing i hate and is why it gets a seven is the AI... this is the worst AI i have ever seen in gaming you have to do everything your self and its just annoying and another reason is the graphics they aren't what I expected from a 2011 game im deeply disappointed with the out come of this game it was a great idea and the devolper couldnt do it but i had fun despite my disappointment… Expand
  12. NinjaSniperJim
    Nov 28, 2011
    5
    This game is really not too good. Crappy Graphics, Boring Storyline. Oh and don't get me started on the A.I just DON'T! The only good thing is the Shooting and Custimazation. But that only feels like Half a Game. Overall this game felt rushed.
  13. Mattar
    Nov 30, 2011
    5
    When I first started playing Brink, I loved it - the objective based rounds, the different classes and the ability to play online co-op and multiplayer. However, things went downhill from there. The AI are the worst part about this game. If you put AI in a game, I'd expect them to provide defense for me when I'm trying to capture an objective, or help me capture it. But all the Brink AIWhen I first started playing Brink, I loved it - the objective based rounds, the different classes and the ability to play online co-op and multiplayer. However, things went downhill from there. The AI are the worst part about this game. If you put AI in a game, I'd expect them to provide defense for me when I'm trying to capture an objective, or help me capture it. But all the Brink AI seem to want to do is take command posts (secondary objectives which give your team a health/supply boost) and then run off only for the command posts to get captured by one or two enemy team members. Thus this cycle repeats itself. However, the full customization of your character was a very good idea, and the graphics are very good. The Parkour aspect means nothing to me though sadly, because if I wanted to survive taking an objective by myself I had to make myself a heavy body type, meaning I can barely climb over crates and low walls. This game had such potential.… Expand
  14. 360gamer8302
    Feb 1, 2012
    6
    This game isn't bad. It's just not that good either; it's kind of middle of the road. The graphics aren't very good. The "story" is below par compared to other FPSs. My only real advice is instead of playing a game that takes ideas from TF2, why don't you just buy The Orange Box? It has TF2 in it. Plus more games. It's like 10 dollars at GameStop.
  15. AyexeM
    May 11, 2011
    7
    I've been eagerly anticipating this game for many months. All the talk about the unique features had me drooling for something new in a shooter.

    In my opinion its a great game, but it doesn't live up to the PR hype that splash damage put out. First, the seamless experience between multi-player and single-player just means that single-player doesn't exist. Instead its offline    I've been eagerly anticipating this game for many months. All the talk about the unique features had me drooling for something new in a shooter.

    In my opinion its a great game, but it doesn't live up to the PR hype that splash damage put out. First, the seamless experience between multi-player and single-player just means that single-player doesn't exist. Instead its offline multi-player with bots which have average shooter AI, which means they are morons with excellent vision.

    Also, the developers talk about rewarding teamplay, but in this case it basically means that if your team sucks, then you cannot do well. Gun skill means nothing in Brink so enemies can just run away and their health will refill. Also, no post-game stats, it only displays "points". You could be waxing fools left and right but that bot medic constantly healing teammates will probably out score you.

    Now what I do like. The characters maps and weapons are all beautiful. I love being able to customize my character. Voice acting is fantastic. It is feels great to push through the enemy and complete objectives which come at a fast pace and can vary widely from map to map. The perks are totally different from any other shooter.

    At this point I'm only 6 hours into the game, so I am still discovering things. I don't regret the purchase at all, but I have to shake my head at all the pre-launch PR from splash-damage.    … Expand
  16. OneClassyGuy
    May 12, 2011
    6
    I had really high hopes for Brink and after putting several hours into it, I come to the conclusion that the game is good, not great.

    PROS: The thing that is great about Brink is it feels genuinely ambitious and original, dripping with potential. The whole idea of objective oriented, team-based FPS, though not entirely new, is a sub-genre in the FPS arena that I feel does not receive    I had really high hopes for Brink and after putting several hours into it, I come to the conclusion that the game is good, not great.

    PROS:
    The thing that is great about Brink is it feels genuinely ambitious and original, dripping with potential. The whole idea of objective oriented, team-based FPS, though not entirely new, is a sub-genre in the FPS arena that I feel does not receive enough attention from developers. I found the fact that Brink does not track K/D to be a little weird at first, but after a while of playing a game where "the objective is all that matters" I felt right at home without it and found the feeling refreshing.

    I really enjoy the presentation of the game. The slightly stylized human and gun models are visually interesting and genuinely different from the slew of realistic FPS games out there. I really like how the visuals sort of straddle the line between cartoony and realistic, like a mash-up of Team Fortress 2 and Borderlands through a Blade Runner-like lens.

    The game is chock full interesting little bits of style that I enjoy. When downed by gunfire, choosing between waiting for a medic and respawning is accompanied by piano notes. Stylish but simple. The objective wheel is visually inviting yet straight to the point and easy to navigate. Menus are clean and easy to read.

    CONS:
    Unfortunately, the game just doesn't feel finished. Enemies at distance have choppy movements. The parkour elements work for the most part, but at times don't feel tangible like the character is merely floating around the environment. There are several times when I would try to jump to a platform in the game and clearly miss and suddenly find myself pulling myself up the platform. It was nice to make the jump, but I felt like the game was just "giving" me the ledge; too forgiving, like the game is holding my hand. The campaigns, though completely different than any other campaign I've played in a FPS, was underwhelming. Each campaign chapter is proceeded by a short movie that tries to set the stage, but it never really comes across as pertinent or interesting. Each campaign mission is merely an online game populated with bots. While this fact isn't necessarily a bad thing, it doesn't help to pull the player into the narrative and make them feel invested in the story.

    Enemy and ally A.I. is extremely inconsistent, at times mind-numbingly stupid and others tactical geniuses, which necessitates online and co-op play. I played several private matches with a few friends online through the campaign, which definitely increased the fun factor of the game. However, the few times I tried playing public matches online were plagued by game-crippling lag. Splash Damage is apparently working on this problem.

    The plethora of guns in the game feels unnecessary as they don't differentiate between themselves very well. Most of the SMGs feel identical as well as the Assault Rifles to each other. I would prefer a smaller armory with more distinct firearms. Weapon balance feels like an issue needing attention as some guns feel completely overpowered while others feel like they're not even firing bullets.

    BOTTOM LINE:
    In the end, I have to say that I find Brink genuinely fun, however there are definite problems with the game that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The pros do outweigh the cons, but only just. Splash Damage's ambition is obvious and very refreshing, but the game is plagued with problems that I think could have been avoided had a beta been available. In all honesty, it feels like there was very little if any quality assurance conducted on the game, which is a shame, because underneath the tarnished surface, lies a shimmering game that deserves more attention. Who knows? Perhaps with a few updates this game can be as good as it should be. I hope it comes to be.    … Expand
  17. MajorTomTGC
    May 10, 2011
    6
    +Good character customization
    -Awkward movement/controls
    -Poor single player -Not really much content -Spotty online play Again I am disappointed by a FPS that promises to change the way we play them. I will say that I tend to play mostly single player games, but I have a soft spot for online FPS. Unfortunately, in Brink S/P and M/P are the same game, seriously. Once again I was hoping    +Good character customization
    -Awkward movement/controls
    -Poor single player
    -Not really much content
    -Spotty online play

    Again I am disappointed by a FPS that promises to change the way we play them. I will say that I tend to play mostly single player games, but I have a soft spot for online FPS. Unfortunately, in Brink S/P and M/P are the same game, seriously. Once again I was hoping for Borderlands and was severely let down, this isn't even Black Ops. If you really, really enjoy FPS Kill/Die/Respawn/Repeat mayhem, then this is for you. I however, I don't really, but at least L.A. Noir is out next week.    … Expand
  18. TLove
    May 12, 2011
    7
    Disappointing when you consider the hype this game got. Was marketed as having limitless customization, alas, the appearance options are all pretty stupid looking. The character face options are weird and does not allow for making your character look like yourself at all. Gun customization is mediocre but the gun camo isn't changeable which is hard to understand.. The actual game-play isDisappointing when you consider the hype this game got. Was marketed as having limitless customization, alas, the appearance options are all pretty stupid looking. The character face options are weird and does not allow for making your character look like yourself at all. Gun customization is mediocre but the gun camo isn't changeable which is hard to understand.. The actual game-play is satisfying and new but the story is piss poor and barely even existent. I played the entire Rebellion campaign without learning a single character's name.… Expand
  19. Qwik
    May 11, 2011
    6
    Unfortuantely this single player campaign in the game is unplayable. The AI is one of the worse I've seen and essentially kills the game. Multiplayer, with 2-4 buddies is much better and obviously the way the game was designed. However, the need to play the game in only that mode limits the overall value (for me) of the game. I do like the look and feel of the game but just wish it hadUnfortuantely this single player campaign in the game is unplayable. The AI is one of the worse I've seen and essentially kills the game. Multiplayer, with 2-4 buddies is much better and obviously the way the game was designed. However, the need to play the game in only that mode limits the overall value (for me) of the game. I do like the look and feel of the game but just wish it had a single player mode that was fun (or even worthwhile).… Expand
  20. Super-Evil-DOOM
    May 10, 2011
    6
    This game is insanely mediocre. It lacks depth and variety which is not a trait that should be found in a game that is 100% multiplayer. There is absolutely nothing special about Brink whatsoever which is a shame because it certainly has some style and an interesting idea in the whole freerunning element mixed with an FPS. The movement is clunky, like people were saying. There are lots ofThis game is insanely mediocre. It lacks depth and variety which is not a trait that should be found in a game that is 100% multiplayer. There is absolutely nothing special about Brink whatsoever which is a shame because it certainly has some style and an interesting idea in the whole freerunning element mixed with an FPS. The movement is clunky, like people were saying. There are lots of issues with sprinting and bumping into teammates that will just outright stop people which is pretty silly considering multiplayer games always spawn you next to the entire team. The SMART system isn't as precise as it should be which contributes more to movement issues. There would be several times where something wouldn't work or would be really slow and pointless to use and I would just think of how Mirror's Edge did the first-person free-running thing so much better. I remember watching these trailers and I questioned whether or not the parkour would really change FPS gameplay. Imagine stuff like wall-running or jumping off walls in an FPS. They try to show some of this in the trailers but the fact is, you will die if you try anything other than random sliding in the middle of a firefight unless you're trying to run away. Some of the level design is interesting but overall it doesn't feel that the majority of them took advantage of the fact that you can run all over the place.

    There is a lack of maps and the modes are all pretty much attack/defend with an occasional escort objective thrown in, with really long time limits. The majority of the time this makes it really easy on the attacking team because all you have to do is get one good run and you will get the objective but maps are broken down into around 2-4 different objectives, all usually with a 6-10 minute time limit which can makes gameplay extremely tedious and based around camping. The classes also don't bring too much to the table other than going for class-specific objectives. There's the Medic that every class-based game has, Engineer, Soldier, and Operative, which is kind of like a poor man's Spy from Team Fortress 2. The game itself is kind of like a watered down Battlefield with a style reminiscent of Borderlands, but even the general shooting gameplay isn't really tight. It feels like someone threw a wrench in the Call of Duty machine (and Call of Duty's formula already has some dead rats twisting in the gears) and out came an extremely basic FPS in an era full of them. I don't really care about a game lacking single player but it's absolutely ridiculous to call something a 2-8 player co-op campaign when it's just playing against bots.

    If you want a class-based multiplayer shooter, get Bad Company 2, Monday Night Combat, or Team Fortess 2. If you want to do cool free-running, buy Assassin's Creed or Mirror's Edge. If you want very little of both that leaves very much to be desired, buy Brink. It saddens me that this game doesn't bring anything special to the genre. I've been playing the Gears of War 3 beta for three weeks it's better than Brink.    … Expand
  21. MaxxSwan13
    Dec 10, 2011
    6
    I'm giving it a 6.5/10 cuz it's fun but gets boring after a while. Especially most of the missions. I can't find any people online to play it with. It annoys me.
  22. MAGiCR
    May 10, 2011
    7
    All we seem to be playing these days is First Person Shooters and in Brink, that's what we have. Can Brink step up to the mark in the wake of the impressive Crysis 2? We're going to give you the low-down on this highly anticipated release from developer Splash Damage, produced by Bethesda.

    Set in the near future, Brink places you firmly on the 'Ark' a floating city just off the beautiful    All we seem to be playing these days is First Person Shooters and in Brink, that's what we have. Can Brink step up to the mark in the wake of the impressive Crysis 2? We're going to give you the low-down on this highly anticipated release from developer Splash Damage, produced by Bethesda.

    Set in the near future, Brink places you firmly on the 'Ark' a floating city just off the beautiful coast of San Francisco. The 'Ark' houses near 50,000 inhabitants scrounging for basic supplies due to the severe overcrowding. I'm going to stop right there for a moment because Brink is not about story-telling, nor is it pretending to be. Brink aims to seemlessly blend the single player and multiplayer aspect of the game, which it does albeit in a slightly confusing fashion. You can select Story Mode and join a public session to face off against human enemies as opposed to AI, or go at it Solo. The choice is yours.

    The first time you boot up the disc, you're greeted by what only can be described as an RPG style character creation screen, which is something 99% of RPG's would give a lobotomy for, it's impressive, but this is a First Person Shooter? Which begs the question, is it necessary? I think in Brink's case it is. Burning away hours in the customization screen only adds to time spent, where content is otherwise on the slim side.

    Normally I would tell you a bit about the campaign mode and the single player features however, Brink doesn't have a single player/campaign per se. This is a multiplayer game in the same context as Unreal Tournament and Quake Wars, where the single player modes are essentially the multiplayer side of the game but with bots. I would love to have had a dedicated campaign mode in Brink, whenever multiplayer got you down or frustrated, at least you could unwind, relax and just enjoy some good storytelling, not here. Single player is far more frustrating with largely inept bots replacing human counterparts in the same environment covering the same missions.

    Brink shines when the bots are replaced by cursing, sweaty men. Multiplayer is fun and teamwork is back on the menu, success and level progression is solely based on how much of a team player you are. Are you the type of player that hits the Select button after every death to check your kill to death spread? None of that here, a superb experience points based system challenges your ability to work as a group and it's refreshing to play a modern day FPS that not only encourages you to play as a team, but demands it.

    Level progression doesn't immortalise the players that have spent the longest time playing either, only makes you a more valued support team member. Newcomers will not be blown away by somebody that is higher level on a one-on-one duel by way of equipment, but by skill. Being alone out there is a scary place, stick by your team to stay alive to complete primary objectives and class specific secondary objectives. Just sticking close to a group will yield experience points. Once you reach the maximum character level, you might as well create another character and alternate between the different characters you've created, after all this is a Role Playing First person Shooter.

    It's only when you're either confronted or joined by bots that this game becomes frustrating and at times unforgiving. Thankfully an option to invite up to 3 other friends to strategically help you out through every mission is very much welcomed. Brink is a game that requires you to have plenty of friends at hand for you to fully appreciate its direction, in an era where FPS are all about lone wolves and killstreaks.

    The art styling of Brink is smooth and further demonstrates Splash Damage' ability to think outside the box. Some will like the style, some won't, that doesn't mean it's a bad looking game, just notably distancing itself from the current crop of modern day FPS titles, for which we applaud.

    The game mechanics from the upgraded ID Tech 4 engine is as smooth as you like and plays as you would expect, very well.
    Brink ushers something relatively new to the table thanks to Splash Damage' SMART system (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain). This system in theory will allow you to manoever around the lush landscape on the 'Ark' without fuss, does it work? Yes it does, however it can be clumsy and difficult to master, even after spending time in the brilliant tutorial videos you'll still inadvertantly stumble over unwanted random terrain.

    Closing Thoughts
    Brink is a multiplayer game and as such needs humans to populate the game modes. Due to poor AI, the single player side is entirely forgettable and it's hard to recommend a full priced game for just multiplayer alone.

    Read the rest - Full review > http://magicr.co.uk/wordpress/index.php/2011/05/10/brink-review/    … Expand
  23. NJR
    May 10, 2011
    6
    Big disappointment. The campaign is awful, no real story and is stupidly boring, in-game graphics are very shoddy, AI are mediocre. You can max out your character within a day or two, there are not enough maps and it is just generally way too repetitive. On the plus side though the movement system is a very nice touch, very smooth and easy to get used too and also I enjoyed playing a FPSBig disappointment. The campaign is awful, no real story and is stupidly boring, in-game graphics are very shoddy, AI are mediocre. You can max out your character within a day or two, there are not enough maps and it is just generally way too repetitive. On the plus side though the movement system is a very nice touch, very smooth and easy to get used too and also I enjoyed playing a FPS that actually tried to be different to CoD or Halo. Could have been a good game, won't be playing this one for much longer.… Expand
  24. dayer
    May 10, 2011
    6
    Disappointing and repetitive are two words that spring to mind, the A1 are just plain dumb, as usual the hype is bigger than the content. Good try though at doing things a little different, just needed a bit more thought...
  25. Jerik02
    May 10, 2011
    5
    This game was pretty meh as it is basically a team fortress knock off. I don't like the cartoony, cheesy character models and the ai is terrible. Another example of how Bethesda rushes games out the door before completion. The reviews and sales figures don't lie.
  26. AtlantianGarbo
    May 10, 2011
    7
    This game is VERY odd. Not what I was expecting at all. Brink has the same type of campaign as Star Wars Battlefront II. By that I mean it has many small missions on small maps instead of a linear storyline.
  27. VermillionHaze
    May 11, 2011
    6
    Brink is getting mixed reviews as it should. But what i'm hearing the most is it's too hard and the allied AI is not sufficient. I'm of the minority that shooters are too easy. The single player is extremely brutal but even with one human partner all the missions are pretty easy for the avid fps gamer. I don't think anyone bought this game to play alone anyways. My opinion is this game'sBrink is getting mixed reviews as it should. But what i'm hearing the most is it's too hard and the allied AI is not sufficient. I'm of the minority that shooters are too easy. The single player is extremely brutal but even with one human partner all the missions are pretty easy for the avid fps gamer. I don't think anyone bought this game to play alone anyways. My opinion is this game's campaign and story are mediocre compared to Halo or Cod however the multiplayer is more engaging and fun. The levels are well crafted minus a few design flaws when it comes to "Escort" missions. The parkour gameplay while not earth shattering should be mandatory in these games. In conclusion Brink is a solid game that might even be GREAT given a patch or two. It's difficult and addicting unlike the same thrown up Call of Duty we get every few years.… Expand
  28. Devil_Man_X
    May 12, 2011
    6
    This is not a bad game exactly. It's just not a good one, especially for the price. In a few months when gamestop is selling it for $20 (As I'm sure this will happen) it will then be well worth the price. I'm going to cover a few things so that no one makes the same mistake I did.

    Graphics: Very lackluster. Character models are not very polished at all. Characters look rather pixelated    This is not a bad game exactly. It's just not a good one, especially for the price. In a few months when gamestop is selling it for $20 (As I'm sure this will happen) it will then be well worth the price. I'm going to cover a few things so that no one makes the same mistake I did.

    Graphics: Very lackluster. Character models are not very polished at all. Characters look rather pixelated in some cases, with squared off edges popping up quite often. Glitches in picture quality are frequent yet inconsistent. Overall not hideous but not what you would expect with Bethesda publishing it.

    Gameplay: Pretty solid. Controls feel tight and responsive. Amazing customization of controls. Being able to map the controls to any button you want is a wonderful yet often overlooked option. As solid as the controls might be there are far too many good shooters out there that are just as tight and deliver far more.

    S.M.A.R.T. movement system: This is the most hyped yet under-delivered option that Brink brings to the table. This can be fun but does not deliver the depth or feel that Mirrors Edge did. It sometimes fails to do the intended action. It doesn't help that the maps don't seem to have the detail for this to be really useful. Most areas in which you can use the system in some way are just too obvious. Some that seem like they should be reachable simply aren't.

    Campaign: Non-existent. The campaign is simply regular match made style objectives with cut scenes thrown in. The game is terrible at trying to tell a story and does next to nothing to tell you what your mission is. Don't be fooled by the so called "mission within a mission" options. These are class based and are as simple as going to point A and plant an explosive. Customization: The customization options for your character and guns have a rather cool look and style. Yet there are far too few options over all. The big head scratcher here is why some options are permanent. Tattoos and scars that can be chosen at the character creation screen can not be changed past that point. A complete fail on the part of Splash Damage.

    A.I. Bots: Any time you're playing the game and don't have a complete team on both sides the game will fill those slots with A.I. Bots. These are some of the worst bots I've ever seen. They do everything from using the same bottle necked hallway over and over again to ignoring the obvious target to chase someone else. Overall: Basically it's not a terrible game it's just not that good. There is definitely some fun to be had here just not enough fun for the $60 price tag it comes with. I've read some reviews that claim the team based element is what makes it worthwhile. Don't be fooled by that. I agree that the teamwork aspect is one of the good points to the game but it is far from making up for Brink's other failings. A serious lack of depth as well as a multitude of glitches and lag ruin what could have been an good game. Splash Damage failing to deliver on so many promises is the real problem here. When it inevitably goes on sale for $20 or less it will be a worthwhile option.

    Thanks for reading.    … Expand
  29. Ross87
    Jul 26, 2011
    5
    Like most had been waiting for this game, so i traded in crysis 2 to get it, i player it 3 times in total, for no more than an hour each. single player is EXACTLY the same as multiplayer just with bots instead. No real story to it, although the challenges can be fun with a friend on xbox live. If i knew what i know now, i would skip buying this game,and save your money for something more refined.
  30. SuperHans28
    May 13, 2011
    7
    Brink is an enjoyable, class based, team FPS with hectic game play. Launch issues of lag in the free play 8v8 online isn't a great way to start but this is apparently being worked on. On the other hand, the co-op is really fun and is usually completely lag free. The challenges do offer a good amount of challenge especially the Tower Defence and Be More Objective modes. Customization is aBrink is an enjoyable, class based, team FPS with hectic game play. Launch issues of lag in the free play 8v8 online isn't a great way to start but this is apparently being worked on. On the other hand, the co-op is really fun and is usually completely lag free. The challenges do offer a good amount of challenge especially the Tower Defence and Be More Objective modes. Customization is a bit lacking but compared to FPS there is actually considerably a lot more then most other shooters. Overall, I would say try the game by either buying, renting or borrowing it off a friend and make up you're own opinions not base them off reviews.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
21
#21 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 85
  3. Negative: 7 out of 85
  1. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    70
    Brink can be awesome and annoying, euphoric and inexplicable, all in the same breath. Unfortunately, fist pumps are followed by fits of controller throwing all too regularly to make this one score much higher.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Jul 1, 2011
    70
    Interesting but unpolished, ambitious but too weak to lift the weight of these ambitions. What bothered me most was that the brilliant idea of bringing other players into your single player mode was not realized properly. [June 2011, p.80]
  3. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Jun 28, 2011
    80
    It offers a new angle on the genre and one that will excite fans. [Issue#73, p.84]
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