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. Bullseye76
    May 10, 2011
    8
    I am giving Brink an 8.5 which I had to round so I figured I would round DOWN, to an 8 to be a little more realistic. First of all let me say, this is not your typical FPS game, if you try to play Brink like you play Halo/COD/Battlefield/Etc this game will punish you beyond words. I personally believe a lot of the negative reviews have to do with two things, #1 a supposed string of badI am giving Brink an 8.5 which I had to round so I figured I would round DOWN, to an 8 to be a little more realistic. First of all let me say, this is not your typical FPS game, if you try to play Brink like you play Halo/COD/Battlefield/Etc this game will punish you beyond words. I personally believe a lot of the negative reviews have to do with two things, #1 a supposed string of bad code(That I didn't notice in my copy that causes awful lag/slowdown/graphical distortion/etc.) and #2 You can not go into Brink with the FPS mindset of old.... If you listened to any of the developer videos they said over and over, they key to Brink is to MOVE, more than you SHOOT. I had to constantly remind myself of this as I was playing the challenges with a friend online (Which ran pretty flawlessly for us...) I found myself annoyed at first, then I found myself understanding this wasn't typical FPS fanfare, then adapting and enjoying the HELL out of this game. I believe people will have a hard time letting go of the comfort of traditional FPS, and that is fine with me, keep playing Halo/COD and the other dime a dozen FPS games out there, leave Brink to the people who appreciate something different. If you were interested in this game at ALL, ignore the reviews, go to the official site, watch the videos, give it a rent, or go out and buy it, but I promise you this is an experience of something that is slightly similar, but at the same time completely new, and it honestly has made the tired and worn out genre of FPS fun and exciting to me again, and for that I am grateful... Thank you Splash Damage! 360 GT-Waynetech B76… Expand
  2. MSeebs
    May 10, 2011
    9
    Brink is a solid mix of TF2 and Killzone and with it, it's something to enjoy. The game already has been patched on 360 which also voids some of the reviews, since many of the review complain about game problems that have been fixed. Story wise, their isn't much there and it's not something you will get focused on. But when we live in the COD generation where a lot of people jump rightBrink is a solid mix of TF2 and Killzone and with it, it's something to enjoy. The game already has been patched on 360 which also voids some of the reviews, since many of the review complain about game problems that have been fixed. Story wise, their isn't much there and it's not something you will get focused on. But when we live in the COD generation where a lot of people jump right into multiplayer and skip the single player all together, you'll find little to complain about.

    The menu system is well designed and customizing your characters is a rewarding experience. Once you unlock a lot of different outfits you'll find yourself just sitting in the character room trying to make your own perfect unique guy. The computer AI isn't amazing, but it's not the worse out there. The main flaw is that since this game is based on objectives, it can be a pain to get the computer to do something. You might end up with a team of 5 medics when you just need an engineer to crack a safe. This can be frustrating as you might have to switch over and just do it yourself. The core of this game though is multiplayer and thats where it's the most fun. While I only managed to get online with a handful of people, it defiantly changes the game up a lot more . Each class also ends up with a more unique role during a multiplayer session too, in a nut shell this game is just dying for competitive gaming. Their are some downsides I have found to Brink. First off, the level cap is 20 which can be achieved very easily. So far I am about 8 hours in and I've just dinged 10. Maxing out a level in a couple of days can lead to a disappointment, this game definitely needs a higher cap. The other thing that might get some people is theirs only a handful of levels in the game. While each level is pretty fun and has different ways to approach objectives, their is a point where they could get tiresome. Luckily, with the introduction of the SMART system, the gameplay in Brink is so fast paced that you rarely feel like the game is repetitive or boring. Something is always happening and someone is always shooting. The last two things that bother me aren't too big but for some people could potentially be a turn off. When a match finishes, theirs no actual way to see how many kills/deaths you had in that match. Also, their is no option for subtitles in the game which is slightly annoying for those who want to turn down the AI voice volume as they do talk A LOT during rounds. Overall, I feel Brink is a new and fresh game in the FPS market and is definitely something worth trying for those that get bored of the typical FPS stereotype of COD and Battlefield. But I will say this, Brink is a love or hate game. You're going to play it with a big smile on your face the whole time or you're going to take it right back. Myself, I have been smiling the whole time and can't wait to get back into the Ark world.    … Expand
  3. DrNoodle
    Jun 9, 2011
    8
    Upon purchasing brink< I can honestly say I had my doubts as it was getting all of this nonsense PR yet I had not heard raving reviews, praising it as the new dawn of FPS games. Skeptically, I watched the tutorial video and went on to play the first mission. Right off the bat, single player AI is something you have to get used to, and coerce them into helping you do the ACTUAL objective.Upon purchasing brink< I can honestly say I had my doubts as it was getting all of this nonsense PR yet I had not heard raving reviews, praising it as the new dawn of FPS games. Skeptically, I watched the tutorial video and went on to play the first mission. Right off the bat, single player AI is something you have to get used to, and coerce them into helping you do the ACTUAL objective. However, with a little patience you find yourself in a world that mixes Borderlands and Battlefield in almost a perfect blend. The resupply/aid system in the game is awesome, considering that the game is based much more on teamwork and tactics than all out slaying. This is not a game you can jump into, and expect to have your weapon as your best friend. There will be actual times where *OMG* you will have to take cover and work with your team. Another thing is the way you can effortlessly switch between classes, and unlock the virtually hundreds of items to use in the game. Customization is the name of this games revolution, and so far there is nothing that can match it. The fact that you can build multiple characters to even further the customization makes this game have thorough replay value. For all those who are bored with CoD and KIllzone, it's time to pop this game in and learn the new meaning of tactics.… Expand
  4. DWlubu1998
    May 30, 2011
    8
    Im going to start on a low note, Brink was a game i was going to get day one then i went to gamestop to have my buddies there tell me the game was horrible so i got marvel vs capcom 3 then a couple days later i picked up brink anyway got home put it in hour and a half later i beat the revolution portion of the story and i was not satisfied at all. The only idea of a storyline is theIm going to start on a low note, Brink was a game i was going to get day one then i went to gamestop to have my buddies there tell me the game was horrible so i got marvel vs capcom 3 then a couple days later i picked up brink anyway got home put it in hour and a half later i beat the revolution portion of the story and i was not satisfied at all. The only idea of a storyline is the beginning cutseen. Then its just basicly capturing headcorders and protecting bases but its kept me intertained its unique to the other FPSs out there so i thoguht this was OK… Expand
  5. SHennings
    Jun 1, 2011
    9
    I give brink a 9 out of 10 simply because it is a great break from the bleak genre that is first person shooters. Too many games have been created that have fallen under the concept designs first laid down by either Halo 2 or Call of duty: Modern Warfare. The games design is to be team based, and if the bots, while sometimes showing lacks of intelligence, still complete objectives andI give brink a 9 out of 10 simply because it is a great break from the bleak genre that is first person shooters. Too many games have been created that have fallen under the concept designs first laid down by either Halo 2 or Call of duty: Modern Warfare. The games design is to be team based, and if the bots, while sometimes showing lacks of intelligence, still complete objectives and allow you to play the game the way YOU want to, and there are endless ways to do that. The bottom line: if you're critical of a game based on the belief that Call of duty is the only way to make a first person shooter, and have no friends online who you enjoy playing with, then by no means buy this game. However, if you are willing to have a hell of a good time with your friends, killing other people and working as a team to have success, and be able to jump around like however you damn well please, and are willing to overlook slight imperfections that don't heed game play in the slightest that then definitely play this game, you will love it… Expand
  6. crockerspaniel
    Aug 2, 2011
    9
    Not quite everything that I thought it would be. But I had this game pretty hyped up for a long time having had it preordered for almost a year. After a few months from having it released, I still think it's a great game and it has everything that I was looking for (except the "intelligent" AI) , but it was missing the execution, it just didn't feel like I thought it would. But I think INot quite everything that I thought it would be. But I had this game pretty hyped up for a long time having had it preordered for almost a year. After a few months from having it released, I still think it's a great game and it has everything that I was looking for (except the "intelligent" AI) , but it was missing the execution, it just didn't feel like I thought it would. But I think I like what this game stands for the most. I hope most games start incorporating some freedom of movement now and add a more team based focus to multiplayer games… Expand
  7. InsaneDC
    Aug 2, 2011
    10
    The game Brink is one that could use a bit more polish then what is on it. The real problem with it over everything else is the lack of a decent party system which is needed for a game like Brink. The amount of teamwork required for a "skunk" isn't at all that much, just that players need to play their classes like they were designed.

    The thing I don't understand is why Bethesda (the    The game Brink is one that could use a bit more polish then what is on it. The real problem with it over everything else is the lack of a decent party system which is needed for a game like Brink. The amount of teamwork required for a "skunk" isn't at all that much, just that players need to play their classes like they were designed.

    The thing I don't understand is why Bethesda (the publisher, mind you) is getting so much flak for a game they didn't even create. Splash Damage (the developer) did a fantastic trying to bring the FPS genre out of the same crap seen in every COD/Halo/enter generic shooter title here. The addition of the free running only adds to this. The in game art, the character design and the use of color makes this one very pretty game to look at. The classes were well thought out and essentially this game is a smaller class based game like TF2 but with customizable weapon loadouts.

    The only thing I did not like about this game, other then the lack of a party system, was the fact that you could unlock almost every gun and attachment in about a good 20 minutes of playing the challenges. If they would of spread the attachments out as well as the weapons people would still be playing this like crazy just like the do with their CODs and Halos to unlock everything that they wanted to. COD with the weapons and Halo with the outfits.

    But overall, it's an excellent game.    … Expand
  8. msherry9
    Aug 4, 2011
    8
    In actuality, I'd give this game an 8.25, so I decided to round down. If you don't feel like reading my entire review than to sum it up, Brink is an interesting, new FPS that at times is utterly addicting or sometimes rage-inducing. It has many strong suits but at the same time, has numerous weaknesses that tend to plague the overall experience. I've had the luxury of buying Brink onlyIn actuality, I'd give this game an 8.25, so I decided to round down. If you don't feel like reading my entire review than to sum it up, Brink is an interesting, new FPS that at times is utterly addicting or sometimes rage-inducing. It has many strong suits but at the same time, has numerous weaknesses that tend to plague the overall experience. I've had the luxury of buying Brink only recently, after the latest patch has fixed up online lag issues and downloading the newest free (temporarily) DLC Agents of Change, so I honestly couldn't tell you how good the game was back during release. I only know that the game is extremely enjoyable now, and provides a refreshing new online shooter since I'm bored with most of the others on the market. I'll start with the negatives, which leads me to the campaign storyline. To sum it up, it's pretty weak, and it's essentially there so that can Splash Damage can check the "Campaign" box off of the Brink to-do list. It's also very short, containing a mere 8 levels per side (Security or Resistance) which only last about 15 minutes each. Switching sides results in the exact same map layout, with a slightly different objective (I.E. Security=Defend Tower, Resistance=Destroy Tower). The graphics are outdated but won't make you cringe. Brink is host to multiple poor design choices, one of which being that the game does not support any lobby system whatsoever. You simply join a game and invite your friend, hoping that there's an extra slot open (which there usually is). Another bad choice is the lack of any actual statistics that can be viewed in-game. Sure there's leaderboards for points scored on certain maps, but no kill tracking nor any sort of interesting numbers to view. Unless of course you go online, in which case you can only view a handful of things. You can create and save up to 20 different characters, but won't they don't tell you is that there's literally no point to it unless you're bored out of your mind. There's no "Prestige" like in COD, and your rank and level begins at 1 again, but with everything locked. Extremely pointless, and I just can't imagine myself creating another character for no incentive. The online multiplayer is made up of the exact same single player campaign missions down to the last detail. Splash Damage must've become lazy at this time around during development. The maps are pretty solid when they play like they're meant to, but other times they'll wind up becoming a one-sided shooting range. One team will be required to proceed through a bottle-necked killbox while the other sits patiently and mows them down as they desperately try to escort a very slow-moving hostage to a zone. Moving on to the positives. The sound effects on this game are top-notch. Every gun is a real recording of a gunshot and it really gets the adrenaline pumping when you begin unleashing furious carnage on your foes, laying waste with your Gotlung Minigun. The shooting mechanics are excellent, and the new S.M.A.R.T. system is a breeze to use. There aren't as many weapons in your arsenal as one would expect, but they're all extremely balanced (save for a few Assault Rifles). The weapon customization is satisfying, but I wish that you could customize your gun camos. There are a ton of unlockable abilities with each class as well as some universal ones that really help keep each class fresh and exciting. The classes, however, are a little unbalanced in terms of points, with the Medic scoring ridiculously higher on average than all of the other classes. Character customization isn't as deep as I had assumed, but there's still tons of variation to keep everyone looking unique. You will max out your rank and level within a week, which is kind of a downer, but it's still a fun climb. The game awards you with points and experience for literally almost any action you can do, giving that extra incentive for players to forget about kills and focus on teamwork. This is a double-edged sword, however, since one revive (for example) is the equivalent of multiple kills. It may be worth more points, but in this situation, it's certainly not more useful to the team as a whole. Despite this, it still works, and prevents me from feeling worthless when I frantically run from teammate to teammate distributing ammo. I've been playing this with my two friends nonstop for the past few days, and I really just can't put it down. Overall, this game is highly addicting, and I would go so far as to say that it's worth a full price purchase. It's similar to other shooters, but also different. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, so if you're still hesitant, give it a rent and decide for yourself. I'm extremely satisfied and can easily see myself logging in more hours for months down the line.… Expand
  9. dyeguy21
    May 12, 2011
    8
    I think Bethesda has created one of the most polarizing games in recent history. Some people love the game with its medium pace, team-style, class-based system...while others hate the overly helpful aiming, somewhat tedious interactions, and repetitive mission types.

    I am, as from my #, a member of the former but only because I have played the game with human allies. The game is truly    I think Bethesda has created one of the most polarizing games in recent history. Some people love the game with its medium pace, team-style, class-based system...while others hate the overly helpful aiming, somewhat tedious interactions, and repetitive mission types.

    I am, as from my #, a member of the former but only because I have played the game with human allies. The game is truly meant to be played online and currently this mechanic is failing some gamers with the lag issues that are reported across the board. I have been fortunate in that most of my games have been low to no lag, and if bad, upon retrying a connection I return to normalcy. This is the only fun way to play the game, I believe. The story is merely a scaffold to hang several types of missions on. Even though this came as a disappointment with such a great "theoretical" idea, the missions still stand alone in their own fun. The mission wheel, smart system, and point system are all structured to encourage team-based play. Someone interacting with an object in the world is defenseless against would be attackers without support from his team. In addition, the mission cannot progress if no one choses to perform the task. Thus, Brink allots points not only for supporting your fellow team, but also for choosing to attempt to complete the primary objective (more points for both, in fact, than simply killing enemies). This is a great idea, that fell short by the fact that once you max out your player (great abilities and weapons) your only choices to try something new are to create a new character or lose XP in exchange for resetting your abilities. It will also be troublesome to people that a chosen body-type is restricted throughout the course of the game. Thus, a heavy must stay a heavy and a light a light for the duration of the game and can only switch the tools alloted in game. This can create issues if faster players are needed or heavier weapons are needed to complete the mission as players would need to drop out and reset their character body types. (A problem for random drop in/drop out games as the player has no way of returning to the game he was in) These are not major problems to me and really apart from the slightly sluggish play and the lag issues others are experiencing, the rest just seems to be the learning curve that the game is requiring its players. I've played CS, BF2/BC/BC2/Viet, COD MW/2/BO, KZ 2/3, and Halo 2/3/Reach online as much as I could from the early days and those require only so much teamwork to get-by. A lone gunner can sneak his way in, or use powerful weapons masterfully, to infiltrate the other team and complete objectives for the win. Here, however, due to the high vulnerability (i.e. inability to shoot for long periods of time) of the objective-completer the team must be willing to stand guard and allow the "required"-class players to do their job. I usually play a support role in most of my games, thus, this is nothing new to me. For some, however, the "feeling" that they are useless 3/4 of the time may be unbearable. (As an aside, the graphics aren't that bad, I have noticed some screen splitting in opening cut-scene, and to be honest some of the animations are lame (i.e. frags), but the game-play animations aren't bad and the whole cell shading effect makes sense most of the time due to "sun bleaching" out on the high sea)    … Expand
  10. BirdlegLeft
    May 11, 2011
    8
    It is often difficult to talk about music, games, and art in general without referring to other artists or titles. It is an easy place to start for everyone. So, I'm going to throw a few names out just to get it over with: Call of Duty and Team Fortress. That said, Brink is not either of those games, but certainly has many things in common with both. To be fair, you can't really talkIt is often difficult to talk about music, games, and art in general without referring to other artists or titles. It is an easy place to start for everyone. So, I'm going to throw a few names out just to get it over with: Call of Duty and Team Fortress. That said, Brink is not either of those games, but certainly has many things in common with both. To be fair, you can't really talk first-person without Call of Duty. And, for good reason. It is the gold standard and by which all others will be judged. Brink does a very good job as a first-person shooter. Yes, many will complain there is no instant kill headshots or that bodies seem to suck up bullets with little damage. But, that is only to facilitate the team and objective aspects of the game. I'm certain the damage meter has been tweaked and tweaked again to find the right balance. Although I haven't spent much time with all the weapons (and there is a lot of weapons to choose from) they seem responsive and balanced throughout. Unlike CoD, I don't think everyone will have settled on the AK47 as the weapon of choice. Again, I think a lot of energy was spent on balancing weapons so players could spend more time customizing the weapon's look. Customizing obviously being a big attraction for Brink.

    I am not alone to make comparisons to Team Fortress. It is only natural when you have two distinct teams lined up against each other competing for goals. Many players may fire up Brink and go at it just like playing a round of Team Fortress; capture point A and B, shoot enemies, rinse and repeat. But, that would be a real disadvantage in Brink. Get to know the objective wheel. Change classes. If you see the entire team focused on one objective, break off and score points by hitting some class objectives instead. This is what Brink brings to the table. And, if you're not ready to embrace it, chances are you won't enjoy the game nearly as much as someone who will.

    Lastly, it would be criminal not to mention the art style and crazy amount of character/weapon customization found in Brink. To be completely honest, I was hooked on Brink after viewing the art alone. And, I think my kids could have spent an entire evening just creating their characters.    … Expand
  11. General_Anubis
    May 11, 2011
    8
    I agree with Bullseye76's review - If you go into this game thinking you can run and gun mindlessly like every CoDtard out there, you're going to have a very, very un-fun time with this game. The gameplay is an intriguing mix of Mirrors Edge meets Team Fortress 2, and if you play it with that in mind it becomes very fun. Run around a little bit, don't just push the objective, gunsI agree with Bullseye76's review - If you go into this game thinking you can run and gun mindlessly like every CoDtard out there, you're going to have a very, very un-fun time with this game. The gameplay is an intriguing mix of Mirrors Edge meets Team Fortress 2, and if you play it with that in mind it becomes very fun. Run around a little bit, don't just push the objective, guns blazing, thinking you're going to get somewhere. This game encourages strategic thought to achieve your goals, requiring you to think outside the box a little bit and expand your X/Y axis shooter mindset into the Z dimension with the parkour aspect of the game. I'll admit, there are some legitimate gripes about this game, some of them possible to solve with a patch, some of them not. The Z-Axis aspect of the parkour is possibly underrepresented in the game (though I haven't seen EVERY map yet). Places where you can climb up and get a good flank on the enemy seem pre-planned, and may as well have just been a staircase. Maybe exploring the maps a little more in-depth will reveal more opportunity, but so far I haven't seen it. Another problem people have is that the graphics look a little dated. Legitimate complaint, but not worth a negative or even mixed review over. The AI isn't the smartest, but then again most of the time AI players (at least the ones on your team) in just about all games are pretty retarded. I'm giving this game an 8/10 because of the reasons listed, but I think the AI could be patched and maps that make better use of the parkour aspect of the game could easily be released as DLC. The (awesome) character customization, weapon customization, cool and innovative movement scheme, fun team-based, objective-oriented gameplay, and fast-paced action make this game a good one to add to your collection. It might not be the best shooter of all time, but it's pioneering something that hasn't been tried together before, so support it and support innovation in games!
    Also, I get a bit of sadistic satisfaction out of seeing CoD sellouts crying over this game - that fact alone makes this game worth it in my book.    … Expand
  12. OsirisAD
    May 11, 2011
    9
    Great game. if you are bored of the typical COD/Halo fare and want an experience where teamwork is truly critical to success, then pick this up.

    It's unfortunate that so many seem to have expectations which are not aligned with the intent or design, but I would say that the various promotional materials released do capture what this game is about. One big benefit is that as a safe    Great game. if you are bored of the typical COD/Halo fare and want an experience where teamwork is truly critical to success, then pick this up.

    It's unfortunate that so many seem to have expectations which are not aligned with the intent or design, but I would say that the various promotional materials released do capture what this game is about. One big benefit is that as a safe generalization, many of the player types who are criticizing this game are exactly the people I stopped playing COD and Halo to get away from. :)    … Expand
  13. daydull
    May 10, 2011
    9
    Brink is a multiplayer game first and foremost. The single player aspect is there only as a sort of training mode, however a number of the larger review sites fail to point this out and instead give Brink negative marks for a lackluster single player campaign.

    A classic, much-loved game Starsiege: Tribes had a nearly non-existent "single player" mode that consisted of bots that ran only    Brink is a multiplayer game first and foremost. The single player aspect is there only as a sort of training mode, however a number of the larger review sites fail to point this out and instead give Brink negative marks for a lackluster single player campaign.

    A classic, much-loved game Starsiege: Tribes had a nearly non-existent "single player" mode that consisted of bots that ran only in straight lines and could not use their jetpacks, yet the game's multiplayer experience was amazing and stood the test of time. Judging Tribes based on its single player mode would not have been fair, and the same is true for Brink...yet a small number of large review sites released their negative reviews before the reviews could have possibly had any online community multiplayer experience.

    Don't buy Brink if you are looking for a single player FPS campaign to play through. However, the graphics and level designs are amazing, and the smart movement system adds a new, skill-based game mechanic to FPS games that can only really be appreciated after spending a few hours getting used to online multiplayer games (map awareness and position understanding are key and do require some time to learn as any skill based game should). Class skills, objectives, and rewards all work to make Brink a fun team-based game.    … Expand
  14. ultraddtd
    May 10, 2011
    10
    I love this game so far. It's NOT Call of Duty, and you have to work WITH your team in order to succeed. Once you realize that you're not going to dominate based on your K/D ratio, then you'll have a much better time accepting Brink.
  15. t3nacious
    May 11, 2011
    10
    Alright, let's get the elephant out of the room. Yes, the single player is lacking, but who gives a flying..... This was never a game that was meant to be single player! The multiplayer is absolutely superb. It is incredibly in depth, imaginative, with a steep learning curve, and the maps are well thought out, the missions are unique, and the teamwork required to complete objectives isAlright, let's get the elephant out of the room. Yes, the single player is lacking, but who gives a flying..... This was never a game that was meant to be single player! The multiplayer is absolutely superb. It is incredibly in depth, imaginative, with a steep learning curve, and the maps are well thought out, the missions are unique, and the teamwork required to complete objectives is refreshing. Anyone tired of the brainless Call of Duty will find Brink a refreshing, SMART form of similar entertainment.… Expand
  16. Reikendude
    May 11, 2011
    8
    First, let me get something rather important across: Brink is NOT a game like COD:BO or Halo, where log you log on nightly to try and achieve that 2+ Kill/Death ratio. If you're one of those players who likes dominating noobs just because you have the best camping spot/gun combination/overall know-how, you are most likely going to be disappointed in this game. Sadly. On the other hand, ifFirst, let me get something rather important across: Brink is NOT a game like COD:BO or Halo, where log you log on nightly to try and achieve that 2+ Kill/Death ratio. If you're one of those players who likes dominating noobs just because you have the best camping spot/gun combination/overall know-how, you are most likely going to be disappointed in this game. Sadly. On the other hand, if you want a cooperative experience where teamwork pays off a lot more than any of the other previously mentioned games, I would recommend you check out Brink. Brink has an armload of strengths, and like any other game, a few faults as well. At first, I was confused that the campaign was essentially the same as the multiplayer. Then I realized how awesome it was that you could play it in VS. mode with other people. The story is actually very well thought out, and really depicts how two different factions look at things and misunderstand each other in different ways. For example: One team goes into a game thinking they are stopping the creation of bioweapon, while the other seeks to defend what is really a medical vaccine from falling into the others' hands.

    Maybe I read too much into the campaign, but I thought it was presented excellently. The customization is a welcome feature, which many other shooters today have lacked. Teamwork is a must-have in Brink, and I think Splash Damage really did a good job insuring that everyone on the team stays on track with the current goal. One thing that does need to be addressed is the lag. It is very frustrating to get into a good game only to have to leave because it is lagging so bad that it is unplayable. I have faith that they can fix these problems, but as it is the networking is a disappointment.

    Overall, Brink brings a completely different perspective on a shooter to the table. It doesn't feel like Black Ops or Halo. And that's a good thing.    … Expand
  17. Truednd
    May 11, 2011
    8
    After playing this game for a few hours, I have realized 1 major thing:

    No one knows how to play this game. Yes, I am including myself too. The problem is, no one knows how to treat this game. The Parkour mechanic is great and is very useful for the game, but no one knows how to use it. The guns and weapons that are available and customizable are perfect with the game's eb and flow, but    After playing this game for a few hours, I have realized 1 major thing:

    No one knows how to play this game. Yes, I am including myself too.

    The problem is, no one knows how to treat this game. The Parkour mechanic is great and is very useful for the game, but no one knows how to use it. The guns and weapons that are available and customizable are perfect with the game's eb and flow, but no one understands how they work. People keep comparing this game to more realistic games like Call of Duty or the recent Battlefields, but it is not. This game is more of an upgraded version of the old style FPS games we played back in the days, like Quake and Half-Life. I am still learning the game and it is a tough learning curve, but people don't understand that, first and foremost, it is a TEAM GAME. You will not get far if you decide to lone wolf it past everything. The game mechanics require that all 4 classes that are available (Soldier, Engineer, Medic, and Operative) are all out at the same time, not when one is most convenient. A good team make-up can accomplish all of the main objectives and secondary objectives, which if completed can help out the team greatly when it comes to completing the mission as a whole, and can be a lot of fun.

    For those that have played the game, instead of putting 4 engineers on your team just to complete a main objective, replace 2 of them with either 2 medics or a soldier and a medic and have one of the engineers place protection around you and buff the others to defend taking over an objective. For those that haven't played the game, it is a great game as long as you have the right mindset. There are no instant kill head shots in this game, but hitting the head does cause extra damage. Grenades are not meant for killing, they are meant for crowd control; to knock others down and help the team clear them out. The only instant kill you can possibly get in the game is an up-close shotgun, and even then that isn't guaranteed if the opposing team properly buffed their teammates. You will not get far playing by yourself and standing and shooting out in the open. Even if you managed to do a lone wolf style game and you aren't a soldier, what will you do when you run out of ammo? Or the other team has medics properly checking the battlefield and resurrecting everyone you just took down? You half to work as a team and properly scan the battlefield and check your objectives. Is there a gun turret you can setup to help defend and/or suppress? Get an engineer on it. Is there a shortcut that is between you and the other half of your team? Defend your soldier to blow up the wall. Enemy turret keeping you at bay? Don't destroy it, get and operative on the other side of it to hack it and turn it on the enemy.
    The problem is that no one looking at this game for what it was meant to be. They are looking at it for what they wanted it to be. I understand, as I did the same thing. But then I saw what they were looking for and started adjusting. In fact, I noticed that as you level up higher more people seem to understand this and are working like well oiled machines as opposed to jumping into the fray think you can one-shot everyone. Mad about the number of maps available? The game has noted that it will have downloadable content. Those 8 maps will probably increase to 12 or 16 in a couple months. Think the number of guns or the variety isn't enough? Then pick the heavy body type to unlock all the guns or, better yet, what for more downloadable content to be available in the very near future.
    Once again it is a hard game to adjust to, but the learning curve is simpler than it seems. When you get past that learning curve, you will then learn that getting great at this game requires you to work with a bunch of people you may not know but be great at doing it. Listen for your team; they shout in game what someone will be doing. Go support them. In fact, make it an objective and get more experience for it! That is how this game is meant to be. Stop looking for what you wanted this game to be and start learning what this game is meant to be. I slowly am, and I am loving every minute of it.    … Expand
  18. BradnamBrad
    May 10, 2011
    10
    I have been playing the game for 2 days no, and it is absolutely revetting! I love the art style and it is quite refreshing to be able to change through so many classes and complete objectives not just by killing others.
  19. DirtyHarry9
    May 14, 2011
    9
    I bought Brink for Xbox, and so far, this game is awesome. It takes place on The Ark, the last bastion of humanity known on earth, with two sides fighting either to save, or escape it. The first thing you do is make your own character using Brink's robust character maker. They have it so that it's almost impossible to have the same exact character as someone else. The graphics in Brink areI bought Brink for Xbox, and so far, this game is awesome. It takes place on The Ark, the last bastion of humanity known on earth, with two sides fighting either to save, or escape it. The first thing you do is make your own character using Brink's robust character maker. They have it so that it's almost impossible to have the same exact character as someone else. The graphics in Brink are gorgeous. They seem like a mix of Borderlands and Battlefield. The main hook of the game, the SMART system, lets you move freely through the environment, almost like Mirrors Edge, and you just have to hold one button down to use it. In Brink there are three body types. Light, which lets you move quickly over, under and around the environment, but only lets you use SMGs. Medium, where you can't go everywhere that light can, and you get access to ARs and SMGs. And Heavy, which only lets you jump over waist high walls, but lets you use ARs and miniguns, and have the most health. One of the many cool things they did is made it so you have to do certain challenges to unlock new weapons and attachments. So a lvl 10 who didn't do any challenges wouldn't have the cool guns and attachments that a lvl 1 that did every challenge would, which adds to the games overall balance. there are four classes in the game, and you can change freely between them throughout a match. You'll have to in order to complete the many objectives offered throughout the matches. Solders, which give out ammo, can throw Molotov **** and can set demolition charges. Engineers, who can place mines and turrets, defuse the solders bombs and other engineers mines, and buff their teams weapons, giving them more damage. Medics, who heal and revive people. And Operatives, who act as the games spy's, and can disguise as an enemy player (but isn't able to shoot while disguised), hack the enemy's comms (which gives your teams a UAV) and hack into enemy intel. Your guns don't change when you switch classes, but your abilities (that you "pay for" with currency that you unlock while leveling up) do. Speaking of guns, there is a huge variety. The main differences are sacrifices to damage for accuracy or the other way around, but each handles in their own different way, (like, how much recoil, range, etc.) which is cool, because I'm used to the monotony of COD and Halo. Also, once you've completed your fair share of challenges, you get access to awesome attachments, from drum magazines (which about triple how much ammo you have in a clip) or one of the many sights. Even when you reach the relatively low level cap of 20, you can make a new character, with which you can you can basically start over (like the prestige system of COD) and use new abilities or try new weapons or tactics. The single player chapters are the multi-player maps. So, you could play through the whole story online, with other people playing instead of bots. (which you might want to do because the bots are brain-dead) The only downside I've found so far is that in a few online matches, I've experienced MAJOR lag, but backing out and finding a new match is quick and easy in this game, so lag is never too big of a problem. All and all, Brink is a new kind of FPS, making you abandon the conventions of old, and embrace the fast paced, beautiful, and inventive ones that Brink presents.… Expand
  20. JoStriker
    May 10, 2011
    8
    I give this game a solid 8.5 it is a fun game i love the fact that the campaign is online. The guns are good and there are so many and so many ways to customize them same goes for you character. There are thousands upon thousands of ways to customize i would be very surprised if i saw someone who looked like me. All the jazz they were saying about the parkour is not exactly true itI give this game a solid 8.5 it is a fun game i love the fact that the campaign is online. The guns are good and there are so many and so many ways to customize them same goes for you character. There are thousands upon thousands of ways to customize i would be very surprised if i saw someone who looked like me. All the jazz they were saying about the parkour is not exactly true it basically is a neat way to get from point a to point b. This is a fun game if you are in a CoD rut then you owe it to yourself to try this or Battlefield Bad Company 2 get out there and try something different i recommend this game. The only thing keeping it from a 9 is textures are not the best and can take some time to load maybe they should of not pushed it up a week.… Expand
  21. almostskilled
    May 10, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I will rate it 10 simple because its sometime fresh in the FPS genre, and its the most fun multiplayer game i´ve played since the old TFC, so its great.… Expand
  22. Ecufius
    May 10, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In 3 Words: I Love it.
    I miss a lobby-system and so I hope, this will be fixed. I think it is easy to learn, but hard to master and this is, what a game should be.
    So I rate it 8 Points. The time I got my Lobby you can push another point to it.    … Expand
  23. Necromanzee
    May 10, 2011
    9
    Strategy Informer's reviewer is a liar. There is no 40 minute tutorial video at the beginning, it's like not even 10 minutes long.

    This is a cool game, definitely something different. Not like other FPS games on the market.
  24. Iramaj
    May 10, 2011
    10
    From the Minute I stepped into Brink and created my character, I knew I was playing something different than the oft mentioned Battlefield, Call of Duty and Halo. I was transported into an environment that was unique and extremely cool in a stylistic manner. I found the introduction of movement unhampered by canned animation refreshing and the reliance on tactics and skill a welcomeFrom the Minute I stepped into Brink and created my character, I knew I was playing something different than the oft mentioned Battlefield, Call of Duty and Halo. I was transported into an environment that was unique and extremely cool in a stylistic manner. I found the introduction of movement unhampered by canned animation refreshing and the reliance on tactics and skill a welcome relief. The objective basis of Brink brings a fresh dynamic that allows numerous strategies and direction. This game is not meant to be populated by one type of player, but is made for a diversity of needs and desires. This is where the game excels. It allows me to get my Secret Operative on, who gathers information and infiltrates the enemy lines or be the engineer, changing the flow of battle and the landscape. I can run and gun as a soldier or be the man that everyone wants in their corner, the medic. In addition, I loved the storyline and plot. The two sides of the coins are demonstrated well in the cutscenes. Even more depth is giving to the story by the actual environment and information picked up around the way. The bots were not great by any mean, but I am not playing for the bots, I am playing for the MINGLEPLAYER. The ability to run through the game with others and still complete the campaign. Occasionally running through the regular campaign and finding myself facing real players on the other factions makes the unpredictability increase 10 fold. I personally decided to forego the use of S.M.A.R.T. (Smooth movement across randomized terrain) and manually mantle and slide through the environments. The shock to the opposing faction when I come sliding through a staircase or piping system and kicking an opposing player is unparalleled. There is a constant tension about where someone can approach... from above? Below? Behind ME? MY TEAMMATE!!!!.... I absolutely love it. This game has met and exceeded my expectations with the ease of dropping in and out of games, creating FIRETEAMS when I want to play with my friends and providing me and atmosphere unlike anything I have played. Oh yeah, I love the sound system. You can literally tell what is occurring around the corner by the sounds.... footsteps and grenades and weapons all have distinct sounds that make playing superbly immersive. I could go on and on, but I think I will stop here.… Expand
  25. KenyehWest
    May 10, 2011
    10
    Brink is a SOLID team objective based multiplayer game. Don't be expecting a SP campaign like COD, because you're not going to get it and you shouldnt even be expecting that. It DELIVERS on EVERYTHING it promised. It takes more than a quick 2 or 3 game session to realize this. I played it after the midnight release, had my reservations, but played again this morning with REAL human playersBrink is a SOLID team objective based multiplayer game. Don't be expecting a SP campaign like COD, because you're not going to get it and you shouldnt even be expecting that. It DELIVERS on EVERYTHING it promised. It takes more than a quick 2 or 3 game session to realize this. I played it after the midnight release, had my reservations, but played again this morning with REAL human players and its AWESOME. The bots DO get smarter as you level up so I was glad they were so "stupid" in the beginning when I was getting my bearings. There's a learning curve, this is not some pick up and play. if you complete all the challenges and watch the videos first before diving in, it not only gives you critical weapon upgrades but also gets you up to speed on what is needed. Reading all those negative reviews may make you think like you just wasted $60 on that pre-order but I promise you won't be disappointed. I've followed Brink since 3 months ago, and I am not the least bit disappointed. I loved Bad Company 2 and that was the reason why I even considered Brink. The parkour abilities are out of this world, and change up how you even THINK about moving and dodging attacks. The bad reviews come from people expecting it to be something different. You have to judge it for what its intended for. Because with the same eye as the development team on their reasons for making things the way they are, you'll have nothing but appreciation for all the little details and tweaks to the gameplay that other FPS have NOTHING on. If you love team-based shooters (and I dont mean Black Ops or Modern Warefare) you'll love this game. You'll be frustrated for the first 20-30 minutes as you figure out how the game works, but once you figure out how it all works... you'll be flying around the map and strategizing with your HUMAN players and just tearing it up.

    The BOTS are GREAT at DEFENSE... they know how to flank, bunker down, and just keep you back. On offense, they're a little slower and have more of a support role, so its a difference of priorities. But still, its nothing I didn't expect. In fact I'm VERY impressed with the BOTS. Just now, I'm at level 8, and these guys are pulling crazy stunts to keep me from doing the objectives. I just had a great game where we had to hack a console to win. The human players and bots bunkered down and flanked... we were screwed. Brute force thru the front entrance wasn't going to cut it. I told my other HUMAN teammate to be an engineer and set up a turret and man a machine gun, providing me cover fire so I can sneak thru with my operative class and go for the objective. It took a few tries but it WORKED... and the feeling was nothing short of just immense accomplishment. THIS is what you'll never get out of Black Ops or the other FPS games... only in games like these. I love it, and I'll be playing this for a while. Give it a shot. In fact, give it like two days of playing. Go thru the tutorials and go thru the challenges. LEARN the game before you pass judgement. You won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  26. Mechacheeze
    May 10, 2011
    10
    If your expecting a class based/balanced team based shooter with emphasis on custimazation and movement then you will be satisfied with this game. if your expecting team fortress 2 with parkour then you will be disappointed. any bad complaint you can make about this game is outwayed by the fantastic maps , smooth movement , excellent character design , fun coop, great sound quality , andIf your expecting a class based/balanced team based shooter with emphasis on custimazation and movement then you will be satisfied with this game. if your expecting team fortress 2 with parkour then you will be disappointed. any bad complaint you can make about this game is outwayed by the fantastic maps , smooth movement , excellent character design , fun coop, great sound quality , and balance. THIS GAME ISNT FOR EVERYONE. you cant just jump in like its cowadooty. if you try to cooperate and learn everytjhing correctly you will enjoy the game more… Expand
  27. Matteo217
    May 11, 2011
    10
    Its Finally here!!! not Brink... A UNIQUE FPS!!!!! We have been waiting for years now to get a solid FPS and Splash Damage has finally delivered. First off I want to say NOT to give in to the negative reviews. This game is superb beyond measure. IGN gave this game a 6/10 and that is absolutely preposterous, this game has so little flaws that they were just being extremely nit-picky. I meanIts Finally here!!! not Brink... A UNIQUE FPS!!!!! We have been waiting for years now to get a solid FPS and Splash Damage has finally delivered. First off I want to say NOT to give in to the negative reviews. This game is superb beyond measure. IGN gave this game a 6/10 and that is absolutely preposterous, this game has so little flaws that they were just being extremely nit-picky. I mean come on IGN took off points for repetition!? Im going to assume that you have played Call of Duty and Gears of War(i like gears of war, just not so much the multiplayer, its decent but just not my thing) these games have some of the most repetitive muliplayer in the genre, (not FPS, but shooter in general) especially CoD. No where in Brink did I ever feel backed into a corner where i had no options but to camp in the nearest corner and hop i dont die. The majority of the structures in Brink are climbable and the feeling of effortlessly gliding through and over obstacles is something that is just amazing to do. This game feels like Mirrors Edge, Killzone 3, TF2 and a slight mix of Battlefield all combined into one AMAZING package. The visuals are almost Jaw-Dropping, the art style works amazingly well in this game, the character customization leaves MILLIONS of possible combination's for your characters and not one character will ever look the same, EVER. The Gun customization is where my jaw officially hit the floor. Instead of taking the easy way out and just telling you what attachments you have and showing your character holding the "customized" gun *cough* Call of Duty *cough*. They give you an incredibly detailed, 3D, fully rotatable model of the gun that you can manipulate in any direction to give you a true feeling of the gun you will be holding. All guns in this game also have a degree of recoil that only kicks in once you fire the gun for a little over a second, but this is no big issue and all attachments have some affect over your gun besides the obvious. For example you can give your SMG a barrel magazine so you can hold like 3x as many bullets in your clip, BUT because of the weight of the magazine it give the gun slightly less stability. This keeps the game EXTREMELY balanced and nobody ever feels like they are overpowered, you choose what gun you like, customize it and you will get a feel for what range you are effective at. Alright lets move on to campaign, the campaign is very well done if you pay attention to the cut-scenes that are Beautifully rendered and look amazing then you will not be lost. I will give a very brief summary *Slight Spoilers* Basically the story revolves around, The Ark a floating city built by man to be a self sustaining, Green, and Eco-Friendly environment to symbolize the good that man can do. But as the situation with the world kept getting worse eventually Global Warming hit and the Oceans rose. This made their floating city a refuge for survivors. The city however could not sustain the number of people on the Ark so the constructed another section which was basically a Slum for the rest of the survivors. To keep the Ark working the Security started initiating water, and food rations making most of the Slums starve. The Slums appealed to the Founders the Arks creators but they refused and tightened the Security of the Ark. The Resistance then formed under the leadership of Brother Chen and now fights a Civil War against the Founders and The Ark Security that protects them. So will you save the Ark or Destroy it? Ok so thats the basic story, You get the option at the beginning to choose your side each with a different campaign and two What-If scenarios where each side takes more...drastic measure to ensure survival. Now on to multiplayer; Brink has some very balanced multiplayer, there are some lag issues here and there but the game will reconnect to a new host often so the lag will fix itself. Like i said earlier no gun feels to over powered so that's not the issue in this game, that i feel some people have. I feel that some people including my friends were hesitant because they assumed that everyone would be a Heavy and rock the field, well let me put that to rest because it is far from the Truth. The three classes Light, Medium and heavy can all climb various heights and move at set speeds. Lights are the most maneuverable with the least health, Mediums are well... standard soldiers. and the Heavy is a walking tank that can only climb over smaller obstacles and can wield launchers and mini-guns. But each class has weaknesses, in movement speed and health so its up too you to tailor your character to your play style and you'll see what i mean. Lastly really quick, like Bullseye76 bellow me said, if you try to play the game like a basic FPS you will get rocked so play the challenge rooms to get a feel for the game and you will realize that this is no standard FPS. Brink is a must buy game that is a serious wake-up call to developers about the new age of the FPS… Expand
  28. Erilos
    May 12, 2011
    9
    If you play Brink like your standard old shooter it may be around a 5 or 6 but once you start to get used to the controls, mechanics and get a few levels under your belt it it turns into a solid 9. Brink is not like anything else you can buy at the moment and provide a very refreshing change to the standard FPS formula.
  29. waylander
    May 10, 2011
    9
    I got to give it to splash damage on this one, the game play is very good how ever the grfx are not as good as they could be. But the game does have a very urgent feel to it like you must get to and complete that objective, the weapons are pretty balanced and nothing seems to over powered. there is no story as in other games per-say just mission briefings and then the mission the cutsI got to give it to splash damage on this one, the game play is very good how ever the grfx are not as good as they could be. But the game does have a very urgent feel to it like you must get to and complete that objective, the weapons are pretty balanced and nothing seems to over powered. there is no story as in other games per-say just mission briefings and then the mission the cuts seances are well done and gives you the info you need to carry onto the next mission. Mp is a blast, the escort mission are nerve racking and rewarding. all in all a 9/10… Expand
  30. rhox
    May 10, 2011
    8
    I almost feel this game should have two review categories, the single player experience really isn't great as the bots are awful players. But the multiplayer is a blast, its a frantic, balanced team game with excellent mechanics. It definitely could benefit from some sort of lobby system for playing games with a party of friends as well as some more game modes. The objective system isI almost feel this game should have two review categories, the single player experience really isn't great as the bots are awful players. But the multiplayer is a blast, its a frantic, balanced team game with excellent mechanics. It definitely could benefit from some sort of lobby system for playing games with a party of friends as well as some more game modes. The objective system is deceptive, it makes you feel like you have plenty to do bit its really just the same three things over and over dressed slightly differently. Bit overall it was a worth while purchase that will keep me busy for quite some time.… 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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