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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  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. flyjar
    Jun 2, 2011
    6
    While the updates have fixed the major lag issues the game still isn't that great. When playing co-op on-line, even on easy, the computer controlled players seem too powerful and I often wonder how I got killed. There are too many choking points on the maps where you are killing and getting killed far too often. It's not always obvious when you are in an enemy base only to be killed byWhile the updates have fixed the major lag issues the game still isn't that great. When playing co-op on-line, even on easy, the computer controlled players seem too powerful and I often wonder how I got killed. There are too many choking points on the maps where you are killing and getting killed far too often. It's not always obvious when you are in an enemy base only to be killed by the turrets. And while the movement system is pretty nice, I find myself vaulting on to boxes that I didn't want to, completely exposing myself to the enemy. The medic class seems to be over powered and very easy to max out, when getting frustrated I found myself switch back to this class quite often. Tip: when you shoot an enemy, make sure you kill them in "last stand" so the medic doesn't revive them.… Expand
  8. JakeLunn
    May 15, 2011
    6
    Brink is fun for some, but not for others. For those who are blessed with living in an area that has fast internet speeds for a low amount of money, it is fun. For those who can't afford fast internet speeds or don't live an area with them available it is not; Brink is a total lag fest for them. Not to say that any game isn't a lag fest if you have **** internet, but Brink seems to notBrink is fun for some, but not for others. For those who are blessed with living in an area that has fast internet speeds for a low amount of money, it is fun. For those who can't afford fast internet speeds or don't live an area with them available it is not; Brink is a total lag fest for them. Not to say that any game isn't a lag fest if you have **** internet, but Brink seems to not even attempt to adhere to the less fortunate. The game itself however is fantastic, if you have a good enough connection to support it.… Expand
  9. 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...
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. minharo200
    May 29, 2011
    6
    To start off, I entered this game with high expectations. Now this could be good or bad depending on the person, but I followed this game religiously for a few weeks here and there, being a previous fan of Wolfenstien and Quake Wars. However, how on earth did they screw up?!
    PROS:
    Gameplay - You work as a team and it is fun to take separate roles to tackle certain objectives. Each class    To start off, I entered this game with high expectations. Now this could be good or bad depending on the person, but I followed this game religiously for a few weeks here and there, being a previous fan of Wolfenstien and Quake Wars. However, how on earth did they screw up?!
    PROS:
    Gameplay - You work as a team and it is fun to take separate roles to tackle certain objectives. Each class does have its strengths and it does gear itself to helping newcomers to grapple the reins easier.
    Artwork - Really well done, the world is fleshed out and you do feel a certain connected-ness to the environment because the battles do take places in areas that subliminally tell a story. Also, character customizations are really nice and gun customizations make you look more tougher and fit your style of play and character.
    CONS: (unfortunately, here's where I need to say)
    Story - The story starts decently, but since watching videos instead of jumping into the combat while online is pointless, so if you want to play online immediately, you cant waste time learning the little back story which doesn't do much to the game play and doesn't give enough time to make you care about your side.
    Also, when playing several matches, you begin not to care about a bigger story and really just care if your team is going to work together or not.
    Graphics - I said the ARTWORK was nice, not the graphical component. While yes, the areas are designed to look real and liveable, the game is always loading textures even in the middle of combat. It makes a greased-lens effect which does make it a bit distracting since the textures of everything change every couple of seconds. Also, explosions don't look nice.
    Gameplay - While the team work is fun, it is not perfect. Either you get lucky and get a team that plays smart or you dont. If you become the only intelligent person trying to fix the main objective, many people just go off trying to get kills and leave you vulnerable and many times don't support. Also, the AI for allies and enemies, are terrible. While they do give support, they will not go after objectives, leaving the grunt work for you every time and the enemy AI can be unforgiving, seeming to target you more often than not. This is a game meant for TEAMS but if one person doesn't support, it can mess the entire vibe. Also, there is not a emphasis to learn and become skilled with one class. Spies are good but don't really help the team too much, Soldiers can lob Molotov all day but that's about it. Engineers are the strongest class since they can just turtle around building sentry guns at will and not be penalized whenever its destroyed. Medics heal and are important but noone ever wants to be a support, and are always in dire need. It is supposed to be balanced but when you are playing with real people who want glory and battle [a unfortunate side effect thanks to COD] noone cares about the comrade next to you unless there's nothing more important occupying your time at that moment.
    and leveling up? you can level up in 1 to 3 days, depending how much you play, but even then its not a lot. Once you finish a character, its just build another one and the list goes on.

    Overall, if you are not a hardcore shooter fan but a fan of team shooters, this is worth checking your time. However, if you want more serious roles and stronger games in the same respect, you could do a lot better, such as Team Fortress 2. Don't misunderstand me, this is a good game. Its just not great.    … Expand
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. electriclight41
    Sep 3, 2013
    6
    This game probably deserves its rating, but is definitely worth playing. It had a bunch of hype before its release, which is why its ratings suffered. But it's a fun game with a multiplayer feel and tons of replayability. You can currently find it in the $5 range, which especially makes it a smart buy for people looking for a quality co-op game. Try it out!
  17. twos
    Jun 11, 2013
    6
    I overall enjoyed this game although I have to say I didn't put a lot of time into it. If you are looking for story line you will be dissapointed, however as an arena style fps this game was thoroughly entertaining. The friendly AI can at times be more than aggravating, but the class system, style and game play mechanics are decent. you can get it in a bargain bin and get a few decentI overall enjoyed this game although I have to say I didn't put a lot of time into it. If you are looking for story line you will be dissapointed, however as an arena style fps this game was thoroughly entertaining. The friendly AI can at times be more than aggravating, but the class system, style and game play mechanics are decent. you can get it in a bargain bin and get a few decent hours of entertainment out of it just playing through two sides of the campaign.… Expand
  18. storygamer
    Sep 14, 2020
    6
    I saw the Bethesda logo on the cover of the Xbox 360 game Brink and was looking forward to a great gaming time. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. The beginning of the game is amusing. The controls are good and the campaign is fun. But the graphics and animations are just ok and the characters move like bricks. Even the multiplayer is disappointing after some matches.
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. pointydagger
    May 30, 2011
    5
    I'll keep this as short as possible: I love the idea for this game. A huge amount of customization in a class based shooter with an easy to use free running tool. It sounds great on paper, but not on a disc, which is very upsetting because I was waiting for this game for half a year. There are things I question like why every multiplayer option has to be a mission, why I have to make anI'll keep this as short as possible: I love the idea for this game. A huge amount of customization in a class based shooter with an easy to use free running tool. It sounds great on paper, but not on a disc, which is very upsetting because I was waiting for this game for half a year. There are things I question like why every multiplayer option has to be a mission, why I have to make an ingame chat to talk to teammates, why heavy is even an option because the health is barely noticeable, and you could just hack the health post for the same effect, why they introduce characters when all they do is take up 6 possible spots and hand them to the terrible AI. Yup, 6 spots automatically go to bots. 3 on both sides. When you get into a game, even though people have said something about an early update, there is a good chance of lag. All that said, once you play it is fun, and you will get your semi-mindless shooter fix. I guess I was just hoping for a little more than mindless shooter.… Expand
  22. 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
  23. 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.
  24. amnix
    May 15, 2011
    5
    Only one word to describe this game; Unpolished. Texture streaming cant keep up. Unplayable multiplayer due to lag. Extremely pixualized visuals that make this game look last gen. No ingame lobbies or gamebrowser. Bots swarm the multiplayer servers. Campaing/offline mode is severely unbalanced with the godly enemy AI. Controls are very poor and generic with one sensitivity for both lookOnly one word to describe this game; Unpolished. Texture streaming cant keep up. Unplayable multiplayer due to lag. Extremely pixualized visuals that make this game look last gen. No ingame lobbies or gamebrowser. Bots swarm the multiplayer servers. Campaing/offline mode is severely unbalanced with the godly enemy AI. Controls are very poor and generic with one sensitivity for both look and ADS, which is a shame because it makes all of the guns to feel shallow. I *really* wanted to like this game, as i've been following the development of it for years. As of now, Brink, should still be in beta, this game is NOT finished.… Expand
  25. YourThoughts
    May 17, 2011
    5
    I am giving this game a rating of 5, due to the fact I returned it to the store within 5 hours of owning it, This being said, i am open minded and understand i know people who are enjoying the game but to me it just seems TOO simple (like a free online FPS for PC), I found the game non-atmospheric and boring. Trailers portrayed the game to be a fast paced, free running shoot em up, but inI am giving this game a rating of 5, due to the fact I returned it to the store within 5 hours of owning it, This being said, i am open minded and understand i know people who are enjoying the game but to me it just seems TOO simple (like a free online FPS for PC), I found the game non-atmospheric and boring. Trailers portrayed the game to be a fast paced, free running shoot em up, but in reality you can only hop over objects such as couches (soo much for the urban 'Ark' world we were promised), while sprinting makes no real improvement to walking. Graphics are a HUGE let down compared to other recent releases, unless your in to long faced cartoon people and endless glitches make this game too frustrating when playing against others online. Fair enough that the glitches can be updated in time and that downloadable content will become available, but character customization is not as vast as it first seems and downloadable content will not change the overall gameplay. Seems to me that Bethesda had a great idea for a new upbeat FPS which could have made one of the best modern shooters we have seen in a few years, but sadly it failed to live up to its expectations.
    The campaign storyline and cinematics seem to be there only as an introduction to each battle and there is no real depth in the story, so if you a single player person i cant see why you would enjoy 'Brink'. But there is still hope for Bethesda's 'BRINK' as i do know a few people who are fans of the game and relate it to an older FPS known as 'Shadowrun' (which was popular for its online gameplay). So if you enjoyed 'Shadowrun' then chances are you are sure to love 'Brink'. I personally am not a 'Shadowrun' fan, but i am open minded and understand it will be a good play for certain gamers.    … Expand
  26. DevelopedMilk
    Jun 20, 2011
    5
    yeah just alright . 5 based on retail price 60 us definitely not worth the money. disappointing campaign, multiplayer, and allaround gameplay. was expecting an epic campaign that really swayed my thoughts on controlling freedom and exploiting but the story was not in the least bit immersive. i played enough with one character to know that the gameplay was broken and did not flow halfyeah just alright . 5 based on retail price 60 us definitely not worth the money. disappointing campaign, multiplayer, and allaround gameplay. was expecting an epic campaign that really swayed my thoughts on controlling freedom and exploiting but the story was not in the least bit immersive. i played enough with one character to know that the gameplay was broken and did not flow half asmuchas promised. online was laggy and the only play i really got was with rediculously hard computers. by hard i mean powerful but just plain stupid. like a group of medics staring at me as i walk towards them opening fire just repeatedly healing eachother not even attempting to take me out. guns just didnt fire right, smart didnt smart right, and customization was kinda bland. there were times when i enjoyed owning fields of guys but more often than not games were unwinnable. i traded it in a week after purchase because cutting my losses was worth more than keeping it around. five is probably more than it deserves but im still hopeful for a proper sequel.… Expand
  27. 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.
  28. MindSpaz
    Sep 18, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Do not buy this game.
    Why?
    There are many reasons, but I'll just talk about the main ones. For the Xbox 360, it feels like the controls were just moved from the PC version and it is hard to control and maneuver the player and slight delays with button presses, AKA, bad programming.
    It lacks in the "free-running" aspect which is what originally drew my attention to this game, you can only simply wall run and climb, simple things like that, and it's very, very hard to keep a "flow" because of the lag online. The single player and the online gameplay are nearly exactly the same, except with one factor, lag.
    Trying to get this game to run on my computer was even a hassle, it kept crashing without reason, and the controls felt sticky and slippery and just all over the place.
    The one good thing however, is when you're getting this game to actually work properly.
    The objectives are interesting and it is fun to play with friends, the customization is very in depth and its pretty much the only reason I'm giving this game a 5/10.
    Overall, the game seems very, very unfinished and it seemed like bethesda was trying to meet a deadline. If this game was worked on a little bit longer, I'm sure this would be an amazing gemstone of a game that would definitely be a popular first person shooter on the market.    … Expand
  29. sinadoom
    Sep 7, 2012
    5
    Credible concept and admirable effort at an arena-based shooter which is modern, class-based, fast-paced, objective-orientated and still skillful since there aren't any stupid killstreaks or perks in the game. Unfortunately however, the game is not incredible due to a number of flaws in theexecution of it. It's a complex game but explained and made simple. But it feels like it was made forCredible concept and admirable effort at an arena-based shooter which is modern, class-based, fast-paced, objective-orientated and still skillful since there aren't any stupid killstreaks or perks in the game. Unfortunately however, the game is not incredible due to a number of flaws in theexecution of it. It's a complex game but explained and made simple. But it feels like it was made for PC as an alternative to the dull and boring/repetive Unreal Tournament 3 kind of game. Brink runs on a decent game engine but for some reason (most likely outdated hardware) id Tech 4's graphics look like Quake 1 most of the time because the Xbox 360 takes literally seconds to load textures on just about everything. For instance, look at something really close up, turn around and quickly turn around again and you have to wait for it to load. This problem has not been addressed with id Tech 5 either so it's yet another generation issue rather than the game's fault. The difficulty is iffy and inconsistent, especially in the challenge missions which are frustrating. Be More Objective is extremely difficult even for seasoned players, because of the badly implemented AI and poor map design and spawns. The story and customisation is pretty bad but above all it's pointless. The cheesey and obvious names for weapons that look exactly like some real-life weapons makes the game feel like a gimmick, which isn't greatly aided by the hideous looking character models. As a team-based multiplayer arena shooter Brink brings some fresh innovation by combining tried-and-tested elements with arena-based gameplay and objectives. It's no TF2 though, so don't expect it to be too much fun. The voice acting is also hideous, especially when you have to hear "Brothers" at the start and end of EVERYTHING. So all in all, Brink is nothing more than a next-gen concept for reviving the arena-based FPS, but it's still very much in the prototype stage with many small but significant imperfections which need to be addressed. It's OK for developers to make mistakes but the important thing is for splash damage to learn from what they did wrong in Brink and try to make their next iteration more polished. The current state of this game has too many issues and can't be taken seriously at all. The idea is exciting, but because it's plagued in just about every department of what constitutes a "good" game I can't brand it as good. Certainly below average performance. It has potential though.… Expand
  30. 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
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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.
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  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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