Brink: Join...somebody.

Brink: Join…somebody.

GamerMatchup.com

Date: 5/22/2011, Brink

Brink –  Join theRevolution!

…or the Security Forces, it doesn’t really matter.

Before release, people started going crazy about Brink. IfBrink could deliver on the seamless blending of single and multiplayer that it promisedto, people were right to go crazy. This game promised to transform those gamerswho prefer single player fare into multiplayer gamers without their knowledge,or even consent.

That is quite a hefty undertaking, converting scores ofpeople who prefer playing alone, free of the playful teasing and ‘good natured’taunts of friends. Brink, while lacking in body to back this up, does not wantfor ambition. Splash Damage, the studio behind Brink, cannot and should not beblamed for this ambition, it’s a respectable endeavor. They do, sadly, fall wayshort of fulfilling this ambition.

It isn’t that it’s a bad game, it’s just underwhelming. Nowthe question is where to begin, the story, the character classes, the charactercustomization, the ‘multiplayer’, the SMART system, they all deserve mention.Since the first thing to do is create a character, let’s go with that. You haveall the stock options available to create the hero du jour, from ‘smooth’ to‘veteran’ and a great selection of voice actors to choose from. As with everyBethesda game, the customization options are plentiful and easy to unlock.There are always going to be new hats or tattoos or pretty coats to unlock. Asyou progress in the game, you’ll continue unlocking new outfits, hairstyles, andeven body type. This last feature actually has some bearing on the game. Lightcharacters are able to move quicker and jump higher, average characters (thestarting type) are a mixed bag, and heavy characters can soak up more damage,carry the bigger guns and move slower.

After creating your own avatar, you’re given a rundown ofwhat’s been happening lately on the Ark; that being the post apocalyptic ‘lastbastion’ of humanity. Some natural disaster has occurred, leaving this floatingcity the only safe place to inhabit, or so we’re led to believe. You’re giventhe choice between the good guys (security forces), who fight to impose orderon the floating city that potentially may be the last refuge humanity has; andthe bad guys (revolutionaries), who view the ark as a prison they must escapeat all costs. This choice that should define the game itself for the player, orat least the character, is rendered irrelevant very quickly. Why present gamerswith such a grave choice, only to let them choose any mission they please fromeither the security forces or revolutionaries campaign whenever they please?

The classes are slightly more relevant, but only slightly.Within each mission, you’re presented with a number of tasks, which only one ofthe four classes you’re given can complete. You’re then presented with thechoice to switch classes or rely on your partners to fulfill the roles youchoose not to do. This can be problematic, as the AI in this game is on the dimside of simple. If you opt to switch classes after one task has been completed,you’re then stuck running back to a command center, or dying. This gets tediousquickly, as any command center you spawn at is easily three miles from anywhereaction is taking place. This game relies heavily on the ability to buff, fromthe soldiers ammo replenish to the medics life boost. This presents issues whenyour target is moving, when you try to buff a moving target, you try to hone inon them like a magnet, which gave me motion sickness while sitting on my couch.There are also times when the game fails to recognize the buffs at all, leavingyou trying to revive a corpse instead of a teammate. The soldier exists to blowup bombs and restock ammo. The medic keeps your idiot teammates and NPCs you’retasked with guarding alive and increases health through buffs. The engineerupgrades and fixes things, he plants hidden landmines and gives teammates adamage buff…provided he can catch them without hurling. Finally, the operativecan hack computers, disguise themselves as the enemy and spot hidden landmines.It’s hard to tell the difference between the classes in the slightest onscreen,and since you set your character up independent of choosing a class, you pickone set of weapons regardless of class. You’re also not given ample opportunityto develop a kinship with one class over another, leaving what could have beena great mechanic, a confusing mess that can be changed at a whim. Valve had itright with Team Fortress 2; givingthe player a number of classes and each class has specific abilities works outmuch better than tossing a mess of classes that look the same and can bechanged after a long hike or short death.

The one diamond present amidst this sea of crap is the SMART(Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain) system for movement across terrainacrobatically. You’re able to engage this system while sprinting, and it allowsyou to navigate obstacles differently based on how you approach them. This issimilar to being able to climb every wall possible like Altair or Ezio do. Assatisfying as sliding under gunfire and blasting an enemy with a shotgun to theteam is, it does get old after eleven or twelve times. A fun mechanic is greatin games, but isn’t something that should be the only thing a game has goingfor it.

This game is meant to be played with a group of friends, notthe simple AI you’re provided with from the developers. This is the case withmost games. Most games are also good. This one really is not. I wanted to likeit, I really did, but there are too many lackluster ‘features’ that end uphurting more than helping. The story is also rendered irrelevant almostimmediately after it is introduced. At that point, it seems like a much betteruse of the developers time to create better classes or a conflict you have topick a side in, instead if waffling back and forth as you please. If for somereason you ended up buying this, either return it or trade it in immediatelyfor something less bad. There are much better FPSs to hold you over until Gears3 or Duke Nukem. If you need one that badly, go play Gears 2 or Halo Reach.Yes, I did suggest a Halo title over Brink. That happened.