In an industry flooded by shooters, it’s always nice to see a game that tries to be different.
“Brink” certainly strives to break the mold and deserves praise for that. But while the concept behind it sounds quite neat, the execution has some rough edges that leave the game just on the brink of total gaming goodness.
At the risk of sounding like an “It’s not you, it’s me” speech, lets enumerate the positives first.
Character customization is definitely a strong point, providing plenty of options to edit your character. People who like options besides running and gunning will like the extra classes like medic, spy and operative. There’s also heavy emphasis on group cooperation, a boon if you’re a team player like me. The ability to pick sides in a civil war also adds extra variety.
On the down side, campaign mode is short and lacking in story, a bummer for campaign fans especially given the interesting setup for the game’s civil war. The AI also can be maddeningly inconsistent. Imbalances in mission design can heavily favor one team over another. Class-based load outs could use more diversity a la Team Fortress. “Brink” also lacks team death match and other classic shooter modes, relying primarily on “8 vs. 8” team objective missions.
Overall, “Brink” is a game loaded with potential but just falls short of hitting the sweet spot. It certainly has its high points and some gamers will, undoubtedly, love this game. But I recommend “dating” it first before committing to it, just in case.
Recommended if you like: Team Fortresss
Cost: $59.99; PS3, Xbox 360, PC
*This review originally appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal Sunday Tech page.
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