Brink review

Despite being built on the ageing ID Tech 4 engine, Brink looks fantastic. Highly stylised characters and locations give the game a unique visual flair that looks incredibly fluid in motion. Levels are littered with incidental details, but they never get in the way of the core gameplay. It might not be the most graphically impressive game around (that plaudit still goes to Crysis) but it certainly stands up against the current crop of shooters.

One aspect that does stand head and shoulders above all the competition is sound; often something gamers take for granted, Brink’s sound design underwent an unprecedented level of polish and the evidence is clear to hear. Weapons sound noticeably different when shooting from the hip compared to using iron sights, with empty shell casings flying past your head as you fire. Reverb effects and echoes of skirmishes happening throughout the map sound fantastic, either through headphones or a surround sound speaker system.

The choke points in each map can get very hectic

Unfortunately, players hoping for an immersive single player campaign will be left largely disappointed; although the overarching story is very involving and each level can be played in sequence, they are broken up with status reports and opportunities to spend experience points on character upgrades. Frequent trips back and forth between the menu screens make for a fragmented feel. Considering how many customisation options there are for each weapon, it’s also a shame that players can’t modify them on the fly. Instead, they have to wait until the mission is over, so it can take a while to experiment with different setups.

Unique characters let you stand out in multiplayer matches

It’s a shame that the single player experience feels so disjointed, as it may put off anyone that prefers to game alone, because Brink is ultimately a fantastic multiplayer shooter. The varied gameplay and teamwork needed to progress through each mission make for exciting matches, while the extensive customisation options and unlockables provide incentive to keep playing. An excellent alternative to Call of Duty for anyone looking for a little more substance, if you spend more time playing online than off, Brink is a must-buy.