My worry about Brink...

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Now Mass Effect 3 won't be coming till 2012 Brink has been one of my most anticipated games for this year, but the recent trailers have fed a sense of unease that I had previously been ignoring.

You see, in my opinion games that revolve around a duel faction basis only work when both sides are balanced from a moral perspective as well as simply a gameplay one. They have to be both equally good/bad because if one side is depicted as 'the bad guys who are supposed to lose' they're not going to have as much appeal. But in Brink the Government seems to be being marketed as cold, dictatorial psychopaths, while the Terrorists are depicted as noble, wronged freedom fighters. I do hope they haven't done this just because it's 'cool to hate the man bro' in our current climate.

So this is my question to anyone who has already played it. Have they done this? And if so, is the game worse for it in your opinion?

(Captcha: xclarre CLN--IgG... this doesn't even need a joke does it)

 

[kasperbbs]

It`s not like its heavy on its story, just go and shoot people. I don`t remember anyone complaining about having to play as a 'terrorist' in 'counter-strike', only reason people complained were the spawn spots and weapons.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

From what i've seen so far, they did a pretty decent job of making both sides sufficiently grey. But, that may just be me... I tend to be good at empathizing with anyone whose head isn't completely buried in his own ass.

 

[DEAD34345]

Even if they are depicted as evil, that doesn't put everyone off.

I usually prefer the "Evil" side, especially when they are the more stylish, corporate kind of evil faction. I always played RNA over Lineage in Shadowrun, and from what I have seen they are pretty much the same two factions as the ones in Brink.

 

[Zipa]

You should be more worried about it disappearing off steam in the UK despite letting people pre order it, that and the massive problems ATI graphics cards seem to be having.

 

[SilentCom]

It`s not like its heavy on its story, just go and shoot people. I don`t remember anyone complaining about having to play as a 'terrorist' in 'counter-strike', only reason people complained were the spawn spots and weapons.

Yes, but Counter-Strike never had a campaign that depicts each side through story. Condition Zero doesn't count either.

 

[ryai458]

Now Mass Effect 3 won't be coming till 2012 Brink has been one of my most anticipated games for this year, but the recent trailers have fed a sense of unease that I had previously been ignoring.

You see, in my opinion games that revolve around a duel faction basis only work when both sides are balanced from a moral perspective as well as simply a gameplay one. They have to be both equally good/bad because if one side is depicted as 'the bad guys who are supposed to lose' they're not going to have as much appeal. But in Brink the Government seems to be being marketed as cold, dictatorial psychopaths, while the Terrorists are depicted as noble, wronged freedom fighters. I do hope they haven't done this just because it's 'cool to hate the man bro' in our current climate.

So this is my question to anyone who has already played it. Have they done this? And if so, is the game worse for it in your opinion?

(Captcha: xclarre CLN--IgG... this doesn't even need a joke does it)

LOL, you will feel differently once you play it.

 

[Ruley]

its story is really crap, sorry but it is. You won't notice any deeper meaning that its trying (and failing) to imply.

I'm still trying to get my head around how bad the game design is - the campaign missions play out like Rush on BFBC2 and the multiplayer games are identical to the campaign missions but with players, not bots - i've already unlocked every weapon and attachment (after < 2 hours play) so only new outfits and perks remain to be unlocked. Some of the levels are so dark i can't see anything so i run at walls hoping to wall climb up and over so I can see something

/end rant

 

[kasperbbs]

It`s not like its heavy on its story, just go and shoot people. I don`t remember anyone complaining about having to play as a 'terrorist' in 'counter-strike', only reason people complained were the spawn spots and weapons.

Yes, but Counter-Strike never had a campaign that depicts each side through story. Condition Zero doesn't count either.

Who is going to care about the story in a multiplayer FPS game? Well maybe some people will, too bad for them.

 

[ShockAndDismay]

Just a little review, if you haven't player it yet:
At first, the game isn't what you expected. It didn't meet my expectations but it was highly addictive once you get into it. There are A LOT of cheap, bullshit moments but I thought it was a fun rental. Not a buy, of course.

As you level, the AI levels with you. This is bad because it doesn't increase their skill but their hit percentage and how powerful they are. Eventually you die over and over again and it gets very frustrating. There are ways around it but...yeah. It was a pretty good game, overall. Maybe it'd be better with Multiplayer tho (i'm a single player guy).

OT: I don't think so.

 

[Thespian]

Now Mass Effect 3 won't be coming till 2012 Brink has been one of my most anticipated games for this year, but the recent trailers have fed a sense of unease that I had previously been ignoring.

You see, in my opinion games that revolve around a duel faction basis only work when both sides are balanced from a moral perspective as well as simply a gameplay one. They have to be both equally good/bad because if one side is depicted as 'the bad guys who are supposed to lose' they're not going to have as much appeal. But in Brink the Government seems to be being marketed as cold, dictatorial psychopaths, while the Terrorists are depicted as noble, wronged freedom fighters. I do hope they haven't done this just because it's 'cool to hate the man bro' in our current climate.

So this is my question to anyone who has already played it. Have they done this? And if so, is the game worse for it in your opinion?

(Captcha: xclarre CLN--IgG... this doesn't even need a joke does it)

Actually, this is one thing about Brink you do not need to worry about. The Devs put extra work into this.
The Resistance see themselves as Freedom Fighters fighting for a fairer distribution of resources, and the Security as an Oppressive force attempting to control the Ark and take the spoils.
Conversely, the Security seek to unite the Ark and bring order to it's scattered people, and see the resistance as greedy terrorists causing chaos.
It's not Freedom Fighters versus Oppressors, or Hero Cops versus Terrorists. It's both, depending on your viewpoint.

 

[staika]

There really isn't a story to the game, the gist of it is that the security want to save the ark and the renegades want to blow up the ark so they can escape the ark and try to find a better life. That's basically it they really don't go too much into why they believe that, they just do.

 

[Cavan]

You should be more worried about it disappearing off steam in the UK despite letting people pre order it, that and the massive problems ATI graphics cards seem to be having.

I'm going to go with this, the viewpoints are clearly defined with each side giving its' version of a stirring speech to the mass of bulletsoaking grunts so actual technical and gameplay issues take priority.

 

[Xyphon]

As you level, the AI levels with you.
OT: I don't think so.

Wait, really? So THAT'S why they suddenly started to kick my ass and go for objectives more often....

 

[squid5580]

As you level, the AI levels with you.
OT: I don't think so.

Wait, really? So THAT'S why they suddenly started to kick my ass and go for objectives more often....

Oh yeah after level 10 it is over. The enemy AI become gods. I cannot count the number of times I got mowed down by a strategically placed medium turret. Or got 1 shotted by a super gun that I can barely use due to recoil. My experience has been getting thrown with a team of newbs going up against a team of clan members all on mics. My guys are all over the place all worrying about getting their xp while the enemy is highly co ordinated and attack or defend accordingly. And of course there was that one jackass who kept grabbing the data and charging into the entire enemy force just to chew up time. I swear he was friends with some of the guys on the other side. It was at that point I ragequitted and won't be going back.

 

[Kimarous]

As you level, the AI levels with you.
OT: I don't think so.

Wait, really? So THAT'S why they suddenly started to kick my ass and go for objectives more often....

Oh yeah after level 10 it is over. The enemy AI become gods. I cannot count the number of times I got mowed down by a strategically placed medium turret. Or got 1 shotted by a super gun that I can barely use due to recoil. My experience has been getting thrown with a team of newbs going up against a team of clan members all on mics. My guys are all over the place all worrying about getting their xp while the enemy is highly co ordinated and attack or defend accordingly. And of course there was that one jackass who kept grabbing the data and charging into the entire enemy force just to chew up time. I swear he was friends with some of the guys on the other side. It was at that point I ragequitted and won't be going back.

Well, that settles it. I was considering getting this game for my birthday, relying more on early-on LP footage than the abysmally negative professional reviews to gauge my opinion, but if it's that bad, there's no way I'd like it.

 

[Aerograt]

One of the (few) good things about Brink is that the two factions are both depicted as being douchebags in their own right. The Resistance is a radical terrorist group (with two of the most annoying characters ever being shown in their cutscenes in the form of henchmen.) while Security is simply too controlling.

The game itself is total crap in its current state though, SMART is buggy as hell and slow, online lags often and everyone uses machine guns to kill off weapon variety because they're the best freaking weapons. Also, your AI team mates suck while the enemy is basically using aimbots.

 

[Pirakahunter788]

I like Brink mainly because neither faction is actually "Evil".
The Security view the Resistance as terrorists, animals, and so on. They defend the views of the Founders, and can be viewed as oppresive, even though they think they're peacekeepers.

The Resistance view the Security as up tight, abusing power grubbers, lackies for the Founders. They're mad that the "Founders" are supposedly hoarding resources and supplies and won't give any of it to the starving and thirsty people of the Ark. They view themselves as liberators, and they're trying to send out a distress signal to the outside world, due to the Ark being cut off from civilization. However, their methods of achieving this goal are less than favorable by the Security.

Darn it, got ninja'd again.

 

[Aerograt]

Well, that settles it. I was considering getting this game for my birthday, relying more on early-on LP footage than the abysmally negative professional reviews to gauge my opinion, but if it's that bad, there's no way I'd like it.

Don't totally dismiss it, Splash Damage stated it's working on the lag and bugs along with giving us a free DLC pack in June. I'm honestly having some fun with it when it works right; I hate games with quick kill times. Just get it used when it's cheap ($30 at most since you only get 8 maps and four challenge modes ranging from frustrating to boring. The free DLC won't be revolutionary either) and wait for the patches.

 

[The Apothecarry]

The factions are merely cosmetic. Both factions feel very neutral and I find myself identifying more with Security than the Resistance. As far as story is concerned, it felt very story absent like Unreal Tournament and doesn't detract from the entertainment value of the game,

The AI feels a bit too defensive for my liking. Some challenges and missions feel impossible because the opposing team sits in one place and fires into my advancing squad, who have no cover. I am left being the most capable member of my team and end up rushing into the firefight like a dumb hero only to be dropped and ignored by every Medic on my team. The learning curve is good, but the difficulty ramps up regardless of the "setting."

I've had it for a few days and I'm still not sure if I like it. It's a good shooter by far, but the AI...