Hey all

I have been playing Brink like a Maniac since EU launch. Heck, i even took a day off.
The Server issues were distressing so i decided to rent a dedicated server. It is amazing how fast it fills up, literally in seconds.

Anyhow, Brink is close to beeing exactly what i wanted. I have a few gripes, stuff i would have done differently but those are all subjective issues.
The most important points for me are:

1) Teamwork
This seems obvious but many games that have objectives will lay them out so people can play TDM style and still win. The class system and the mission types force the team to take decisions, adapt and work together.

2) Map Layout
I have seen many complaints here. No variety, bottlenecks etc. etc. What i see online is people using the same obvious route over and over. Also people not using their abilities to their advantage. Level 20 doesnt take so long and gives access to EMP on Operative (as an example)
There are quiet a few routes to take usually, some more hidden then others. For example the vent shafts on Aquarium. So this i think is mostly lacking map knowledge, lacking teamwork, missing the right abilities due to low level or a combination of those.

3) "It takes forever to kill someone"
Also a complaint i heard a lot. When attacking someone fully buffed with some types of SMG, then yes. It can take a while. On the other hand it is very possible to OHK with shotgun or the bolt rifle. Headshots also do help a ton, though not as much as in other games. The Smart system also helps get out
of harms way quick. Which i think is brilliant. It leads to longer, more intense fights. Especially when there are medics around.

4) Skills
The skills certainly help and add to the game but without handing people uber abilities. Also a lot of abilities can be countered, which leads us to point 1) again. Sticky Grenades can be removed, disguised Operatives pointed out, mines can be disarmed etc.

5) Fun Factor
This should be point 1. We had so many funny moments on Teamspeak with Brink already. When there is a minute to go and you are missing 2% on that hack and someone pulls off some crazy stunt and gets it done, its awesome. The SMART system has a lot to do with it, it makes the game more fluid in
an awesome way.

Anyhow, for the sake of balance some megative points, again, completely subjective:

1) Grenades do to much damage when fully buffed, i like them as a tactical tool for the knockdown. I think that blind grenade spam, hoping for a lucky kill that you find in other games is annoying and takes away from the aspects i like about the game. Which is one team vs the other, competing for objective with their own personal aim as major reason for a positive or negative outcome of a firefight and some abilities as tactical tools.

2) Graphic bugs
Not to annoying, nothing that keeps me from playing but would be nice to have fixed

3) Sound bugs
Very annoying, we took a map out of the cycle cause it would cause the No Sound bug 100% of the time. Hopefully fixed soon. Especially considering i really like the sound of Brink.

4) Operatives
Operatives need a buff ability. Otherwise the only reason to play them is if there is an objective or turrets to take care of.

5) Weapons
Some of them need a second look, most are very subpar to a few that reign supreme. Maybe i simply dont know how to use them but some assault rifles seem to be pointless. Close range i prefer the Shotgun, close to mid the SMG and long range the Light Rfiles.

All in all i am glad Splash Damage went this way and brought out a game that, while not appealing to everyone, certainly does appeal to everybody i know that was looking for a team objective based shooter, where team comes before personal stats. This last bit may be the most important factor here.
We all like our hero moments and they are definately to be had but ultimately the team win is what counts.

Anyhow, i hope you also enjoy it, have fun,

Choboon

everyone keeps saying the ars are weak. euston is amazing if you know how to control your bursts. One to three shot it and let it settle. even moving just bursting not even in sight is dece, plus super up close u can spray an ar for massive damage. I make sure to pack a bulpaun or galactic to but def one of the better long range to mid range guns

I think operatives are just as important. I've recently started using them sometimes just for the fact that I can reveal the location of all the enemies for my entire team. It comes in handy. Especially when you use the ability to outline an enemy by iron sighting them. I usually go operative if we are getting stomped enough, and then we usually win it in the end.

I think that the only thing that needs fixing is the way you group with your friends.It works,but is a bit clunky.Just make it easier.

Other than that,I have no complaints at the moment,mainly because I just started playing online this morning,now that PSN is back up.

Lag has been waaaay better than I anticipated.for those that complain about how bad the lag is in this game,go try Crysis 2 then get back to me.This game runs smoother than I could've hoped for,for a P2P game.

Yes, that is handy. My "complaint", if you could call it that, is that Operative has no buff for the team. Buffs are good xp and they always passively help, no matter what other stuff you might be doing.
Playing Operative can be a blast though. Most fun abilities in the game, hands down.