"Brink" review: An innovative take on the shooter genre

"Brink" is developer Splash Damage's attempt to revolutionize the shooter genre. The game takes the usual formula of point-and-shoot and adds objective-based gameplay while blurring the line between single and multiplayer.

The story takes players to the Ark, a massive floating city built as an eco-project somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The year is 2045 and, thanks to the devastating effects of global warming on the planet, the Ark has become the last known safe haven for humanity.

Two warring factions emerge on the Ark. The Security Forces want to unite the Ark's citizens and maintain law and order. The civilian Resistance wants to use the Ark's resources to venture the globe seeking evidence of remaining human civilization.

Before you join the battle, "Brink" will allow you to create and customize your character and choose which side of the battle to join. Character creation is easy and intuitive, and more options unlock as you earn experience points by completing challenges and in-game objectives.

Now that you've created your character, it's time to jump in and start fighting the good fight. Sort of.

Unfortunately, "Brink" does not have any introductory levels that introduce you to its less intuitive characteristics, or for that matter, the story. If you want to have any understanding of how the character classes, objective-based gameplay and character upgrades work, you will have to sit through a whopping 30-minute tutorial video.

Once in the battle however, "Brink" does a wonderful job of reminding you that you're fighting a war and wars are not won by simply mowing down your enemies but by completing objectives and capturing strongholds. The intense matches require teamwork and communication to achieve primary and supportive goals before the timer runs out.

Where "Brink" really shines is in its ability to unify the single and multiplayer experience. All of the game's missions can be played solo with game-controlled allies and opponents or online with (or against) your friends. Whether playing online or offline, you can advance the story and upgrade your character.

"Brink" introduces a much needed change to the shooter genre with its innovative gameplay and multiplayer experience. However, the game's lack of polish is evident, especially regarding story presentation and gameplay intuition.

The game has many wonderful ideas that will hopefully be better realized and expanded upon in future games.

"Brink" is available on May 10 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. It is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.