Brink Brings 8 Player Drop-In Co-Op Next Year

Nicholas "bapenguin" Puleo September 4th, 2009 at 3:24 PM    


 

Game Name: Brink
Co-Op: Yes - 8 Player
Co-Op Type: Campaign co-op with drop-in and drop-out support.  
Publisher/Developer: Bethesda (publisher) / Splash Damage (developer)
Release Date: Q2 2010

Splash Damage was demonstrating their upcoming action game for the 360, PS3 and PC called Brink in the Bethesda booth at this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo.  Brink is a stylized action title set in the near future in which players assume the role of one of two sides of an ongoing battle.  Choosing between the Resistance or the Security, players are given dynamic missions, complete character customization, and best of all 8 player co-op as they progress through the story.

We saw the game using it's new SMART system which allows for unique player movements with a simple button press.  In order to get past a security gate players simply hold a button, engage the system and run towards it.  Either hold up or down on the stick will make the SMART system do something different - we saw the developer make is way by sliding under the security gate and by climbing over it.  It's sort of like Mirror's Edge with some auto platforming elements.  It makes for some really slick moves while in battle.  In certain battles the developer was jumping between shipping crates, diving and sliding for cover, and just generally kicking ass using this system.

After this brief demo it was onto the character customization screen.  Players can choose body type, head, hair, race, clothes, etc to make their character their own.  Clothing, tattoos and other material are unlocked by earning experience, making you appear more badass as you become more badass.  The really unique thing that Brink offers is that your character customization effects your gameplay - choose a big body type and you can absorb damage at a movement penalty.  Pick a skinny guy and you can run faster and jump farther.  All of these customization looks really slick in the game's sort of comic book style meets Gears of War graphics.

Once onto the mission, the demo showed how different player classes are available.  Each class has specific moves and items it can use.  An engineer can repair a crane or place a turret.  A medic can heal, and an operative can sneak and use stealth.  It was unclear how many classes there were - perhaps around eight - and all of these classes can be changed on the fly at different terminals.  Why would you want to change a class?  The game's mission system allows players to choose at any time what they'd like to do for various levels of experience.  The harder the mission, the more experience.  If the mission you want to choose isn't right for your class - perhaps repairing an object, it's simple to switch on the fly.  Of course when playing with 7 of your friends you'll most likely have someone filling the shoes of said role.

Brink will support full drop in and drop out 8 player co-op online.  Team members will be able to work together on missions, give out missions to push the objective along, and earn experience to their persistent character which they can take back offline to their own game.  

Everything we saw from the demo was really impressive, especially considering the game isn't due for release until sometime next year.  Brink looks to be one of those standout co-op titles that came out of no where.  



 Tags: playstation 3 xbox 360 8 player co-op pc pax 2009 brink


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30 Total Reader Comments

TheReaperCooL at 10:33 AM on 9.4.2009
Looking forward to this, this game looks similar to Borderlands and Rage (at least to me ).
 
smurphster at 10:37 AM on 9.4.2009
this sounds really cool but they seem to be trying to accomplish too much. if they succeed, it sounds like it will be really cool, if not, there are going to be goofy annoyances that will take away from the game.

i'm not so sure if i like that you can switch classes on the fly. i've always hated RPGs that you can respec for free. i like being able to respec to an extent but it just seems kind of cheap. it takes away from the character development since i'm building my character up yet i can completely change my character at any time.
 
kersplat12785 at 10:41 AM on 9.4.2009
'Bout time they released some info...
 
txshurricane at 10:49 AM on 9.4.2009
This was a really good demo. Other than weak enemy AI, I saw a LOT that I liked.
 
BigBadBob113 at 11:17 AM on 9.4.2009
This sounds awesome. The PS3 needs more online campaign co-op games.
 
Psyclops at 11:58 AM on 9.4.2009
wow, that sounds pretty awesome. Definately adding it to me "keep an eue on" list. But I didn't catch, does it have split-screen?
 
smurphster at 12:06 PM on 9.4.2009

i don't think they've said for sure yet. i think they said they're going to try to include it but no promises. i'm keeping my fingers crossed
 
txshurricane at 12:11 PM on 9.4.2009
By the way: this is an exclusive photo. They said we couldn't take pictures. Not sure how we got this one.
 
bapenguin at 02:35 PM on 9.4.2009
I'm sneaky.
 
Mrxknown_JG at 02:52 PM on 9.4.2009
Great was wondering about this game. 8-player co-op? Hate to jinx it but could this take GRAW2 down as my favorite co-op game?

Teams of 4 people mmmmmmm!!

Also, what does "respec" mean? I'm guessing it has something to do with changing skillset or something.

Another thing, they said before that missions are tailored based on current classes, correct? And that once a co-op buddy joined the mission objectives could change to take advantage of the new class addition.

Is that still the same? Cause it seems like they just create the missions and force you to change your style of play...
 
smurphster at 02:58 PM on 9.4.2009

the process of reassigning skill/attribute points to have a different skillset. example: lower your strength to raise your magic
 
Nuhru at 07:24 PM on 9.4.2009
That SMART sounds kinda weird. Hopefully they will make it useful too.
 
Etanos at 04:17 AM on 9.8.2009
I'm really curious about these "dynamic" missions. Does the mission actually change on-the-fly depending on whether you succeed or fail an objective? Can you completely fail a mission and then not have to redo it, but be able to continue the campaign even though your side is starting to lose a little more?
 
bigtex at 05:10 AM on 9.8.2009
This is hands down my favorite PAX info. 8 player coop is kick butt!
 
.Dylan at 07:08 AM on 9.8.2009
Splash Damage sounds familiar but I can't quite place it. What have they done?
 
.Dylan at 07:08 AM on 9.8.2009
Splash Damage sounds familiar but I can't quite place it. What have they done?
 
mattism at 08:03 AM on 9.8.2009
I will give the demo a try one this. 8 player coop is definately a plus.
 
Tasark at 08:25 AM on 9.8.2009
this just made me interested in the game..
 
Torg001 at 10:02 AM on 9.8.2009
More = Merrier.
 
blakepro at 10:27 AM on 9.8.2009
I second the question about split screen...
 
Zonf86 at 12:11 PM on 9.8.2009
I thired the split screen
 
Sh4n34 at 02:26 PM on 9.8.2009
This announcement has reeled me in even more. Lookin' forward to this.
 
mook06 at 03:04 PM on 9.8.2009
this game has potential, split screen pls!
 
QuackTape at 02:48 AM on 9.9.2009
Agree with everyone. Split Screen ftw!
 
roland at 06:29 AM on 9.9.2009
Somehow I doubt it has split screen, seems like these types of games rarely do.
 
morris694 at 08:25 AM on 9.9.2009
yet another game to put on my want list. It looks promising
 
Rogue_hunter at 12:01 PM on 9.9.2009
Class-based, team-based multiplayer definitely has me intrigued. (I think this is that game, all the games have slowly become a blur in the awesome that was PAX)
 
Heretic Machine at 03:25 PM on 9.9.2009
Looks really cool, and I do like the idea of large-group co-op.
 
cave at 01:40 PM on 9.10.2009
Yes it does look cool, I agree with TheReaperCooL in that I will play all 3 Brink, Rage, and Borderlands but a year later I wonder which ones I will have traded and which ones I will have kept, and 8 player co-op seems like a big contributing factor.
 
Biohzrd451 at 02:28 AM on 9.11.2009
8 Player co-op is pure win, no more deciding on who to leave out which I hate.
 


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