Titanfall 2 | Xbox One

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November has been a big month for shooters already, and by now it’s likely you’ve already made your choice which, if any, deserve your money. Whether you have made up your mind about Titanfall 2 already or not, developers Respawn have worked hard to get your attention amid the juggernauts of the genre, and it absolutely deserves it.

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by
James
Michael
Parry

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James_Parry

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Developer:Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Players: 1 - 12

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There’s a single player this time around and its premise is simple: you are rifleman Jack Cooper, captivated by the idea of being a Titan Pilot - those tasked with controlling the lumbering, heavily armed mechs dispatched from orbit (hence Titanfall) - and being put through his first steps of pilot training by experienced pilot Captain Lastimosa.
 
Of course, things don’t quite go to plan, and both you and Cooper are quickly thrown into a baptism of fire on planet Typhon. It’s here Cooper meets BT-7274, the titan he quickly forms a bond with to take on the evil corporation-sounding Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation (IMC) and the band of colourful mercenaries doing their dirty work, led by Blisk.
 
If it all sounds a bit generic, then that’s because - in a way - it is. Think back to the first time you were introduced to the world of Halo, Gears of War or Call of Duty and you’ll begin to see where Titanfall is coming from. Interestingly, you might assume the game feels similar to COD, since Respawn was founded by ex-Infinity Ward employees, but in fact the feel, especially of the campaign, is far more similar to Halo.

The cinematic presentation is nothing new for shooters of course, but the free-flowing nature of the narrative carries you through largely without cut scenes, with only the occasional loading screen to break up the action. It’s the best possible execution of a formula honed over the past 15 years or so, as the modern shooter genre has matured and developed with players.

At the same time, the abundance of multiplayer-only shooters which have risen up in the past couple of years (Blizzard’s Overwatch and Battlefront from sister developers DICE to name two) makes a solid single-player experience feel like a luxury, even a novelty, particularly since the first game had only a collection of multiplayer matches effectively dressed up as a campaign.

The multiplayer is still where the big guns are for many people though, with only two thirds of Titanfall 2’s players completing the campaign on standard difficulty at time of writing, and there’s plenty to get stuck into.
 
Rather than going for a saturation of different modes with only negligible differences, the team have focused on a handful of well thought-through game types, building on what players enjoyed in the first Titanfall. Bounty Hunt sees players having to ‘bank’ money earned from kills at specific points through the map, while Amped Hardpoint feels very similar to the original’s Hardpoint Domination mode.

There an awful lot of games out there at this time of year, but this is a game you’d be a fool for passing up as it is, undoubtedly, a shining example of what a shooter can be.

Feedback from technical tests has been key to tweaking these experiences, something which may have inadvertently put off those who dipped their toe into the game a couple of months ago and felt like they got the genuine experience. Everything which has been changed, including reverting the titanfall timer to count down to your next titan rather than being a purely points-based affair, is designed to make the game more fluid and easier to play.
 
The maps on offer re-enforce this feeling as well, with a good mix of open areas and more vertical sections to keep gameplay feeling balanced. The game hits the mark where it comes to verticality across the board in fact, as there are a number of great traversal sections in the campaign as well which go a long way to making the game feel different, plus the introduction of a slide mechanic which you’ll wonder how you did without in the first place.
 
EA’s decision to release Titanfall 2 so close to both Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (only the former of which it also controls, in fairness), is a shame, as the justification of them being ‘different types of shooter experience’ is weak and will mean that many might miss out on Titanfall 2 until next year, or altogether.

That would be a big mistake to make though, as the game, despite being a sequel, feels like the definitive first-person shooter experience with all the elements you could want. Not to mention plans to add all future modes and maps as free DLC, making it a title with good long-term value despite the fast-paced nature of the game itself.
 
With nine different, customisable loadouts on offer for titans, a slew of options for pilots including a grappling hook and other nifty new gadgets, there’s tons of depth to get into from a gameplay perspective, and the style of the game allows it to sidestep multiplayer issues such as a lack of teamwork or an excess of snipers you can come across in titles like Battlefield 1. Not to mention a campaign that has moments which reach and even surpass the highlights of Halo, including a surprisingly compelling relationship between man and machine.
 
There an awful lot of games out there at this time of year, but this is a game you’d be a fool for passing up as it is, undoubtedly, a shining example of what a shooter can be.

Pros

• Campaign slots in neatly, sets a high standard and doesn’t assume anything from TF1
• Industry-defining, near perfect gameplay
• Bags of content without being overstuffed (and more to come, FREE)

Cons

• Dying at times can feel a bit cheap or unlucky rather than deserved
• Mastering the variety of pilot and titan unlocks will take time
• Doesn’t break the mould as much as it could

Score 10/10

What did you think of the game? Check out our video review and share your thoughts in the comments.