We’ve seen mechs, parkour, and jetpacks in a variety of games. None of them, however, blended these components as successfully as Respawn’s initial release. Titanfall is simply an abundance of fun.
The developers have demonstrated their ability to create internet shooters. The fundamental elements have been polished and flawlessly balanced. It has a fluid mobility mechanism, beautiful map designs, a quick tempo, and the titular titans. Each of these game pillars benefits and improves as a result of the presence of the others. To avoid being shocked and to live as long as possible, you should abandon habits from previous games while embarking on your Titanfall adventure. You can’t stay on the ground for long, so keep your eyes peeled. The gameplay is vertical – we frequently shift locations, one moment on the roof, the next on the floor of another building. Nowhere is safe from the adversary, who might come from any direction. This awareness propels us onward, forcing us to keep moving. This, of course, has an impact on the dynamics of the conflicts. Enemy pilots – the troops we control in Titanfall – are frequently faced while we are in a hurry. The outcome of the fight is determined by your poise, dexterity, and reflexes. Even when moving fast over the map, we must never lose alertness; we must always be prepared for an exchange of fire. In addition to firing at players, we also target artificial intelligence-controlled forces. Their presence on the battlefield indicates that there is always something going on – we see them aiding the injured, defending locations, or attacking. They are simple to kill, giving the impression that the pilots are truly elite units. Eliminating bots is vital since it influences our score or lessens the amount of time we have to wait for a titan. Only in the Pilot Hunter mode, when attacking AI walkers is not rewarded, do we have to worry about them.
Titans, remarkably nimble mechs, are an important aspect of the action. We feel immense power in our hands when we sit at the controls of such a machine, but we must learn how to operate it.
Contrary to looks, if the piloting player is negligent and does not employ terrain coverings, the titan may be easily destroyed. Controlling abilities and special attacks during duels with opposing mechs is critical; they must be employed at the appropriate times to avoid wasting opportunities and time waiting for the next round of rockets or charging the shield’s charge. We can easily kill the pilot if he stays out in the open or runs nearby while we control a Titan. Skilled troops, on the other hand, may rapidly flee to buildings and shoot at us from a variety of places. The so-called rodeo approach is a popular one, in which anybody may hop on the opposing Titan and shoot at its vulnerable area. In such a circumstance, the best defense is to utilize an electric smoke screen or to climb out of a walking tank and deal with the attackers. Three titan kinds were presented by the creators. This is the Atlas, the heavy Ogre, and the quick Hunter. Every machine may be outfitted with one of four guns, an extra attack, and a defense skill. There are also perks that grant different benefits, such as automated catapulting of the pilot. Titanfall relies heavily on an excellent character movement system. Whether we sprint, climb a roof, bounce across buildings, or glide along walls, movement feels extraordinarily fluid and natural. The ability to sprint on walls, as well as the availability of a jet-pack that allows you to do a double leap, implies that our actions are nearly limitless. Buildings, walls, and containers are not impediments; they are simply more pieces of the playground. Successful stunts are as entertaining as defeating foes. The excellent response to this component of the game is primarily due to the game’s pleasant and easy controls. We always have complete control of the character, and the pilot always reacts properly to directions. Once we’ve mastered the fundamentals, even extended, combined series of leaps and running on vertical surfaces are no trouble. The map designers performed an outstanding job. The basic edition includes sixteen places, each of which seems like it was designed from the ground up with parkour running, leaping, and the presence of titans in mind. There is always something to hide behind or divert from. Titanfall teaches us that strong maps do not disrupt the game’s flow and tempo, but rather enhance them. Unfortunately, we cannot select a certain place while joining the game; instead, we are subject to regular rotation.
The shooting model is effectively implemented, resembling that of Modern Warfare 2 – which is not unexpected given that the creators previously worked at Infinity Ward on the Call of Duty series. Aiming is not difficult, and there is just a tiny recoil, however it would be good if the rifle had a bit more kick. The most significant aspect is that leading your opponents is just enjoyable. We have 10 different types of main weapons, four anti-titan launchers, and three pistols. Grenades and explosives are also among the pilot’s weaponry. Collectors and fans of a vast arsenal may be disappointed by the statistics. Unfortunately, only one sort of shotgun was prepared. Titanfall, as befits a modern shooter, has a plethora of challenges and achievements – notifications about doing something unique show practically continuously on the screen. We acquire experience levels and unlock guns, gadgets, and attachments while playing, however there are only one or two for each firearm. We also receive one-time usage cards. We always have many, but we can only equip three before each game. We can activate one at a time before respawning. These things boost our character by granting access to a somewhat stronger version of a weapon, increasing sprint speed, or improving titan operation. Importantly, the influence of such a card vanishes when we die.
When it comes to technical aspects, Respawn’s production is nothing out of the ordinary. The network code, at least in the tested PC version, works smoothly, and there is no latency during games. Titanfall’s graphic style differs significantly from the most gorgeous titles released in recent months; yet, it is not an awful game. Character models, titans, and animations are of great quality, and the skyboxes dynamic backdrops of the places catch the eye. We only play in five modes, two of which are nearly similar – Attrition and Pilot Hunter are both about killing adversaries, albeit the former also rewards you for eliminating bots. There is also a game of capture the flag, capturing points, and conflicts in which everyone starts with a mech and just one life. By today’s standards, this cannot be considered much. There was at least one more elaborate and distinguishing mode missing. The online campaign was a failure and boredom – it’s basically a dozen or so battles with scenes inserted at the start and phrases from NPCs that we hear during the battle. In this situation, the competition is nearly identical to regular multiplayer matches. It’s a shame the developers didn’t explore a more creative approach. We didn’t even receive any unique game modes. The creators at Respawn squandered the promise of a multiplayer campaign, which could not exist in the game in the form they envisioned. The only purpose to play is to get access to the power to change two types of titans.
Titanfall, despite its shortcomings, remains one of the most entertaining online shooters in recent years. It’s simple to understand, but not easy. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it does add some new elements. It is addicting and delivers many hours of entertainment. It provides a unique blend of gaming components that cannot be found elsewhere.