Futuristic first-person-shooter “Titanfall 2” released last Friday and you probably haven’t heard anything about it because, unfortunately, this unique shooter released one week after the newest Battlefield game (“Battlefield One”) and one week before the newest “Call of Duty” game (“Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare”). Trapped between these juggernaut franchises, “Titanfall 2” may become one of those games that gets lost in the mayhem of the fall video game season. But while “Battlefield One” may provide amazingly cinematic World War I warfare and “Call of Duty” is, well, “Call of Duty,” neither game allows you to pilot a twenty-foot sword-wielding mech named Ronin.
“Titanfall 2” is the second game from Respawn Entertainment, a company whose founders were the talent behind the shooter legend “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.” But, while “Call of Duty” has mostly stuck to the same gameplay as the original “Modern Warfare,” “Titanfall 2” has evolved past the simple aim and shoot to the point where just moving around feels fun.
“Titanfall 2” provides players with two distinct gameplay experiences. You can play as a highly maneuverable pilot, equipped with a thrust suit that allows the player to slide, wall run and double jump through a fight. If you get sick of that, you can call down one of six unique titans, giant robotic killing machines that feel amazing to control and even more amazing to defeat on the battlefield.
While these same mechanics were all first introduced in the original “Titanfall,” its sequel both tightens the dual pilot/titan gameplay mix and adds new variations to keep things fresh. Pilots now have access to many more primary and secondary weapons, as well as cool new equipment like the grappling hook.
Meanwhile, the titan system has seen a major overhaul. Titans are now much easier to kill due to a lack of recharging shields in favor of a set amount of armor. This forces a player playing as a titan to act far more cautiously and strategically when entering combat situations. This weakness in health is balanced with an increase in attack power. “Titanfall 2” comes with six unique titans to play around with, each with unique weapons and abilities that, when used effectively, pack the punch a player should expect.
Titanfall 2’s frantic, fast-paced gameplay and unique movement may seem overwhelming to players, but fortunately the “Titanfall 2” campaign acts as a great teaching tool for new players. The single-player campaign, something “Titanfall” infamously lacked, provides a training mission and gradually introduces each titan classes’ abilities, teaching players how to walk before they can run.
The campaign of “Titanfall 2” does have some problems, especially with its main character. Jack Cooper, the protagonist, is as generic as his name sounds. He is a slightly sarcastic military tough guy, lacking almost any character despite having multiple player-chosen dialogue options.
His titan companion, BT, is far more entertaining. BT, and his habit of constantly misunderstanding human dialogue, comes across as a charming character even though his actions are pretty predictable.
This is coupled with a muddled narrative, which plays fast and loose with its science fiction and is hard to get emotionally invested in. All of these problems are made up for by the campaign’s fantastic level design. “Titanfall 2” takes its protagonists through several masterfully designed action set pieces. From a hazardous assembly line to the bow of a spaceship in mid-battle, “Titanfall 2” does not mess around when it comes to placing the player in amazing and unpredictable environments. Particularly, the game’s fifth level, “Effect and Cause,” might be the most creative level in a shooter this generation.
“Titanfall 2” is not perfect, but if the first game interested you at all, know that the second is an improvement in every way. The game is made for gamers tired of the same old shooter. Unapologetically different, “Titanfall 2” should not be missed.
