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Titanfall 2: An Entertaining Sequel to PS3 Legend with Familiar Thrills
Title: Titanfall 2
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: October 28, 2016
Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Game
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4
Article Reading Time: 6 minutes
Introduction
The first installment of Titanfall was a gem that blew many people’s minds. The new studio of the spiritual fathers of Call of Duty created a title that achieved a perfect compromise between a traditional shooter and innovative action, which makes the second installment all the more surprising as it lacks this level of imagination. It’s a safe bet that doesn’t offend but doesn’t impress.
A Safe Sequel
In short, it’s a safe sequel. The most significant new features in Titanfall 2 are the single-player campaign and the release of the PlayStation 4 version. The rest are rather cosmetic changes that could easily have been conveyed by an update to the first installment. Thus, the best benefit of the second installment was the expansion of the player base, which did not happen due to the unfortunate choice of release date. The title hit the shelves between Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Battlefield 1. And as they say, pride goes before a fall. As a result, the game sold worse than the first installment released in March 2014, which didn’t even come out in a PlayStation 4 version.
The Single-Player Campaign
Before release, the developers tried to convince the community that the solo game would be more than just a bombastic Call of Duty-style ride. However, the opposite is true, and the result resembles only a slightly more imaginative variation of the previous brand. The action is enlivened by a sophisticated movement system, allowing the developers to alternate between shooting passages and calmer moments that test your acrobatic skills. Titanfall 2, however, tries to set itself apart from the competition. As such, it only sometimes warns players which way the following path leads. While the hint can be activated via the assigned button, you can ignore it if you prefer to discover the progress yourself.
Sci-Fi Setting and Enemy Types
The sci-fi setting suits the game and makes for a more dynamic mix than most modern war action has been able to offer. In fact, the enemy types are more varied. Some have energy shields, others fire projectiles that fly in spirals, and there are exploding robots and melee-only opponents. Due to the imaginative nature of the fights, they are reminiscent of the second episode of Half-Life. A significant part of the story campaign are the titans, i.e. combat robots, which the player can mount and control. You also have one at your disposal, and its majesty is hinted at in scenes where swarms of enemies prefer to run away from it. Yours is called BT, and the story revolves partly around him. So you’re dealing with moments in the middle of the campaign when he disappears, and you have to search for him. Or you repeatedly repair it. It makes the game more varied. Sometimes, you take out opponents like a regular infantryman. Sometimes, they’re rained down by the titan’s volleys of missiles or crushed by his gigantic legs. BT is also a source of humorous moments. His brusque commentary, combined with an uncompromising pilot, leads to some charming dialogue.
Familiar Principles, New Dynamics
The solo part of the play feels like a compilation of tried and tested principles from foreign brands. Few surprises surprise and feel innovative. Most situations, on the other hand, make you feel like you’ve experienced them before. Still, the result works in a way that successfully avoids stereotypes. The game simply has the proper dynamics and momentum. One of the passages, for example, features imaginative games with gravity that obviously reference the film Inception. This is confirmed by the success the game gives you upon completion.
Multiplayer Excellence with Caveats
The multiplayer game is excellent. However, with one major caveat… Titanfall remains primarily a multiplayer experience. In that regard, the second installment delivers an addictive mix of gameplay principles and “one more game” moments. In other words, it’s tremendous fun. Titanfall 2 is thus a fantastic game in its own right, but it offers only minimal innovation over its predecessor. And not all of them are changes for the better. Once again, two teams are battling each other, and the action is made extra special by the presence of the titans. Again, an excellent movement system is present, with which you can run up walls perform double jumps and chain tricks with almost perfect grace. Once again, the primary mode is Hardpoint, where you take three key points and try to reach a pre-set score before the enemy team. New features include a tug-of-war rope, one of the optional extras. It makes moving around the environment even faster and perfectly complements the earlier movement elements.
Weapon Unlocks and Gameplay Tweaks
The weapon unlocking system has also changed. You can access your arsenal by gaining levels and then modify specific pieces after “leveling up” this or that piece. The gradual unlocking of weapons is spot on, thanks to a decent selection, and motivates you to explore the arsenal. However, the need to acquire individual upgrades is annoying and often forces you to play several matches exclusively with just one weapon. The result is usually a miserable score and a losing team. The rodeo, or cowboy jump on the enemy titan, also works differently. In the first game, this was a way of taking him down, but the opponent could leave the titan and shoot you down from the outside. This time, the rodeo is only used to steal a battery that can be used to boost a friendly robot. And as a result, it could be more helpful. The escape to the spaceship, which ends every match for one team, also works differently. In the first game, you had to jump into the transporter precisely, but in Titanfall 2, you only needed to get roughly close. For example, jumping twenty meters underneath to teleport into the craft. The original concept led to more fun action.
Visuals and Technical Observations
Titanfall 2 is a great game, but it only builds on the shoulders of the first installment. And without the slightest ambition to outshine it. The sequel came out a year and a half after the first installment, and it feels a bit rushed, whether due to the lack of significant innovations or the game’s optimization. Furthermore, closely examining the environment reveals some areas that feel stripped down. The sides of the buildings are often made of flat surfaces on which 3D details are merely simulated by graphical trickery. Moreover, many of the materials are reminiscent of the level of games from a few years ago. Titanfall 2’s visuals are inconsistent because of this. At times, it can conjure up impressive scenery. At other times, it looks miserable. In addition, textures are repeated in some rooms in a more reminiscent style of 1999. So, there is no significant graphical shift between the two works. On the other hand, the almost breathtaking character animation deserves to be highlighted. They often give a truly realistic impression.
Conclusion
As a result, Titanfall 2 is a title that can be recommended to two groups of players. The first are the die-hard fans of the first installment, whose player base has thinned out considerably. The other is people who missed the first game for whatever reason. For example, because it didn’t come out for PlayStation 4.
My impressions of the game are a little embarrassing, but I am glad I played it. If I disregarded the existence of the first installment, I was treated to an exceptionally entertaining action game. But after my experience with the previous title, Titanfall 2, apart from the story campaign, feels more like a first game but on asteroids.
Purchase Titanfall 2
- Steam (PC Game): Available for $29.99. You can purchase the game directly from Steam Store
- PlayStation Store (PS4): The game is priced at $19.99 (currently on sale for $4.99. Check it out on the PlayStation Store
- Xbox Store (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S): Available for $19.99 . Purchase it from the Xbox Store
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