It’s the game we have all been waiting for. Well those of us who have Xbox One that is as the Xbox 360 version was delayed a tad. I was lucky to get my hands on a copy courtesy of Xbox. So was it worth the wait? I’d say so. Now I’m not the biggest FPS fan. Call of Duty passes me by without ever having a prestige to my name. Gears is well Gears and Halo last for 2 weeks then I’m done. So is this game going to keep us hooked?
Set in a galaxy far far away. You heard that one before; it’s a battle between the Corporation (IMC) and the Militia. Both are fighting for the people as they look to eliminate each other using either pilots or Titans.
When they told us that there would be no single player mode I was disappointed. So much could have been made of that and you’ll find yourself saying that when you play the game. In fact the only single player side of the game is the tutorial which is where we start.
The tutorial is quite lengthy which each section each giving you an insight on how to use your pilot and your titan. To be fair if you ever played any type of FPS before then it’s a pure waste of time. Maybe they are trying to reach out to a wider audience when putting this in for me though its not needed. The game modes are separated into two areas. Campaign and Classic Mode. The campaign mode throws you straight into the action. You battle your way through nine multiplayer matches as both the IMC and the Milita. It’s a great twist on the usual single player campaigns and its does a great job with giving two different views of the battle. Its start you off with a cut scene and then drop you into what is essentially multiplayer action. I enjoyed the way they have done this. Some critics have panned it but for me it was a chance to vary the game modes a little without having to jump in and out of multiplayer matches.
Once you are in the game then it’s no holding back. If you have been searching for a shooter along the links of Quake or Counter Strike then this is you for you. Unlimited action as you jump and jet pack around the each map. The way you can scale buildings is an added dimension which only improves the game play. It literally gives you no place to hide as well as giving you a vantage point from every corner possible. To me the Pilot mode could hold its own even without the Titans but when the Titans are thrown into the mix that’s where it gets chaotic and with the beauty that Titans don’t last very long. Well not for me anyway. My thought was that these huge mechanical machines will dominate every game but it’s far from that.
As with most FPS game these days you get to set up your equipment beforehand. This also includes the Titans. The more XP you gain during the game the more you level up and unlock. As I said before, I have always struggled with FPS games but I found myself on level 24 before I knew it thus giving me more of an incentive to level up. You have 5 custom set ups for both your Pilot and Titan giving you plenty of scope to set up for each game mode the game offers. You also have Burn Cards. These are upgrades to your current equipment. As you play the game you earn burn cards. These can be applied (3 per game) to have a greater impact on your weapons or various other aspects such as where you respawn or increasing your cloak ability. Overall thought on the Campaign Mode is that it’s a letdown if you are a single player gamer however if you love your multiplayer then it’s a huge bonus.
Classic Mode is where all the actual multiplayer games are. You have a choice of Attrition (team deathmatch), Last Titan Standing (keep your Titan alive the longest), Hardpoint (capture the locations and hold them for the longest), Capture the Flag (what it says on the tin), Pilot Hunter (Only Pilot kills will do) and a Variety Pack which is a mixture of all modes. The unique twist at the end of each several of the modes is the epilogue. If you are on the winning team then you must try and stop the losing team escaping via a drop ship. You are given a certain length of time to either destroy the ship (if you are the winning team) or escape on the ship if you are on the losing team. It’s a huge rush at the end of each match to either survive or finish them off.
The whole game can be described as one huge rush. It instantly gripped me and has me wanting more. The Titans add an epic feel to a great game. You find yourself constantly checking when your Titan will become available. Once he is you drop it into the action and jump in to cause even more havoc on a larger scale. Even additions such as the grunts keep those who are not great with FPS in the game. It can sometimes be difficult facing 8 human players but having these dotted around the map can make you feel involved and get you some points on the board.
You may feel that the game lacks quantity and reading this may confirm that but make no mistake the quality in the game is there. The maps are superb and compliment the game. Anyone who tried the beta would say we had two good maps to try. Respawn have added another 13 to up the ante on this game. In fact the maps complement the game style perfectly.
Titanfall is a fantastic game and although it may lack a little depth in terms of content it more than makes up for it with game play. If you are a fan of shooters then it’s a definite purchase. It’s the most enjoyable game I have played for a long time and hope it’s the start of a great franchise. The possibilities on this game could be endless and add to that a season pass for the game which can be purchased on the Xbox Marketplace for £19.99. This will give you three new content packs which include maps and weapons. A must purchase in my book.
