“Titanfall 2” vastly improves on the award-winning formula of the original game while simultaneously enhancing the experience to create the fully fledged game the first “Titanfall” should have been.
“Titanfall 2” is a first-person shooter set in the distant future where human factions are battling each other over control of “The Frontier,” a vast sector in space filled with various habitable planets. In the campaign, the player takes control of Rifleman Jack Cooper, a Militia Pilot-in-training looking to take control of his own “Titan.” Titans are the titular gigantic robots that “Pilots” control and use during armed conflicts. Pilots and Titans are considered the epitome of the armed forces, as they are known for their skill on their own as well as their prowess when working together.
As a Pilot, the player has the ability to maneuver acrobatically across the battlefield. Players can use “jump-kits” to jump multiple times, and can slide and wall run smoothly to create multiple avenues of attack. Pilots are also equipped with different special abilities and equipment, such as the grappling hook or cloaking device, as well as a variety of weapons for all situations.
The Titans in “Titanfall 2” have expanded to become much more dynamic and customizable for certain playstyles as well as adapting to different circumstances in combat. Instead of the typical light, medium or heavy types of Titans, there are now six different types of Titans that each have their own unique abilities and equipment. This adds to the variety of “Titanfall 2” and balances the experience so that no two moments are unfair or the same, especially in the campaign.
The campaign, a notable feature missing from the original “Titanfall,” succeeds in being a grandiose, adrenaline-fueled affair in a relatively believable world. As Cooper begins his role as a new Pilot, he has to battle the “IMC,” a totalitarian corporation bent on securing The Frontier for themselves to harvest materials to help fuel their war against the Militia. The campaign’s mission structure is varied, ranging from high-octane firefights to cooperative platforming between Pilot and Titan. The world-building is a compelling premise, but like the multiplayer, the action and gameplay mechanics take precedent.
The campaign is a dynamic affair because of the customization possible in both Pilot and Titan gameplay. The single-player serves as a solid starting point to begin the game because it gives the player the opportunity to become familiar with the guns’ abilities and new mechanics in “Titanfall 2” for both avenues of play. The player gets to swap between all the collectable Titan equipment sets on the fly, to help and adapt to circumstances on the battlefield. Similarly, the Pilot can also swap weapons, equipment and special abilities to help adapt to certain situations as they arise.
The multiplayer in “Titanfall 2” is a slightly similar experience to its predecessor, but is improved in a lot of ways. The multiplayer maps are larger, more expansive areas compared to the tightened spaces of the previous game. This prevents a lot of the constant destruction being confined to one area and makes the firefights more expansive. Titans no longer have regenerating shields in multiplayer, which helps balance the experience so that Titans aren’t unstoppable. Among many other minor tweaks to the balance and progression, the multiplayer in “Titanfall 2” feels similar, but is much better than the original.
The series is known for its interesting David and Goliath style duality of Pilots and Titans battling each other. “Titanfall 2” builds upon this idea and further enhances it into a highly customizable and enjoyable experience for the player in both the single-player campaign as well as the multiplayer.