Review: Titanfall 2 | Xbox One

The crazy release date that placed Titanfall 2 squarely between Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty, meant that it got off to a very shaky start. Couple that with the initial announcement of the Nintendo Switch and the release of PSVR, the newswires seemed to be buzzing about everything except Titanfall 2. However, over the following months, the reviews and awards started to mount up as gamers found the time to play the latest outing from Respawn Entertainment. I got it soon after launch and have been playing ever since. Sadly, I seem to be enjoying it too much and didn’t get round to doing a review. So for all those late to the Titanfall party, here’s me review.

The user base of the original game were all on Xbox One due to it being an Xbox exclusive, but second time around Titanfall was going multi-platform and PS4 users were able to enjoy the fast paced action that Titanfall offered. I was a huge fan of the original playing it for many months after release. Like many others, I yearned for a single player campaign that opened up the world beyond the battlefield chatter offered by the original.

Titanfall 2 not only delivered the goods but exceeded my expectations. The all to brief six hour campaign followed the rise of a lowly grunt to the status of pilot. The armies most deadly soldier. Coupled with his new found mech BT 7274, the two form a lasting friendship forged on the battlefield. The wall running mechanic loved in the multiplayer has been put to fantastic use, as the levels are more akin to Mario than call of Duty. The game has wall running sections, platforming levels and puzzle elements that sets it apart from the standard run and gun shooter. The game also introduces time travel elements which add a whole new dimension to navigating the various arenas.

Once inside your mech the game changes once again as action is fast and frantic whether you are battling soldiers, robots, local wildlife or the boss battles at the end of each chapter. BT is ever present and if you are not inside it, then you are chatting on the comm channel. The dialogue choices allow you to build your own style of relationship and the six distinct load outs available in the campaign allow you to play how you like.

Visually, the game is stunning with varying landscapes from lush green forests to cold mechanical interiors, animations are fluid and you can sprint and wall run through each level without getting lost to having to double back. The impeccable sound design creates some atmospheric set pieces whether you are exploring a factory or fighting a top a flying battleship.

The multiplayer side of the game enjoys all the satisfaction of the first game but with a clear focus on customisation. The burn cards from the original game have been dropped and now players can choose different a multitude of guns that are all customisable. Abilities such as grapples, invisibility, radars and holograms allow players to battle it out however they see fit.

The eight game modes from attrition to bounty hunter mean players can play as a lone wolf, a squad or a tactical strategist. XP is earned in each match and counts towards your player and your gear encouraging you to switch out your weapons in order to improve them all. For those looking to settle scores with individuals, the Coliseum lets players fight 1v1 in a huge open arena to the death.

Overall, Titanfall 2 is a stunning game that is so much fun to play. The new single player campaign mode opens up the Titanfall universe and introduces new gameplay elements that sets it above the standard fare of first person shooters. Sadly, the six hour solo mode will leave you wanting more simply because it is so well put together. The multiplayer is better than the original, with so much more choice and customisation options. The range of character styles, mech types and weapons mean there is an array of soldiers on the battle field meaning every match is different and fresh.

I knew I would enjoy Titanfall 2, but expected much of the same. However, I was really surprised with the platforming action, the additional puzzle elements and the enjoyable story. The updates to the multiplayer enhance the game further and guarantee it a place on my hard drive for many months to come.