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Better Late Than Never Review: Titanfall 2



I have been waiting to talk about this game since I started this blog. Though it came out at the end of 2016 I didn't play it until around New Years 2017 so it seemed approiate to wait until it had been a year.

The sequel to one of the launch titles on the Xbox One most famous for being an online only game. The campaign in the first Titanfall was simply a rotation of certain maps in a certain order. Dialogue that was impossible to follow was spurred out as you were busy fighting in a fast paced and chaotic game.

Hopes were high for the sequel as the game promised a single player campaign. The story of this campaign is nothing to write home about. You go from grunt to pilot, forming a bond with your Titan as you go.  The plot twists a bit and a super weapon is involved but the story is not the big appeal of the campaign.

What the Tianfall 2 campaign does do is have creative, innovative levels. There are multiple sections which introduce a mechanic then push you to test the limits of it to succeed. The stand out example of this is a level when you acquire a time travel device. For that level you can freely swap between the present day ruined, overgrown and killer lizard infested lab to the past when the building was in use and guarded but killer robots. Time, but not space, travel here allows you to switch between times to avoid being overwhelmed by enemies and solve jumping puzzles. It's one of the most creative things I've seen in a shooter ever.

The majority of the game is still the multiplayer. The innovation here is similar to the of the call of duty modern warfare sequels. Everything has been expanded on. Colors, perks, even the executions of pilots or Titans has been expanded. None of this has come at the cost of the multiplayer. The matches still feature well designed levels, AI allies, and spaces for man and Titan to fight. There's a few new modes but it's the original multiplayer that's still the most fun and unique.

There are a few nitpicks. Titans are grouped into classes this time meaning you have less options for customizing your load out than last time. Most things are unlocked by level, but can be purchased earlier. However, the cost and rate you make the credits at is unbelievably slow. This is extra frustrating when trying to unlock any of the randomly awarded "Advocate Gift" unlocks. These are however minor problems.

The good:
-a fun, creative campaign
-the multiplayer is still fast and fun

The bad:
-Titan classes feel strange
-buying upgrades with credits takes a long time.

Titanfall is a game with a lot to offer. It's style is unique but there's several influences from other titles. Rather than feeling like a poor imitation though Titanfall 2 feels like a healthy blend.  It's multiplayer is still fun and fast as in the original. As for the campaign, well it's the closest we may ever actually get to a Half-Life 3.

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