Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2
Developer(s)	Respawn Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Director(s)	Steve Fukuda
Producer(s)	Drew McCoy
Designer(s)	Todd Alderman Mackey McCandlish
Programmer(s)	Jon Shiring
Artist(s)	Joel Emslie
Writer(s)	Steve Fukuda Manny Hagopian Jesse Stern
Composer(s)	Stephen Barton
Engine	Source
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One
Release date(s)	‹See Tfd› WW: October 28, 2016
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. The sequel to Titanfall (2014), the game was released in October 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The plot focuses on a infantry soldier named Jack Cooper, who aspires to be a pilot of a Titan, which are large mechas used for war.

Titanfall 2 was released to positive reviews. Praise was given to the game's addition to a deeper single-player campaign, multiplayer and gameplay, with many critics agreeing it to be a large improvement over its predecessor.

Gameplay

Similar to its predecessor, the game is a first-person shooter in which players can control both the pilot, and the Titans, mech-style exoskeletons. The pilot has an arsenal of abilities which enhance their efficiency during combat. These abilities include invisibility cloaking and parkouring, such as double-jumping, zip-lining and wall-running with the use of a jump kit.^[1] These movements can be chained together in order to travel between locations quickly.^[2] Matches were described to be "predictable", so that players can have sufficient time to react to its surroundings.^[3][4] The game introduces seven new gameplay mechanics: a sliding mechanic, the pulse blade, which is a throwing knife that reveals the location of any nearby enemy, the holo-pilot, a holographic pilot that mimics players' action to confuse enemies, and a grappling hook, which can be used to slingshot players to a building or an enemy it attaches to. The game also features a progression system similar to the first game, but more weapons and weapon customization are included.^[5] When the player executes an enemy, the perspective automatically shifts to third-person.^[6]

When the players gained enough points to summon a Titan, a Titan then descends from the sky.^[7] Titans are significantly slower than the pilots, but they have stronger firearms and are more powerful. The models from the first game were modified, and six loadout locked titans are introduced. Scorch is an Ogre-class Titan that possesses loadout that is centered around incendiary weaponry. Ion is an Atlas-class Titan that can kill enemies using its directed-energy arsenal. Ronin is a Stryder-Class Titan that specializes in close quarters combat and can wield a enormous sword. Legion is an Ogre-class Titan that utilizes an assortment of ballistics designed for defense and controlling combat zones. Tone is an Atlas-class Titan that focuses mainly on its lock-on weapons. Finally, Northstar is a Stryder-Class Titan that excels in precision attacks, setting traps and is the only Titan that has the ability to fly. The customization options featured are compared to the Street Fighter franchise, in which the Titans abilities have little modifications while its appearances can be extensively customized. Artificial intelligence allies and enemies also return in some of the game's multiplayer modes.^[5]

Unlike the first iteration, this game has a single-player story campaign.^[8] It features a linear story, but levels are similar to open-ended arenas which offer players multiple paths to explore.^[9] Players are allowed to use multiple ways to complete objectives, such as utilizing stealth, or using the long-ranged or short-ranged weapons provided in the game to assault enemies. In addition, the game features platform elements, which task players to make use of Cooper's parkour abilities to solve environmental puzzles, and access the previously inaccessible areas. Some weapons are level-specific, and can only be used in certain regions, though Mackey McCandlish, the game's designer, confirmed that the game would not have any extensive grinding element, and that it would be similar to the recent reboots of both the Wolfenstein series and the Doom series.^[1][10] Players can also communicate and talk to the Titan during the campaign, a mechanic designed to add personality to the characters and depth to the world.^[4]

In addition, the skill system is improved, and players are rated based on their performance in a multiplayer match, regardless of whether their team wins or loses. Matchmaking is also enhanced, with the game automatically helping players to find a new match after the end of every match.^[11] The game also introduces a new features called "Networks", which allows players to form a group, similar to a guild. The game automatically groups both the player and other members of the network together in a match. Players can join more than one network.^[3]

Setting

The conflict of the game takes place in a system of planets called "The Frontier". It is fought between the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation and the Frontier Militia, who are fighting for control over the system due to the IMC's abusive treatment of the planets' resources and civilian populations.

The player assumes control of Jack Cooper, a rifleman from the Frontier Militia, who is sent to an alien planet and must ally with his former squadmate's Titan named BT-7274 to fight against both local alien creatures and human enemies from Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation.^[4]

Plot

In the wake of the Battle of Demeter, the Militia is on the offensive; battling for resources and control of the Frontier planets. The IMC, though weakened by the lack of reinforcements from the core systems as a result of the destruction of the refueling facility by James MacAllan, are still a dominant fighting force attempting to drive the Militia out and put down any resistance to their control of the Frontier.

Jack Cooper, a rifleman in the Militia, aspires to one day become a pilot on the front lines of the war against the IMC. Cooper's training is cut short when an attack on the IMC held planet of Typhon is underway. In the initial battle, the Apex Predators, led by Blisk whom are assisting the IMC, mortally wound Cooper's mentor, Captain Lastimosa and incapcitate his Vanguard-class Atlas Titan, BT-7274. As his final action as Captain, Lastimosa transfers authorization of BT to Cooper. After restoring power to the damaged Titan, BT explains Lastimosa's mission Special Operation 217: to rendezvous with Major Anderson and assist in the completion of their original assignment.

After dispatching Blisk's lieutenants and arriving at Anderson's last known position, Cooper and BT learn that the research lab Major Anderson was investigating, has been destroyed, and Anderson himself is dead. Intel is gathered concerning the lab's horrifying experiment: the IMC has developed a super weapon called a 'Fold Weapon', that utilizes time-displacement technology; which will be used to destroy all Militia-occupied planets, and that Harmony, home to several million civilians as well as Militia headquarters, will be the first target. They also learn that the displacement technology is dependent upon a power source known as the Ark, and that it was a scaled down prototype version of the weapon that destroyed the lab initially. Cooper and BT resolve to broadcast a signal out to the Militia fleet to initiate a counterattack before the weapon can be mobilized.

After alerting the Militia fleet and mobilizing the troops on the ground, Sarah Briggs leads an assault against the IMC-held installation where the Ark is being kept in order to seize it. Arriving too late to prevent it from being loaded onto the IMS Draconis, the Militia give chase in hijacked IMC ships and Cooper leads a charge against the IMC Supercarrier defending the Draconis en route to deliver the Ark. Cooper and BT successfully get aboard the Draconis to seize the Ark, only to be knocked out when an internal explosion renders them unconscious, and they are captured by Blisk and his second-in-command, Slone. Making an attempt to escape their captivity, BT is mortally wounded by Slone and provides Cooper with his survival kit and CPU core.

Cooper escapes the Draconis to be granted a new unfurnished Vanguard chassis where he is reunited with BT upon reinstalling his CPU core. With an upgraded minigun loadout at their disposal, Cooper and BT lead a final assault on the base where the Fold Weapon is being prepped for use against Harmony. After killing Slone, Cooper and BT attempt to retrieve the Ark only to be knocked out by the blast. Blisk again arrives but reaffirms that he is 'loyal only to a paycheck' by sparing Cooper. He places a card with the Apex Predator symbol on BT's hull, and tells Cooper he's earned it before leaving.

BT's auxiliary power is brought online just as the weapon is getting ready to fire, and as they are unable to cycle the weapon down, BT hurls himself into the Ark core and throws Cooper back towards the surface, before sacrificing himself and detonating his reactor core to destroy the weapon, creating a massive explosion. Cooper escapes the planet with moments to spare as Sarah and Barker pick him up before warping to a safe distance, showing Typhon has been destroyed and the threat of the weapon, finally over. The game ends with a monologue from Cooper, talking about Sarah affirming his status as a pilot and officially inducting him into the Marauder Corps, as well as him reminiscing over his experiences with his fallen friend and partner, and that no new Titan can ever replace him.

In a post-credits scene, the Titan neural link to Cooper's helmet flashes with the message "Jack?" encoded in binary, implying that BT's programming is still active.^[12]

Development

Reports about the sequel to Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall began to circulate within weeks of the game's March 2014 release, particularly that the sequel would not be a Microsoft console exclusive as its predecessor had been^[13][14] and that Electronic Arts would serve again as publisher.^[15] The game was in planning as of June, and revealed by Respawn CEO Vince Zampella to be in development as of March 2015.^[14] A second team at Respawn was working on an unrelated project.^[15] Respawn explored the possibility of a companion science fiction television series.^[16] The game was released on October 28, 2016.^{[17][18][19][20]} A collector's edition at release featured a full-scale replica of the game's pilot character helmet as well as other gadgets.^[21] The first beta, which contained two modes and two maps, began on August 19 and ended on the 21st. It was followed by a second beta, which began on August 26 and ended on August 28.^[22]

Like the first game, Titanfall 2 is using a modified version of the Source game engine, along with a custom audio and texture streaming system created in-house.^[23] Moreover, unlike the first game, it includes a full single-player story mode focusing on the relationship between Titans and Pilots.^[23] The developers also confirmed that they were going to release most of the post-released maps and modes free of charge.^[23] EA also partnered with several catering companies to promote the game. Players who purchase food or drinks at any Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant would receive a free customization item and access to a new multiplayer mode. Similarly, players who purchase Pepsi's Mountain Dew or Doritos would be given a code that gives them double XP, early access to a new multiplayer mode and to the Ronin class titan, and several Titan customization items.^[24]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic (PC) 87/100[25] (PS4) 89/100[26] (XONE) 88/100[27] Review scores Publication Score Destructoid 8.5/10[28] EGM 9/10[29] Game Informer 9.5/10[30] Game Revolution [31] GameSpot 9/10[32] GamesRadar [33] Giant Bomb [34] IGN 9/10[35] PC Gamer (US) 91/100[36] Polygon 7/10[37] VideoGamer.com 9/10[38]

Titanfall 2 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.^[25][26][27]

Sales

Electronic Arts expects the game to sell approximately 9 to 10 million units in its first year of release.^[39] However, financial analysts predicted that the game's sales would be substantially disappointing due to EA's decision of releasing the game in late October, a period between the launch of EA's own Battlefield 1, and Activision's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Despite that, EA expressed no concern about the release window, as they felt that the player base of Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 would not overlap.^[40] The game was the fourth best-selling retail game in the UK in its week of release, behind Battlefield 1, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition, and FIFA 17. Its first-week sales only reached a quarter of the launch-week sales of Titanfall despite Titanfall 2 being a multiplatform release. Digital sales of the game were also down and only reached a quarter of the sales compared to its predecessor. ^[41]

Accolades

References

External links

• Official website