Games of the generation
As we approach the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, TechRadar looks back at the games that made this generation great. This week’s entry? Titanfall 2.
Some games are too good for this world. Sometimes there is a game that awaits every box you can hope for, that stays in its genre, that offers replayability, excitement, invention and bombast, and it just passes you by.
In a world where we curse to see anti-Apple brands appear in Fortnite, and happily endure gazillion gigabyte updates in Call of Duty: Warzone, we do not deserve Titanfall 2.
Titanfall 2 is the Wendys to fast food’s McDonalds, your local coffee shop to the Starbucks juggernaut – you know they’re better, but you can not convince the hordes to go anywhere else. But that’s OK – you can have your million Battle Royale clones, I only need one Titanfall 2.
Multi-mecha monster
Here’s a checklist of everything Titanfall 2 does well:
- You get to fight inside and outside a load of giant mechs
- You get to fight inside and outside a load of giant mechs in multiplayer
- You can turn wall
- You can grab a cage to a building, then turn wall, then jump into your giant mech
- Your giant mech falls from the sky as they summon
- You get a really great single player campaign to play through
- Did I mention you got gigantic mechs?
The original Titanfall from Respawn Entertainment was a blast, but was held back by initial Xbox One console exclusivity and the opinion at the time (long since overcome by the free-to-play masses) that you only get half a game if you do not get a single player story. Titanfall 1 was multiplayer only.
So when Titanfall 2 comes up with the still-in-tact and also greatly improved mech-on-mech, pilot-vs-pilot multiplayer action on tow, AND a single-player campaign that not only fights ball-smacking had, spinning crazy time puzzles and giant robot boss fights, it would have to be a recipe for a mega hit to clear the slate of Battlefields and Call of Dutys and their kind?
Right? Wrong. It was set up against Battlefield 1 (technically complete but creatively stiff) and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (almost completely forgotten). And everyone bought those games instead.
However, the action quality of Titanfall 2 has kept it alive with a small, dedicated hardcore community of players. The mix of vehicle mech combat and acrobatic FPS gameplay remains unique and without a doubt. And, thanks to EA’s recent release of their games on the ever-popular Steam platform, it’s enjoying a new lease of life in PC gamer circles. Somewhat criminal, it is also perennial for sale, and the numbers increase from time to time.
Titanfall 2’s DNA lives on in Apex Legends, Respawn’s taking over the Battle Royale genre, a game that is likely to keep the lights on Respawn, given the so-called sales reaction to its phenomenal Titanfall games. And Apex Legends is thankfully very good, with more nuance and polish than the majority of its battle generous peers.
But Apex Legends success was probably the definitive nail in the coffin of the Titanfall franchise, with no word of a sequel four years after its release.
We do not deserve Titanfall 2, so we certainly do not deserve Titanfall 3. So let’s cherish these servers while they’re still here, huh?
