Titanfall 2. Titan attack / Overclockers.ua

At one time, the founders of Call of Duty left the ranks of the Infinity Ward studio and returned under the wing of Electronic Arts, where they once launched another famous Medal of Honor series in the past. The new studio Respawn Entertainment once again swung at something outstanding in the shooter genre. Their project, called Titanfall, took on the popular theme of futuristic conflict and focused on the interaction between humans and combat mechs. The project was limited only to the network component with storytelling elements. At the same time, computer bots fit perfectly into the battle of real players, creating a feeling of a large-scale battle. The game came out dynamic and fresh, inheriting some features of Call of Duty, but at the same time giving a completely new gaming experience. Unfortunately, Titanfall didn’t sell well. However, the publisher did not close the project and gave the authors the opportunity to implement the second part with new network features and a full-fledged single-player story campaign.

Titanfall 2 offers us the story of a simple fighter who accidentally falls into the category of military elite and becomes the pilot of a robot titan. Somewhere in space, there is an ongoing battle between the IMC and the rebels. This conflict is outlined with general strokes of the subject brush. The former are expansionist technocrats who are used to conquering everyone, while the latter fight for the right to freely dispose of their planets and resources. The hero of the story is a simple soldier who has just started to pass the first combat test in virtual reality, but is immediately forced to take part in a real battle. As a result of the battle, he loses his partners, and the titan who covered them is left without his pilot.

First, we are looking for energy elements for the full launch of the damaged robot, and then we try on its cabin. The protagonist is trying to find the remnants of the detachment and complete the combat mission, fighting off aggressive animals, robots and enemy soldiers.

Different game situations force the player to act inside the mech or leave the cockpit. For example, penetration into some laboratories is possible only without a massive robot. Or, when a titan is kidnapped at a factory, he has to be beaten off. And the titan itself acts not only as a machine, but also as a living partner with whom we periodically communicate and interact. A successful approach that turns a typical solo shooter into a story about partner fighters helping each other.

First, we clear underground complexes and make our way through the jungle, reaching large industrial complexes and laboratories. The outstanding acrobatic abilities of the hero are actively used, which, with the help of rocket boosters on his back, can perform big jumps and make long runs along the walls. There are no shootouts in tight corridors. The game always gives space and freedom of action. You run from one point of the arena to another and jump between different floors of some buildings, constantly leaving the line of fire and inflicting unexpected blows. They fired back from one position, evaded return fire on the walls and landed, throwing a couple of jaded warriors away with a blow – all as quickly and spectacularly as possible.

Jogging allows you to overcome dangerous areas or abysses. Rush along one surface, jump to another, get a boost, and so on. The combination of tricks allows you to keep up the pace and balance for a long time in the “corridor” between different surfaces. Some locations are a heap of huge industrial structures, where this style of movement is the only one. In a huge factory, you have to move along the conveyor, jumping on movable and rotating blocks, simultaneously clearing areas with security. If you need to climb a huge antenna, you will have to jump between its elements and platforms at a great height. Along the way, you need to change the location of some elements of this antenna and do not forget to fight off enemies.

The narrative gradually picks up pace, making the game more dynamic. Sophisticated architecture and new enemies are just part of it. At some point, a miracle weapon and games with time turn out to be at the epicenter of history. Using a mini-device, we will switch between the line of the past and the present, thus overcoming laboratory corridors and dangerous areas. The door is closed – we jump into the past and open it. Fire in the corridor – we jump into the past, and we run through the safe zone. Well, in order not to relax, in the past and present we are attacked by animals and guards, so each timeline is dangerous in its own way.

The arsenal of firearms in the game is diverse. One shotgun has one shot spread and striking ability, the other has different parameters. One is more accurate, the other is faster. There are many options, and each is interesting, has its own characteristics, is perceived and sounds in its own way. And something new constantly comes across, giving a reason to try out each “gun” in battle.

A special role is played by the battles of the titans. Our robot is not the only one, periodically we have to deal with mercenaries who use similar combat vehicles. Mechs are still agile and not limited in ammo. But it requires recharging energy and weapons, which brings its own characteristics to the style of combat. Therefore, when controlling a titan, you try to quickly deal damage and immediately take cover from return fire or use a shield. If you have to confront several titans, then the task becomes more complicated, you need to take into account more factors and move more actively.

There are real massive battles of mechs and single skirmishes one on one with special enemies. In addition to the titans, the game has introduced medium automated robots that can cause no less problems. A large number of enemies is partly offset by the presence of “first aid kits” for steel fighters.

As the game develops, the level of scope and epicness increases. Spectacular fights and jumps in time are complemented by the battle on huge flying ships with explosions, jumps from one flying vehicle to another and the battle of the titans right on the body of the flying steel giant.

The Call of Duty heritage is felt in the manner of presentation, but the game does not slide into an endless military circus, where the wow effect fades away from the constant flickering on the screen of extraordinary situations and mega-explosions. Titanfall 2 develops consistently and always finds something to surprise – whether it’s a huge factory where an urban area is assembled from blocks, or games with time in a laboratory. And all this is organically integrated into the gameplay, putting the player in new conditions. As a result, each level gives new impressions, and it is interesting to play until the very end.

In terms of online battles, Titanfall 2 has not changed much from the previous game. More game modes, new titans, well-thought-out pumping with a bunch of additional features. New locations have become larger and sometimes more confusing. And at first it is difficult to figure out how to act, where you can jump from one roof to another, and where to complete a series of runs. Players enter the battle without the Titans, hunting each other and shooting down air-dropped reinforcements from robots and bots. The game still skillfully creates a feeling of intense battle, generating skirmishes with computer opponents at different points on the map. As a result, the player is always on the move and is constantly involved in the battle. Even beginners have some chances to score points and feel like a part of the team, and not become just “meat” for experienced fighters. In the final, one of the teams tries to evacuate by transport, while the other tries to prevent this.

There is a new “Marauders” mode, which works approximately according to the same rules, but along the way, teams hand over bonus points to special receivers.

As you gain points, the opportunity to call the titans appears, and the battle enters a new phase. Now the steel colossus is pouring fire all around, using rockets and mines, crushing various trifles underfoot. But the overall balance allows you to resist them with the means of an ordinary fighter. Using wall runs, players become more maneuverable and less vulnerable. Jumping on the back of a titan, you can damage it – the first time you unscrew some kind of plug, and in the second jump you throw a grenade inside. Titans can operate autonomously, controlled by artificial intelligence. This allows you to separate and hunt for nimble enemies who strive to jump on the back of your mech.

Titanfall 2 features six varieties of titans that are unlocked as the player levels up. They differ in maneuverability and firepower, each has its own type of weapons, different rifles, rocket launchers, shields and some kind of traps. This delicate balance allows you to effectively work on any titans, if you use its strengths correctly.

A large selection of weapons and fighter pilots. These are various types of machine guns, shotguns, powerful energy rifles. There are grenades of different types of action and with different damaging abilities. Much is available initially. As the level of ownership of each weapon increases, different upgrades for it open up – new sights, a capacious clip, etc. The pilot also has special abilities. It can use a hook or hang on the wall. You can use an amplifying bonus, call assistant robots, or set up a turret. As the level increases, the set of skills expands, but the restrictions on active skills force you to choose a specific specialization. The game has a challenge system. After completing a certain number of kills with a certain weapon or some tricks, you will receive special bonuses.

In addition to the wide customization of weapons and abilities, the game offers rich opportunities for changing the appearance. Many color options for the pilot suit, titan hull and weapons. Plenty of different patches, backgrounds and other player ID pictures. In this regard, the second part will fully satisfy the needs of those who were upset by the lack of any opportunities for external personalization in the original Titanfall.

In addition to combined online modes, where people and bots work together in a partially orchestrated battle, other battle options are also implemented. There is a titan-only mode where players immediately find themselves inside battle mechs and try to disable the enemy titan team. There are fights only for pilots, without the possibility of summoning a mech – reminiscent of Call of Duty on larger maps, where there is more room for maneuvers. The result is interesting, although there is a lot of running around and the skillful use of the environment for jogging and jumping plays an extremely important role. There are the usual battles for flags and holding control points, the battle of all against all. The unusual mode “Colosseum” offers a one-on-one battle between pilots with stakes. To enter the arena of the Colosseum, the player pays a fee in the form of special points, which are initially spent on unlocking new skills and bonuses.

The game uses a modified Source engine and shows a very good picture. It is felt that in terms of technology the engine is not advanced, but the texture detailing and elaboration of the game world are at their best. Locations with many light sources and glare surfaces look nice.

Good lighting effects are implemented in some places. The effect of depth of field is actively used, there is no excessive blur during sudden movements. At the same time, system requirements are very moderate compared to other shooters of this fall.

Titanfall 2 offers an improved and expanded version of the original game. A full-fledged storyline campaign has appeared with dynamic battles on relatively large maps, where you can heartily run along the walls and fight the titans to your heart’s content. The level of pathos and the scale of events is smaller than Call of Duty or Battlefield 1 offer, but Titanfall 2 is interesting to play due to the gameplay, not the setting. The multiplayer has got new modes, the arsenal of weapons has expanded, there are new titans with a finer balance of combat skills. There are ample opportunities for external customization. The battles take place at a fast pace, the battles of soldiers and mechs perfectly complement each other. However, the feeling of novelty and wow-effect from the multiplayer is gone. If you missed the first part, then we highly recommend that you pay attention to Titanfall 2. This is an excellent futuristic shooter with an original concept, one of the best representatives of the genre along with the new Battlefield and Call of Duty.