Titanfall 2

Gameplay

Similar to its predecessor, the game is a first-person shooter in which players can control both a pilot and their Titans – mecha-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. These movements can be chained together in order to travel between locations quickly. Matches were designed to be "predictable", so that players can have sufficient time to react to its surroundings. 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. When the player executes an enemy, the perspective automatically shifts to third-person.

When the players gained enough points to summon a Titan, a Titan then descends from the sky. 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: Ion is an Atlas-class Titan that uses a directed-energy arsenal. Scorch is an Ogre-class Titan that uses an area-denial incendiary weaponry. Northstar is a Stryder-class Titan that excels in long range precision attacks, setting traps, and is the only Titan that has the ability to fly. Ronin is a Stryder-class Titan that specializes in close quarters combat, utilizing a shotgun and an enormous sword. Tone is an Atlas-class Titan that focuses on midrange combat with its target locking weapons. Finally, Legion is an Ogre-class Titan that utilizes a minigun designed for defense and controlling combat zones.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. Computer-controlled allies and enemies also return in some of the game's multiplayer modes.

Unlike the first iteration, this game has a single-player story campaign. It features a linear story, but levels are similar to open-ended arenas which offer players multiple paths to explore. 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. 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.

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. 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.

Setting

The conflict of the game takes place in "The Frontier", a region of star systems far removed from the "Core Systems" where Earth is located. The Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation (IMC) and the Frontier Militia battle for control of the Frontier; the IMC seeks to exploit the Frontier's rich resources regardless of the consequences for planetary environments and civilian populations, while the Militia fight to expel the IMC and gain independence for the Frontier.

The player assumes control of Jack Cooper, a class three rifleman from the Frontier Militia, who is sent to the alien planet of Typhon and must ally with his former squadmate's Titan named BT-7274 to fight against both local alien creatures and human enemies from the IMC.

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 class three rifleman in the Militia, aspires to one day become a Titan Pilot for the Militia, and is receiving off-the-books training from Captain Tai Lastimosa in preparation for Cooper's candidacy. The two are part of a Militia force which attacks the IMC-held planet of Typhon. In the initial battle, the Apex Predators, led by Blisk, mortally wound Lastimosa and incapacitate his Vanguard-class Titan, BT-7274. Lastimosa transfers control of BT to Cooper, and BT explains that Cooper has also inherited Lastimosa's mission, Special Operation 217: to rendezvous with Major Anderson and assist in the completion of their original assignment. They work their way across the planet, rescuing stranded Marauder Corps pilots, fighting IMC reinforcements, and ultimately a battle to the death with mercenary Kane.

Anderson's last known position is at an IMC laboratory. BT and Cooper are forced to take a detour through a manufacturing plant where they are ambushed and separated. Cooper fights through the factory alone until he is reunited with BT, and they defeat the mercenary Ash. BT and Cooper continue on to the IMC laboratory only to find it destroyed, and the corpses there artificially aged due to time-travel distortion. Anderson is present, though also deceased from a time-travel mishap. Cooper learns Anderson was gathering intelligence on a new IMC device, the 'Fold Weapon', which utilizes time-displacement technology to destroy entire planets. The planet Harmony, home to several million civilians as well as Militia headquarters, will be the first target. The weapon's effectiveness is demonstrated by the lab, which was destroyed by a scaled-down prototype version. Fortunately for the Militia, the Fold Weapon is dependent upon a power source known as the Ark. Cooper and BT hijack an IMC communications array, defeat the mercenary Richter, and broadcast a signal out to the Militia fleet. The transmission contained sensor data on the Ark's electromagnetic signature so that the Militia could find and seize it.

After alerting the Militia fleet and mobilizing the troops on the ground, Marauder Corps SRS Cmdr. Sarah Briggs leads an assault against the IMC-held installation where the Ark is being kept. Arriving too late to prevent it from being loaded onto an IMC transport, the Militia give chase in hijacked IMC ships. Cooper and BT successfully get aboard the transport and seize the Ark after a brutal fight with the mercenary Viper. BT becomes incapacitated from damage and they are captured by Blisk and his second-in-command, Slone. BT surrenders the Ark to save Cooper, but is destroyed by Slone for his efforts. He provides Cooper with a survival kit and his data core. Cooper escapes captivity, and "revives" BT by installing his data core in an unfurnished Vanguard chassis.

Reunited, Cooper and BT fight their way to the base where the Fold Weapon is being prepped for use against Harmony. They defeat Slone, earning Blisk's respect; the mercenary spares Cooper because the IMC never included killing Cooper in their contract. BT and Cooper then launch themselves into the Fold Weapon's superstructure where the Ark has already been installed. BT hurls Cooper free before sacrificing himself by detonating his reactor core, destroying the Ark and the Fold Weapon. With the help of Briggs and a dropship, Cooper escapes the planet with moments to spare.

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 AI programming was preserved inside Cooper's helmet.

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 and that Electronic Arts would serve again as publisher. The game was in planning as of June, and revealed by Respawn CEO Vince Zampella to be in development as of March 2015. A second team at Respawn was working on an unrelated project. Respawn explored the possibility of a companion science fiction television series. The game was released on October 28, 2016. A collector's edition at release featured a full-scale replica of the game's pilot character helmet as well as other gadgets. 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.

Titanfall 2 uses an improved version of the previous game's engine, which was itself a heavily modified version of the Source engine. Improvements include a new audio system with support for sound occlusion and reverb, as well as numerous improvements to the graphical rendering system. Unlike the first game, it includes a full single-player story mode focusing on the relationship between Titans and pilots. The developers also confirmed that they were going to release most of the post-release maps and modes free of charge in an effort not to fragment the player base.

Reception

Titanfall 2 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Sales

Electronic Arts expects the game to sell approximately 9 to 10 million units in its first year of release. 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.

EA partnered with several catering companies to promote the game. Players who purchased food or drink at any Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant would receive a free customization item and access to a new multiplayer mode. Similarly, players who purchased Pepsi's Mountain Dew or Doritos would be given a code granting them double XP, early access to a new multiplayer mode, a Titan, and Titan customization items.

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 multi-platform release. Digital sales of the game were also down, only reaching a quarter of its predecessor's sales.