Prepare for Titanfall pilot. It was one of the most exhilarating phrases from the first game and it still holds true in Respawn Entertainment’s sequel. Titanfall 2 is one of the best shooters I have ever played and includes an exhilarating single-player campaign alongside a nearly perfect multiplayer experience.
The campaign centers around militia rifleman Jack Cooper and Titan BT-7274. The two become paired through a series of unfortunate events and form an inseparable bond over the course of the campaign. You begin the campaign by assaulting the IMC-controlled planet Typhon. Things quickly go downhill and you must uphold the mission parameters. Each level is incredibly varied and introduces new weapons and gameplay situations as you progress, meaning no two levels are the same. This alone makes the campaign a must play. In addition to this, the presentation style and humorous banter make it even more appealing. One mission in specific dropped my jaw to the floor. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just leave it at that.
Wallrunning and mobility play a huge role in the campaign. Since they were core pillars of the original game, they made them the center focus of the gameplay once again. The movement system is flawless and rewards those who take advantage of it. You can tackle enemy encounters any way you see fit, but I love to activate the cloaking ability and run behind the enemy. After doing this, I’ll partake in some awesome wallrunning moves while completely decimating the enemy forces. There is nothing more rewarding that taking out a whole room of enemies while wall running and not taking a single shot.
The campaign took me about 7 hours to complete and I played on ‘Hard’ difficulty. There is one more difficultly level above it and I plan on replaying the campaign as soon as I can! Collectibles are hidden throughout the levels and while some are easy to find and collect, others require more thought and determination to find and reach. Overall, Titanfall 2 has one of the most fun and memorable FPS campaigns of the past few year and I can’t recommend it enough.
With the first title being multiplayer only, it provided a strong foundation to build a sequel from. Tons of new maps and modes are included. The launch modes include:
• Amped Hardpoint: A new take on the traditional hardpoint mode. You must ‘amp’ hardpoints to earn double points. By doing this, it makes them harder for the enemy to take from you!
• Bounty Hunt: AI-controlled units have bounties placed on them and each unit has a different price associated with them. After each round, you must deposit your bonus while also avoiding the enemy team. If you are killed before depositing your bonus, you lose half of it.
• Attrition: The classic Titanfall mode is back! You earn points for killing anything and everything that moves. This is the best place for newcomers to the series to begin with and is my personal favorite.
• Last Titan Standing: In this mode, everyone starts out as a titan. The first team to eliminate all the enemy titans wins the round. The first to win 3 rounds wins the game!
• Pilots vs. Pilots: This is a more traditional take on team deathmatch. There are no AI units or titans and you earn one point for every enemy pilot killed. The first to reach the score limit wins.
• Skirmish: This mode is very similar to Pilots vs. Pilots but varies in one big way. Titans are included in this mode.
• Capture the Flag: This is the traditional game mode that is included in every shooter. Capture the enemy flag and return it to your base to score. The first to reach the score limit wins.
• Free for All: The title of this mode says it all. Shoot and kill everything that moves.
• Coliseum: This mode is 1v1 and takes place in a circular arena. The first pilot to two kills wins.
In my time with the multiplayer I haven’t had any issues finding a match. It usually only takes around 30 seconds from the time I select a mode till I’m about to drop into battle. I have had such a fun time playing online and I see this game becoming one of my daily go-to games. It’s that good.
You level up by earning merits. You get a merit every time you level up your weapon, titan, or abilities. You also earn them simply by playing the game. It is much different than a traditional leveling system, but I like it because it focuses on playing and having fun. Another guaranteed way to earn merits is by joining a network. You are automatically put in the Advocate network, but you can browse all the networks created and choose one to join! Networks are the best way to meet players with similar interests and play styles. During your network’s happy hour, you receive 5 merits just for playing.
Another awesome aspect of the multiplayer is that all post-launch content will be free. Yes, you read that right, FREE! If the content and support is anything like what the original game received, we are in for a treat. Another great thing about the game is that there are no microtransactions. Unfortunately, they’ve sneaked their way into full priced games, and thankfully Respawn kept them away from Titanfall 2.
There is only one glaring omission from the game. The ability to view your stats is not available at this time. Respawn has stated that the feature is coming sometime soon, but don’t worry, your stats are still tracking. While this is a little bothersome, it is a breath of fresh air. I’m no longer stressing over my stats and K/D, but rather having fun and not worrying about it.
Summary
Titanfall 2 is an incredible and exhilarating title that you must play for yourself. With an extremely fun and diverse single-player offering this time around, Respawn Entertainment has knocked it out of the park. Pair it with the satisfying multiplayer and you have a nearly perfect game on your hands.
Jonathan was a regular ICXM contributor between 2015–2017, publishing 57 articles across opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative. They post on X as @jtainsworth13.