11.4.2014

This is a long in-depth review, if you can't be bothered to read it all then skip down to the Verdict towards the bottom.Before I talk about the game itself, it's only fair I talk about my background to playing this game, after which I will get into the meat and veg of the game in the next paragraph. I own both the Xbox One and PC versions of this game as there are some of my friends who to this day refuse to get a gaming console, hence i needed both versions. "So why then did I get this?" you must be thinking. Well truth be told although i bought it I didn't get the Xbox 360 version for myself rather I got it for my younger brother but I have had a good few hours with it and noted a few differences.First off be in no doubt that the PC version is the nicest looking, next is the Xbox One version which believe it or not is actually very impressive and looks gorgeous so don't listen to people saying those versions are rubbish. The Xbox 360 version is slightly uninspiring however. Graphically this version of the game DOES suffer with particularly bad textures and resolutions while everything you see on screen almost has a grey film over it, almost as if they have removed a whole layer of graphical detail. Regarding gameplay, maps and indeed the modes the game is identical to the PC and Xbox One version of the game. I must note that one map in particular that has dinosaurs moving in the background did look flat in this game almost as if they removed some of the background animation. Indeed, you often got random things flying across the maps and I didn't see much of that in this version so they have definitely stripped some of the moving background cinematic out. An interesting feature that the 360 version has is the ability to lock the frame rate at either 30 or allow it to fluctuate, for the sake of the game running at its smoothest I would STRONGLY recommend that you lock game play at 30 frames per second and that can be done through the menu system.So now I've talked about the differences between the 360 version and the PC and Xbox One versions I now want to talk about what Titanfall is.Titanfall is a First Person Shooter and online multiplayer game and has no offline mode or single player functionality whatsoever so keep that in mind before purchase. If you want a very simplistic view then think of it as Call of Duty with Mech's (Titans) which you can enter and directly control or allow them to guard you in automatic mode. There are a few different game modes and 15 maps to begin with. Each match is limited to 12 players so 6v6 and in my honest opinion it works well especially when you have a few Titans on the map as any more and it would become crowded. Don't forget each player can have a Titan at the same time so potentially each map can have 12 players and 12 Titans plus the 12 AI controlled bots on each team.When you call in your Titan to drop at any location you choose, a force field immediately protects it from damage but also so it can't be stolen by another player which believe me is a good thing, without it I can tell you virtually every Titan that is called in would be stolen and part of the fun of giving everyone a chance in them would be lost. There is an automatic 4 minute countdown timer for each player after which you can call in your titan to drop but the timer can be reduced by killing other players and bots. There are three class of Titan; Atlas class which is the multi purpose Titan and the one you can use to begin with, Stryder class which is the fastest moving Titan and able to quickly move out of the line of fire and Ogre class which is an ultra-armoured Titan which is absolutely deadly especially when using the add-ons like the particle shield. Each type has a different "core" upgrade so the atlas can have more damage, and the Ogre can have a beefed up shield. The Stryder has a "dash" core upgrade for increased manoeuvrability.When you're in the Titan you get to see the mini-map and the score at all times so you don't lose out on any info. The Titans weapons are deadly but also include releasing smoke and a vortex blocker which collect and fires bullets back at enemy Titans. The Titan naturally has a health bar and when it gets low you can eject which fires you up into the air and you can choose your landing spot either in safety or if you're lucky on an enemy Titan where you can remove some protective shielding and quickly shred the Titans health. You can also climb onto friendly titans and use them as cover. There are also numerous ziplines across many maps to which you can use to travel quickly from place to place but keep on your toes as enemy pilots may end up using them at the other end!Speaking of "you", you play the part of a "pilot" and every pilot has a mini jetpack on the back which gives you a boost while jumping (you press jump again while jumping to activate the jetpack boost). It makes climbing through high windows and indeed onto roofs quite easy. Not just roofs, you can also walk on walls (temporarily for a few seconds) and then use your jetpack to stay in the air, it makes moving from one building to another easy, it also makes the game more challenging as you never know where enemy pilots are going to come from.The Pilot weapons aren't as extensive as they are in a call of duty or battlefield game but the weapons that are available are varied enough and include standard weapons for shooting other pilots and weapons for taking Titans down while on foot, just like Call of Duty you can create personalized load outs which saves you messing around for each match. There is a Smart Pistol which enables you to lock onto an enemy and the bullets tracks to the target without you specifically aiming. You can also have C4 charges which are increasingly becoming overused in all platforms I have played. You also get things called "burn cards" which you unlock and can preselect up to 3 before each match, during the match you can choose to use one when you spawn the next time and they can be anything from reduce the waiting time for a Titan to more damage from primary weapons, once you die again that burn card terminates. Think of them as a single use perk to give you a boost but don't worry as you unlock plenty as you progress!Among the many modes, there is "Last Titan Standing" where by everyone starts in a Titan and although you can get out of the Titan once it is destroyed that's it, you won't be getting another one, the team that has the last Titan standing on the map wins and believe me it forces people to work together rather than everyone going lone wolf. Hardpoint mode is where each team tries to hold 3 points on the map like domination, at the end of each match the losers have to try and evacuate on their drop ship by getting to it in time before it evacuates unless you've been killed while escaping. The winners get to place the final nail in the coffin by destroying the drop ship before it evacuates although that requires lots of co-operation and firepower! The third mode is Attrition which is essentially team deathmatch. The fourth mode is called "Pilot Hunter" where basically you get a point each time you kill an enemy Pilot which helps boost your teams score and certainly moves your attention away from Titans and onto Pilots (so best played for those that prefer ground warfare although the Titans and bots are still there but you don't get points for them) There is also a capture the flag mode.So where's the catch you must be asking? Well there are a few, firstly you get AI controlled bots on the map which drop on the map with you as allies (and the same for the other team) which you can take out but half the time you can get confused between them and actual players, meaning half the time you get killed by a real player while your looking at these stupid bots (think of the dumbest bots you've ever come across and that's how they are). Secondly, there are issues with servers disconnecting although considering the game has only just been released I suspect those problems will be sorted out pretty quickly.Now some people have said that the environments should be destructible like in Battlefield, personally I think that would be a mistake as you do require cover from the Titans, on a plus side all the buildings have multiple ways in and out so campers beware, having said that all the campers I have seen so far tend to stay on the roofs!Pros: "Bluepoint Games" who ported the game to xbox 360 for Respawn Entertainment have on the whole done an impressive job * Fantastic non stop competitive action * Graphics are on a par with many shooter games on the 360 but don't match the consoles best like Crysis 3 for example * jetpacks and ability to run on walls is awesome * using a Titan feels brutal against pilots and makes you feel epic * titan vs titan battles are well balanced * playing with friends takes this game to the next level * Some of the best Multiplayer maps I've seen in years with good variety * Pilot and Titan weapons are awesome * 6v6 player count works well when you factor in Titans and bots * Audio including the music is gorgeous * People who spend whole matches camping in Call of Duty won't last long in this!Cons: Bots are stupid and only serve to boost XP and shorten the wait for your Titan * so called "multiplayer campaign" feels pointless (effectively it's multiplayer with set objectives and audio chit-chat to provide a background to the story), it feels like an afterthought to be honest * lack of graphical shadows e.g. Titans don't create a shadow on the ground * C4 is already overused * Servers need to balance players out more i.e. you sometimes get a whole team of level 1's on one side and a bunch of level 30s on the other * EA is the publisher which doesn't fill me with confidence.VERDICT: The people at Respawn Entertainment were the original creators at Infinity Ward of the Modern Warfare series of games. After Modern Warfare 2 had been created they left due to a disagreement with Activision regarding the direction they wanted to take the series, so they went and created their own company (Respawn Entertainment) and Titanfall is the first fruit of their ideas. Respawn created both the PC and Xbox One versions and then asked Bluepoint Games to make a 360 version and the game on the whole has ported well even though the graphics have been restricted. You can tell in more ways than one the links between this game and the original Modern Warfare games in the way it plays while on foot, with the map designs being spot on with a good combination of close quarters and long distance on each map and of course the ability to scale building at the same time. Titanfall is a great multiplayer experience and if you like first person shooters then this is a must for any gamer to get.I'm not going to over paint the canvas and say it's the best game since sliced bread as without the titans in the game it's very similar to call of duty but with less features and fewer game modes, with the titans however, you have two battles going on; the one on foot between pilots and pilots and the other between titans and titans. When the two meet and you're stuck in the middle the action never gets dull to say the least. If you don't have an Xbox One yet, then the 360 version is definitely worth getting. However, if you plan on getting a new console soon I would honestly hold off and get the next generation version as graphically there is a huge leap.If you still have a 360 and don't plan on getting a next generation console then this version is for you, it's not the best looking Titanfall but it plays well and will probably sell the most copies. Enjoy!RECOMMENDED!!!

14.3.2014

This is a long in depth review, if you want a quick opinion then skip down to my verdict towards the bottom of my review!Titanfall is the most highly anticipated game to date as far as the next generation goes. There's been huge hype and Respawn Entertainment has promised a lot, So how does it fair and what do I make of it. First things first, Graphically Titanfall looks stunning, Yes I'm sure some among you are about to tell me that it's only 792p and not 1080p and therefore it's a total failure, only hardened fanboys will hold such a line. In reality its native pixel count means little especially as the game is up-scaled to 1080p by the console so in actual fact what you see on screen is 1080p anyway.The frame rate is perfect with no lag or graphical shudder! If there are any issues then the chances are it is your connection to the servers.For those of you that are unaware I feel it necessary to point out what Titanfall is, it's a First Person Shooter and online multiplayer game and has no offline mode or single player functionality whatsoever so keep that in mind before purchase. If you want a very simplistic view then think of it as Call of Duty with Mech's (Titans) which you can enter and directly control or allow them to guard you in automatic mode. There are a few different game modes and 15 maps to begin with. Each match is limited to 12 players so 6v6 and in my honest opinion it works well especially when you have a few Titans on the map as any more and it would become crowded. Don't forget each player can have a Titan at the same time so potentially each map can have 12 players and 12 Titans plus the 12 bots on each team.When you call in your Titan to drop at any location you choose, a force field immediately protects it from damage but also so it can't be stolen by another player which believe me is a good thing, without it I can tell you virtually every Titan that is called in would be stolen and part of the fun of giving everyone a chance in them would be lost. There is an automatic 4 minute countdown timer for each player after which you can call in your titan to drop but the timer can be reduced by killing other players and bots. There are three class of Titan; Atlas class which is the multi purpose Titan and the one you can use to begin with, Stryder class which is the fastest moving Titan and able to quickly move out of the line of fire and Ogre class which is an ultra-armoured Titan which is absolutely deadly especially when using the add-ons like the particle shield. Each type has a different "core" upgrade so the atlas can have more damage, and the Ogre can have a beefed up shield. The Stryder has a "dash" core upgrade for increased manoeuvrability.When you're in the Titan you get to see the mini-map and the score at all times so you don't lose out on any info. The Titans weapons are deadly but also include releasing smoke and a vortex blocker which collect and fires bullets back at enemy Titans. The Titan naturally has a health bar and when it gets low you can eject which fires you up into the air and you can choose your landing spot either in safety or if you're lucky on an enemy Titan where you can remove some protective shielding and quickly shred the Titans health. You can also climb onto friendly titans and use them as cover. There are also numerous ziplines across many maps to which you can use to travel quickly from place to place but keep on your toes as enemy pilots may end up using them at the other way!Speaking of "you", you play the part of a "pilot" and every pilot has a mini jetpack on the back which gives you a boost while jumping (you press jump(A) again while jumping to activate the jetpack boost). It makes climbing through high windows and indeed onto roofs quite easy. Not just roofs, you can also walk on walls (temporarily for a few seconds) and then use your jetpack to stay in the air, it makes moving from one building to another easy, it also makes the game more challenging as you never know where enemy pilots are going to come from.The Pilot weapons aren't as extensive like in a call of duty or battlefield game but the weapons that are available are varied enough and include standard weapons for shooting other pilots and weapons for taking Titans down while on foot, just like Call of Duty you can create personalized load outs which saves you messing around for each match. There is a Smart Pistol which enables you to lock onto an enemy and the bullets tracks to the target without you specifically aiming, I've only been playing the past day but already it seems overused especially by campers. You also get things called "burn cards" which you unlock and can preselect up to 3 before each match, during the match you can chose to use one when you spawn the next time and they can be anything from reduce the waiting time for a Titan or more damage from primary weapons, once you die again that burn card terminates. Think of them as a single use perk to give you a boost but don't worry as you unlock plenty as you progress!Among the many modes, there is "Last Titan Standing" where by everyone starts in a Titan and although you can get out of the Titan once it is destroyed that's it, you won't be getting another one, the team that has the last Titan standing on the map wins and believe me it forces people to work together rather than everyone going lone wolf. Hardpoint mode is where each team tries to hold 3 points on the map like domination, at the end of each match the losers have to try and evacuate on their drop ship by getting to it in time before it evacuates unless you've been killed while escaping. The winners get to place the final nail in the coffin by destroying the drop ship before it evacuates although that requires lots of co-operation and firepower! The third mode is Attrition which is essentially team deathmatch. The fourth mode is called "Pilot Hunter" where basically you get a point each time you kill an enemy Pilot which helps boost your teams score and certainly moves your attention away from Titans and onto Pilots (so best played for those that prefer ground warfare although the Titans and bots are still there but you don't get points for them) There is also a capture the flag mode.So where's the catch you must be asking? Well there are a few, firstly you get AI controlled bots on the map which drop on the map with you as allies (and the same for the other team) which you can take out but half the time you can get confused between them and actual players, meaning half the time you get killed by a real player while your looking at these stupid bots (think of the dumbest bots you've ever come across and that's how they are). Secondly, there are connection issues with servers disconnecting although considering the game has only just been released I suspect those problems will be sorted out pretty quickly.Now some people have said that the environments should be destructible like in Battlefield, personally I think that would be a mistake as you do require cover from the Titans, on a plus side all the buildings have multiple ways in and out so campers beware, having said that all the campers I have seen so far tend to stay on the roofs!Pros: Fantastic non stop competitive action * Graphics do impress and frame rate is smooth * jetpacks and ability to run on walls is awesome * using a Titan feels brutal against pilots and makes you feel epic * titan vs titan battles are well balanced * playing with friends takes this game to the next level * Some of the best Multiplayer maps I've seen in years with good variety * Pilot and Titan weapons are awesome * 6v6 player count works well when you factor in Titans and bots * Audio including the music is gorgeous * People who spend whole matches camping in Call of Duty won't last long in this!Cons: Bots are stupid and only serve to boost XP and shorten the wait for your Titan * so called "multiplayer campaign" feels pointless (effectively it's multiplayer with set objectives and audio chit-chat to provide a background to the story), it feels like an afterthought to be honest * Smart pistol is already overused * Servers need to balance players out more i.e. you sometimes get a whole team of level 1's on one side and a bunch of level 30s on the other * EA is the publisher so I worry about the prospect of micro transactions and server stability moving forward!VERDICT: The people at Respawn Entertainment were the original creators at Infinity Ward of the Modern Warfare series of games. After Modern Warfare 2 had been created they left due to a disagreement with Activision regarding the direction they wanted to take the series, so they went and created their own company (Respawn Entertainment) and Titanfall is the first fruit of their ideas. You can tell in more ways than one the links between this game and the original Modern Warfare games in the way it plays while on foot, with the map designs being spot on with a good combination of close quarters and long distance on each map and of course the ability to scale building at the same time. Titanfall is a great multiplayer experience and if you like first person shooters then this is a must for any gamer to get.I'm not going to over paint the canvas and say it's the best game since sliced bread as without the titans in the game it's very similar to call of duty but with less features and fewer game modes, with the titans however, you have two battles going on; the one on foot between pilots and pilots and the other between titans and titans. When the two meet and you're stuck in the middle the action never gets dull to say the least. In a nutshell the more you play, the more you want to play and from one gamer to another I hope you enjoy this as much as I am!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!Update 14th March: the amount of trolls writing duff reviews and down voting reviews is a disgrace. As testament to this my review was down voted 3 times within 20 seconds of me writing it yet it takes a few minutes to actually read it. Some people need to get a life!Update 28th March: Respawn Entertainment have said they are now addressing the server balancing problem by using the "internal skill data", They have said this should lead to better matchmaking but it may take slightly longer to get into each match.

10.8.2014

This is the first game I bought for my new Xbox One console, purchased this July, or more accurately it came with the console in a special offer but I would have bought it separately anyway. I hoped it would be as good as the hype and I'm very pleased to say that it is.This is an online-only game based around multiplayer and campaign multiplayer; there is no single-player game as such. After a short tutorial you get into the action as a player on one of two sides (IMC and militia). The campaign is made up of nine maps, which are a mix of two game types. The battlefield is impressively full on both sides, because as well as other players (called "Pilots"), there are AI soldiers fighting you and alongside you.You win on some maps by racking up the most collective kills against enemy AI and Pilots, and on others by holding up to three areas of the map for the longest collective period of time.The weapons are a mix of styles and you can spend quite a bit of time deciding which is right for you, but thankfully each weapon has challenges attached to it which give you XP towards levelling up. You can also hack robot AI fighters and large turrets which deal damage to enemy Titans.Ah yes, Titans! After playing a few minutes into a match you automatically get a Titan – a giant mech war machine – which literally falls out of the sky. if you have a combination of luck and skill, you can get your Titan to fall onto the battlefield on top of an enemy Pilot, or at least an AI. The transition from being on foot to inside this massive war machine is seamless and once you're in, you're going to have an incredible amount of fun. As with the on-foot weapons, there are a number of Titan weapon options to choose from. You can also use various types of shield, even one which catches enemy Titan bullets and you can then release to throw them back at the enemy. When your Titan is destroyed, you can set it to explode (at the expense of other tactical options) and hopefully kill the attacking Titan or Pilot. Pilots can jump on your back and sabotage your Titan, but you can get them off if you choose electric smoke in your tactical loadout, or you can disembark and shoot the attacker off then get back in. Your Titan's AI will continue to attack enemies should you disembark to capture a hardpoint. Its kills count towards your score. When your Titan is destroyed you can earn time off the wait for a new one by racking up enemy kills.If it sounds one-sided between pilots and Titans, it's not. Pilots can cloak and carry anti-Titan weapons, which can take a Titan down in a few shots if the player controlling that Titan does not rally against the threat or use the dash ability to escape and recharge their shields. The cloak is not perfect in as much as other Pilots can see your movement, but the Titans cannot. Whichever of the two you currently are – Pilot or Pilot in a Titan – you're going to have a lot of fun in this game.In the campaign, you play your first run-through as one side and then on your second as the other. After that if you wish to play a campaign map again, the side is picked for you at random. The story is background noise at first and that's good on one hand because who wants lengthy cutscenes, but on the other hand it makes it kind of irrelevant. Repeated plays allow it to sink in more. The multiplayer option has more game types and more maps. The developers / publisher would love you to buy extra DLC maps, but there's so much going on already in this game that you may never feel the need to buy them.New updates to this game are still coming out. The "burn card" feature allows you to earn temporary perks which you can select up to three of at the start of a match, and each one lasts until you die. Some of these give you better weapons, increased cloak, build time off your next Titan, and so on. If you want all the achievements, you'll need to play a lot of matches. However, even players who are more casual about this game may get there in time – reason being this is not a game you are likely to want to trade in; because it's so 'pick up and play', I for one can never see myself parting with it.Oh and one final note – a crucial one – in some video games the long established players dominate multiplayer matches and the new or casual players don't stand much of a chance. In Titanfall the grading between these two types of player is perfectly balanced. The more you level up, the better you will do, which is as it should be; but because the AI don't care what level you are it is possible for a new player to get to the top of the leaderboard if he or she plays clever, especially because even a seasoned and kitted up Titanfall veteran can have their Titan brought down by a raw recruit if they don't pay attention to their shields and are too busy with the wrong target at the wrong time.Overall, I have to recommend this game wholeheartedly. You may not play it as intensely over a short period as many other games, but you will keep coming back to it again and again during the lifetime of your Xbox One.

21.4.2014

I'll start by saying that I never expected the Xbox 360 version of this game to be any good. I haven't played the Xbox ONE version, but this looked and played absolutely fine to me and from what I've heard it's identical in terms of features and gameplay.Titanfall is a really fun and intuitive first person shooter that has created an opening in the genre for a new heavyweight. Call of Duty and Battlefiled have dominated over the past few years, with a few other games like Halo coming in every now and again to shake things up. I don't think that this particular game is on their level yet purely down to a lack of content, but I imagine the inevitable sequel will be up to par.I've played the game for about 12 hours and have Re-enlisted (read: Prestiged)for the first time, so I have a pretty good knowledge and understanding of the game. Despite the lack of content, I am definitely not bored at this point and see myself able to play it for many hours to come. To it's credit, the gameplay here is so enjoyable that I never feel exhausted by it in the same way that other games like COD make me feel. The maps are all pretty decent too, there don't seem to be any particular stand outs but more importantly there aren't any ones I particularly dislike either (something I find common in most FPS).A lot of this comes down to the balance of mobility here. This isn't a game where you generally camp or regularly get picked off by snipers because people are able to access all areas of the map pretty quickly. Wallrunning and double jumping is incredibly easy and chaining together multiple freerunning moves feels exhilarating.. especially when it ends with a special moment like rodeoing an enemy titan or landing on an enemy pilot with a jump kick. It's a game full of great moments, ones that happen every game.. without the tedium of traversing a huge map like you might get with battlefield.The 6v6 gameplay here also feels perfect. It might seem limited, but when you factor in the dozens and dozens of AI enemies roaming the battlefield and the titans too (occasionally on auto-pilot) - it never takes long to find something to shoot at, something that is drastically better than it's FPS competitors. It's always easy to get into the action and rarely that frustrating when you die either.So moving on from the gameplay itself, the only real downfall of this game is it's lack of features and content. There is no offline mode and the "campaign" segment was handled pretty poorly in my opinion. I do actually like the idea of blending story into multiplayer, but I had absolutely no idea what the story was supposed to be here. Besides 'campaign' and 'classic', there are no other modes besides training. The features within the online section are also pretty bare bones, basic gameplay modes you see in every game and no private match functionality (although apparently Respawn will be adding these things for free in future).However the weapons and customisability here also feels pretty basic. Considering that this game heavily borrows from the original modern warfare format, there's not a huge choice of different weapons and perks here. The guns all look and feel good, but they are really basic FPS archetypes (barring the smart pistol) and it won't take long to unlock all of the attachments and challenges. What's here IS fine, but I can't help but feel that in a game so concerned with style that there isn't some more imaginative weaponry on offer.So overall Titanfall is an FPS you should definitely play. Running around is fun, being a Titan is fun and everything in between is fun. It sticks closely enough to other games you know that you'll feel right at home, but different enough to scratch an entirely different itch. But the lack of modes and features can't help but make this overall package feel a bit expensive especially when you look at how much it's competitors pack into their games. Just be wary that if you pay the full £42 for this game brand-new, it's not the best value for game you'll get this year.Titanfall 2 though...

16.3.2014

My only extensive experience of multiplayer console first-person shooters was back in the N64 days, with Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. Since then I've not been able to get into the exclusive, ultra-competitive online warzones of Call of Duty, Battlefield, Warhawk et al. Titanfall changes that.I've `only' played about 10 hours so far, so I won't pretend this is an in-depth review. Rather, it's for those who are unsure about whether to take the plunge and buy Titanfall (and an Xbox One to go with it, as in my case), by reassuring them that the game's chief focus is on that element that transcends pixels and polygons: Fun.The first thing you notice when starting the amusing training modules (reminiscent of Mirror's Edge and Portal)is the frame-rate. Titanfall aims for 60 frames per second, and this is stable in all but the most manic of combat circumstances. It genuinely helps the game flow. And this is a game all about flow. It's about movement; never-ceasing movement. After a while you'll find yourself emerging from the limited run-and-strafe movements of former FPSs and adjusting to the truly three-dimensional nature of the environments.The controls have been optimised to perfection. Wall-running feels completely natural; combined with double-jumping, you can scale tall buildings in a few bounds. You can sprint everywhere - none of this fatigue nonsense. And then you'll die, and you can hang about and watch a replay if you really want, or get straight back into the action. Again, it's all about the flow. All about the fun. You're not waiting for the high level grinders to duke it out before you can rejoin the action.There is a campaign, which is handy for getting used to the game modes (fairly standard: deathmatches, capture the flag etc, plus a surprisingly enjoyable titan-only, zero-respawn deathmatch). The campaign (one for each faction, comprising about an hour of gameplay each) means more NPC radio chatter, with a kind of `plot' unfolding in the background. I couldn't really follow what was going on, but it felt quite exciting to have a context for my failed attempt to reach the dropship.Which brings me to the main reason why Titanfall appeals to me, and should appeal to all those not accustomed to modern online shooters: It's fun whether you win or lose. On most game modes, a dropship swoops in to pick up the losing team. Make it there and you can salvage some points - but if you're killed on the way or the dropship is destroyed, you won't respawn. It's almost a sub-game in itself. You're given XP for just about everything in Titanfall. If you're finding Pilots (human players) too merciless, you can focus on AI drones, or practise your acrobatic skills - you will be rewarded; you will have done your part.Titanfall feels friendly. I didn't get this when I tried the Modern Warfare games online. The engine is solid as a rock, and the servers are utterly stable. No lag or drop-outs experienced so far.I can't see how anyone can slap a one-star rating on this game. Even if it's not your thing, in the context of multiplayer online shooters it's clearly well-made and well-designed. Criticising it for being multiplayer only is like criticising Arkham City for being single-player only. It's a non-argument.Is Titanfall "next-gen"? I don't really know what that means. But if the definition is great graphics and sound, and good times with twenty-foot mechas, then I guess it must be.Update 25/03/14: I've now reached level 50. The fun factor hasn't waned; in fact, I'm enjoying it more as I pick up new skills. The way the in-game challenges encourage you to try a variety of loadouts is particularly clever. I've yet to experience any dropouts or lag in the servers; highly impressive. The only issue I have with the game is the team balancing - or lack thereof - which unfortunately creates a bit of a merry-go-round in the lobbies. Hopefully, Respawn will address this issue in a forthcoming patch.

14.4.2014

I enjoy playing games and that's about it so I won't go too techy and just review the game for what it is and why I love it. If anyone disagrees you are prefectly entitled to do so.I'll get the Xbox 360 ("X360")- Xbox One ("X1") differences out of the way first:I have played both.Put it simply the graphics are fantastic, though not the same quality as the X1 and I've already played over 8 hours on the X360 and it hasn't lagged once. So such complaints about graphics, slow loading and whatever other techno-babble (I don't understand fully) that are out there, I consider to be ill founded.Apart from the graphical quality the game is identical in every respect to its big brother on X1.If you have an X1 or are going to buy one soon,and you like the sound of my review I recommend that you get it on the X1. I recieved my X360 copy as a birthday present and I am slowly going to save up for an X1, so if like me and you want to stick with the X360 until the X1 gets cheaper, or just can't afford to fork out £400, I recommend the X360 version highly.Requirements:I have heard a lot of baisc complaints about the fact it's online only and requires a hard drive etc. My repsonse to those complaints are:1. Yes you do need Xbox Live Gold to play online.2. Yes you do need an X360 Hard Drive with at least 1.3 Gb of free space (the box says 1.2 but it's a teensy bit larger)3. Yes it's online only.4. Read the front cover (see the bottom left corner?) before buying the game if you want to moan about that.Apologies to the majority of readers for the blunt nature of point 4; I assume that by reading this review you are actually performing market research on this properly.Gameplay:This is by far the most enjoyable multiplayer I have ever played. It is fast paced, challenging and punishes "campers" as the whole game is about free and fast movement as much as shooting, it doesn't even take much getting used to (and when you get good it's easier and more fun to just deliver a flying kick than to shoot people).I love being a Pilot (free runner), though the Titans (giant death machines) are fun, to make the best use of them if you don't fancy climbing in, you can always call your Titan in, but just press down on the D-Pad instead of getting in to make it an "Auto-Titan", it then follows you around and acts as a 20" wingman, or guards a specific location.The AI add a lot to the game as it makes the contest more fun and dynamic, they aren't too much of a challenge and you can usually beat 3-4 AIs (excluding Auto-Titans) simultaneously in a fight without much difficulty. It makes the game actually feel like a full scale battlefield and they encourage you to keep moving.Human Controlled Pilots (other players) add the dimension of a greater threat and it feels more rewarding to kill another player in Titanfall than in any other game I've played.As for character customisation, the only other thing I've frequently heard complaints about, there is a lot less option to customise your character than is available in most online games and the Titans have similar minimalist options, however I don't think it detracts from the game, as on the whole it is fast paced fun and you don't see characters for long enough to take account of how they look before shooting them and running away quickly anyway. The degree or choice is reminiscent of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, so it's still by no means bad.One last thing there's no instructions manual, so swot up how to perform some of the more useful moves online (I'm not genreous enough to tell you how to wall hang or hack sentinels, I'll just beat you whilst hanging.)Overall:I cannot stress enough just how much fun the game is and I rate it as a must buy if you enjoy fast paced combat action, yes it has a few flaws when you are not actually in a match, but the in-match play truly is spectacular. I truly hope to see you online.

15.3.2014

It seems a fair amount of people are reviewing this game with the basis that there should have been a single player. I do agree that this game would have benefited greatly from a single player campaign, even if just a short 4 hour one. It's clear from the initial intro and narrations that the sci-fi setting that Respawn have created in this game is too good to waste on a MP only game. That said I will not let the lack of single-player mode influence this review given that Respawn always stated this game is MP only and marketed it as such.Created by Respawn (a new studio made up from veteran devs responsible for CoD before it turned into an annual milk feast),Titanfall takes the structure of CoD multiplayer and refurbishes in a fresh, original and detailed sci-fi MP shooter. The IMC are a militarised corporation contracted to oversee development of the Frontier; a system of habitable planets discovered outwith the Solar System. They are at war with a separatist faction known as the Militia. A prominent element to this space warfare that is being waged is use of mech suits known as Titans.This game is actually a very good shooter. If your into CoD then you will love it. If you have grown sick of CoD, then you will probably love it anyway. Titanfall's gameplay is well thought out, with the same fast paced action of CoD but with brand new gameplay elements thrown into the mix, notably the parkour and Titans.The Titans are well implemented into the game. Respawn have managed to find the right balance between Pilot (infantry gameplay) and Titan gameplay. You are not forced to use Titans and their presence are kept in check by timers until you can deploy one. Yet also, the presence of Titans will be known in every multiplayer match you play and they can mean the difference between winning and losing. They aren't without vulnerabilities though and Respawn do give those who prefer playing as Pilots the means to take out a Titan.As for the parkour, it's a welcome addition to the gameplay and brings about a new sense of verticality not present in other games. You will be checking more than just doorways and windows as you move through a map. The controls can be a bit tricky at first though. You will find yourself wall running when you want to climb upwards or jumping onto a roof when you just wanted to climb into a window. The learning curve can prove frustrating, but when you get the hang of it, you can utilise parkour to your own advantage. In a way, it adds a new element of skill to the game.The inclusion of bots in the MP actually works out very well IMO. It kind of adds to the immersion in that it creates a predatory feel. The players are like heroes amidst armies looking for each other to prove their worth. However they should have added modes without bots.Downsides:- I feel that for a purely multiplayer game, content is lacking in some areas. Map wise, 15 is a good number. But I feel there is a lack in weaponry. With only 10 primary weapons to choose from, the whole 50 levels of advancement may feel empty. Fair enough though there is also 5 anti-titan weapons and 3 side arms which you choose from. However it's not just weaponry. Game modes are SEVERELY lacking. Only 5 game modes! You have Hardpoint (domination), CTF, Last Titan Standing (Titan only free for all) and two TDM modes; Attrition and Pilot Hunter. Both TDM modes are straightforward, the only difference being that in Attrition, bot kills count towards the score.- Visuals I feel are not quite worthy of next gen. There is little in the way of advanced lighting or shadows. Only thing going for it are the sharp textures. Given it isn't particularly advanced technically, I find it curious how Respawn only managed to squeeze out 792p.Overall this is a fun and refreshing multiplayer experience which CoD fans and CoD cynics will enjoy a like.

3.9.2014

Having major doubts forking out full price for an online only game for me to be regular horizontal due to other people having faster connections and therefore would kick my sorry ass,i didnt hold much hope.Went down to £30 secondhand and thought id grab it. First half an hour hated every bit of it... the controls with too many buttons, the huge maps, repetitive levels in story mode, not much weapons and pointless burn cards.. then it sorta all came together... when you get used to the controls and unlock the various weapons it is an absolute dream to play. The Graphics are beautiful for an xbox 360 game, the maps need to be fairly big to hold the titans with lovely nooks and crannies in buildings for pilots to sneak around..see that tall building? there would be a way to get up there,i dont think theres nowhere you can go due to the unique movement of your pilot.The burn cards which you will forget to include when you die are a good addition to add to your arsenal of tricks and treats.One thing of utter masterstroke, is potentially, you hardly die... thats right,unlike other call of duty games where you can regular die from expert players in this game theres always ways that you can avoid this pending on your play but as much as you can just sit there out of the way shooting grunts in some corner of the map but if youre running around as a pilot youre hugely at risk from titans running around who could swat you very easily,your anti titan weapons have a big enough punch to effect the enemy titan regardless but youre still vulnerable.. but in a titan youre a huge target for other titans as well as said pilots weapons... even the most useless of players can still effect the game by killing the numourous grunts and 'bots' that only add a point to the score but could effect the overall battle..when your titan dies you can eject to basically wherever on the map with some skill out of harms reach so basically it caters for everyone..dont get me wrong certain maps you can die a fair few times but ive found that with a bit of thought you can stay alive for quite a while. I cant get enough of it now.Downsides are is that sometimes the game does boot you off the server for no reason which can be frustrating, there should be alot more interesting titan weapons, they missed a huge oppotunity to absolute go nuts with various weapons and variations to make you titan hugely unique... colours too.. couldve instilled a sense of dread if a titan is lumbering up towards you with some garish skin colour or huge unique weapon...maybe in Titanfall 2? but with only 3 titans theres not much variation.Other players are like futuristic ninjas that jump and bounce around so very hard to hit.. esp if theyve a cloak ability (which is useful if ejecting from your titan or in a sticky situation..) main story sucks and you wont care for it.Plus sides is the burn cards are an absolute masterstroke.. to play a card at start of the game to request your titan instead of waiting (which decreases the time when you shoot bots or pilots..) is brilliant (abeit rare card :D) the graphics are glorious,the sound meaty,the weapons abeit not many of them are glorious in battle and the satisfaction of smashing a titan to bits is excellent.There is alot more to be said but for sheer entertainment it really is worth every penny,just dont expect to fall in love with it right away, give it time and it will grow on you. :)

14.3.2014

Titanfall. Is. Awesome. I could leave this review at that and I'd have said all I need to on whether to buy it or not.However, there is a bit more to it: The game itself has come up against some criticism recently over excluding a single player campaign. For me that's not an issue - the 15 maps included (and more to come via DLC) are more than a normal multiplayer game would include, and I feel that the lack of single player is more than made up for by a more comprehensive MP mode.More than just being a lot of maps though, the multiplayer feels new. The games are fought up and down rather than just forwards and backwards. You can be on top of a building and if you come across a huge gap,the developers have normally put a crafty billboard nearby. If you wall run along this (and wall running is another awesome thing about the game) you can then double jump off it. You might even be able to land on another billboard, and by linking these runs/double jumps together you can get across the map with phenomenal speed. By comparison with something like BF4, which I also love, the game just feels so much faster and smoother.The next obvious 'new' feeling is the Titans themselves. Everyone gets one, they're not hard to use and they stamp around the map knocking seven bells out of each other - great fun! I actually prefer to be a pilot fighting against titans but then that's the whole point: you can choose how to play and you'll always be contributing to your team's performance. You no longer feel like if your Kill/Death ratio is below 1.0 that you're a net hindrance to the team. Go off and kill some AI or attack a titan and you're doing everyone a favour.Another change, which makes the game more accessible, is `burn cards'. These are like a deck of cards which you can choose before each round/respawn and they will replace a weapon, or skill, with something different. So instead of a sniper rifle, you get explosive rounds. Or instead of respawning at your base, you respawn where you died, to finish off that Titan that got you! It's a cool system though I think could be improved slightly. I'd rather default to using the first card in the deck than having to choose one each time as I keep forgetting to select one...The biggest thing about this game for me (and I want to get back to it!) is that it's really opened up FPS games to everyone. You do get rewarded for performance, but it's no longer the only factor in progression. The best weapons are there for all and the fun is universal, not just for those who can spend hours and hours perfecting their aim and learning the maps.*********************EDIT: Interestingly, now that I've had the game for a couple of weeks, I'm not finding it has as much longevity as BF4. The comments above remain true, particularly that the game feels faster than BF4. However, I find myself coming back to BF4 rather than Titanfall. I think some of this comes down to the fact each match in Titanfall is very short. There's a quick burst of excitement but the matches do not feel like they build very much.In addition, although there are plenty of maps, some are better than others and I would prefer to be able to filter matches to pick the maps I want.Overall this has resulted in my rating dropping from a 5* to 4*. I don't feel the game is perfect following an initially brilliant first impression.

21.9.2014

I picked up Titanfall simply because it looked & is amazingly different compared to all the other typical first person shooters I've played, & it has made a big difference for the better. HOWEVER, there were a few problems that held this game back from a perfect score, so here are the following pros & cons:What the game gets right: The gameplay: This shooter was very fast paced. It felt like quick reflexes weren't needed all the time here, the only time I needed fast reactions was when I killed other players for half a game, the other half was spent slaughtering the enemy AI soldiers. There are 6 players per team, along with an army of AI soldiers scattered across the battlefield,to make the fight seem more realistic. The AI also reacts to your presence, saying things like "Friendly pilots coming through, what makes them so special?" ect. The Titan as well is very easy to control, with different types of weapons to use for it, & Its a good feeling to take down another Titan as well as slaughtering all the Pilots of the enemy team when your in control of your own Titan. So in terms of gameplay, its fast paced, a refreshing look into how FPS shooters should be played & it was a good experience overall. Unfortunately this was where the good features of the game ended.The Story & Mythos: There was practically no story to this game, yes there was a campaign option, but nothing was explained about its universe. In between the missions, there were occasional voice overs, people yapping on about random things that I could care little about. There are 2 campaigns to complete, the Militia & the IMC, both took me about 2 hours in total, with multiple disconnects from the game lobbys resulting in a loss of the missions. There is basically no story, characters or explanations in the games campaign, & both campaigns took about 2 hours each in total. Plus another hour to win the missions I lost previously.Customisation: Besides changing the primary gun for your pilot, as well as the attachments & main gun for your Titan, there is a huge lack in customisation. I want to be able to change my pilots colour, armour/uniform, as well as add some camo textures to the lacking variety of guns in my arsenal. Games like Halo reach have a million times more customisation options than this.No clan creation or private games: There is no option to create a clan, in a game which has teams of 6 players on both sides one would think this is a big main priority for them to include. Also, private game lobbys are non existant, a big downgrade for all you 1 v 1 players out there wanting to challenge someone's skill online.The final verdict:Titanfall, while its a new idea which looks & is awesome in almost everyday, was unfortunately over-hyped & underdeveloped. Lacking in story & customization, with poorly programmed AI as well. However, the game deserves a 7/10. Its just these few problems that hold it back.

31.5.2014

I've been a Battlefield fan for years, and loved the first 2 Modern Warfare games. This incorporates both MW's fast paced action, and the need for BF's spacial awareness. For me the Hardpoint mode (exactly the same of CODs Domination) makes the best use of everything the game has to offer. There aren't many weapons to choose from but every weapon is deadly in the correct hands and nothing is overpowered (bar satchel charges possibly). Certainly some wepons are more popular than others but only as they're easier to use or a better alrounder, I haven't once felt cheated by anything.For me the main thing that makes this game so enjoyable its its fantastic maneuverability; heres a brief run down /

15.3.2014

Titanfall brings back the feelings that have been missing from most games in recent years. It fun. Its not about realism (although the player models are very accurate to real life and run like people would). Its not about having the best graphics (although the visuals are great and really suit the game). Its not about being the best (skill and teamwork will still determine which team which wins, but my friends and myself have had a blast when losing games as well, every game has epic moments and when you lose the scramble to get to the dropship can give you the feeling you won regardless of the regular play).There are bots in the game. I never liked the idea of bots originally,

14.3.2014

Titanfall is amazing! If you played the beta you will be pleased to know the framerate drops that were present when you were in your titan are now fixed. Gameplay is fluid and fast and amazingly good fun.Anybody that says its call of duty with mechs ethier hasnt played it or is an idiot. The jetpacks and parqour add such a refreashing new element to the gameplay it starts to feel like an art when you running round rooftops and wallruning. You run across the street and start to get hit in the back, you know another player is on you so you run into a building. Where do you wait for him? You know hes gonna come through the doorway behind you. Do you go left..? Right? No?

11.4.2014

Having played both the One and the 360 Version, I can safely say the differences between them are minute. Whilst the One version does have better textures and slightly crisper graphics, as well as running at a higher resolution and frame rate, the 360 version is superb in it's own right (especially considering the age of the hardware it's running on). To begin with, most people won't recognise the differences between the two versions anyway. Considering the fact that the game was delayed several times and how action packed the one version plays (and even suffers in very hectic moments) I was expecting this port to run very very badly. To my surprise, it actually plays brilliantly and is a ridiculously fun game.

4.5.2014

Even though the look, speed and atmosphere of Titanfall in previews was very alluring, I was super skeptical of the online only aspect of it. I had always been hammered in COD multiplayer -- I never really had any fun online.Titanfall is very open by comparison. It doesn't reward just the one skillset. The Titans make sure there's always a joker just round the corner if you can keep on the playing field long enough. And jumping into a Titan and firing slugs into the other team is really a great time. The game seems largely constructed around this balance -- fast super soldier, then tank-like Titan.Pros:- Wallrunning is awesome and easy to get the hang of.- Great overall balance between solider /

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