On June 10, 2013 the world was introduced to Titanfall. Vince Zampella, the founder of Respawn Entertainment, walked onto the E3 stage and introduced us to this wall running shooter. In a manner of minutes, this game revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. With the introduction of parkour elements and 25 foot tall mechs, Titanfall was one of the highest anticipated games at E3.
Revolutionizing the FPS Genre
Many gamers would agree that the mechanics of a game is paramount to its playability and success. Luckily for Titanfall, this was the easy part. The wall running and double jump abilities are so smooth and fluid that it makes traversing the map without touching the ground a simple task. Games such as Black Ops 3 and Infinite Warfare tried to copy these features for themselves, yet they were unable to make it as fluid or satisfying.
This leads me to my next point: the biggest FPS franchise followed suit after Titanfall was released. Call of Duty was headed to a science fiction setting as well, and the positive reception of Titanfall pushed them further. But ultimately they were severely unsuccessful. Only now are they making up for their mistake by returning to their WWII roots.
Not only was wall running and double jumping completely new and insane int the gaming world, but the biggest additions (literally) were Titans! These metal, player or AI controlled giants walked around the maps gunning down enemies and robots alike. It is completely insane to watch this for the first time and not be amazed. Mechs were only just becoming popular in mainstream games, and Titanfall really brought that into the light.
Somehow, the developers manages to balance out Titans and pilots fairly well. Titans were killing-machines that made any player feel like a boss on the battlefield, but they all had their weaknesses that could easily be exploited by enemy pilots. Anti-Titan weapons, ordnance, rodeo attacks, and even other falling Titans could quickly put a stop to any mech on the map. Likewise, Titans could use any of their weapons and ordnance to make short work of any pilot or marine. It never felt unfair.
Titans, wall running, and other parkour elements resulted in a fast paced game that FPS shooters had been striving for. All of these elements thrown into a game makes it extremely fast-paced and chaotic. One way to increase your speed even more is to chain short wall runs together, as your pilot runs faster on walls and receives a speed boost when jumping off one. Proper chaining would allow you to travel across the entire map in mere seconds. If that wasn’t enough, Titans were able to sprint and boost around – not exactly what you would expect from these giant robots. These elements together made one fast paced game.
Developer Support
Unfortunately for Titanfall, the playerbase was small since the it was only on two major platforms. Plus the game was a new triple-A title that had yet to make a name for itself. Regardless of all of this, the developer support was still there. Constant updates and downloadable content made the game fresh. This kind of developer support is crucial for a game. If the hardcore playerbase doesn’t receive love, then they will ultimately leave.
Titanfall 2 sought to fix its predecessor’s mistakes, which it did flawlessly. The game increased its playerbase by releasing on the PS4 as well as the Xbox One and PC. The constant developer support was increased to add free DLC drops for the game every month, providing new weapons, maps, and even Titans. Players continue to come back, and more players are introduced with the free trial weekends. The improved business strategy at Respawn is working well for them. They have also reported a constantly growing playerbase since launch day.
Most recently, they released their biggest DLC drop yet with Frontier Defense. It was a fan favorite in the first game that pits you and four players against waves of enemies. Constant additions catered to fans like this is the key to Respawn’s success. Other developers should take note.
One last piece of proof for developer support is the feedback taken from the first game. Titanfall 2 has fixed all of the first games mistakes with having a single-player and having more content. More Titans, weapons and maps have made this game perfect. The developers have really listened to the fans which we are grateful for.
My Personal Experience
When I first saw Titanfall revealed at E3, I was in awe; the game was something I had never seen before. They were showing me flawless wall running and climbing, and then telling me that I could do just that myself? I was sold. And then they called in the Titans.
I’m don’t know if I could explain what felt when I first saw the Titans falling from the sky. The sight of a giant robot swan diving into the ground was gorgeous. And if that wasn’t cool enough, the Titan’s abilities like the vortex shield were stunning. The whole concept of this game was outstanding for me.
Months following the game’s announcement, I had already pre-ordered the game, had a giant Titanfall poster hanging on my wall, and a pilot hoodie. The game had only started making waves, so people kept asking me what my hoodie and poster came from. I would tell them and show them the trailer. And they would be just as amazed as I was when I first saw it all.
This game was my life for the next two years as my cousin and I played continuously. We would come home from school and fight on the frontier every day. I am not sure how many hours I put into this franchise as a whole, but I know it’s a lot. That is because this game provided the best FPS gameplay anyone would want.
Why is Titanfall the best FPS franchise?
Titanfall is the best FPS franchise for a multitude or reasons: First, the game has set a benchmark for future first-person shooters. The gameplay is fast and fluid due to remarkable mechanics, such as wall running and double jumping. Titanfall managed to incorporate typical platformer features into a shooter – a feat that is extraordinary on its own. Introduction of the grappling hook in Titanfall 2 made the movement even better
