The Art of Titanfall
Written by: Adam "ManKorn" Korenman, CC2K Video Games Editor
Titanfall is the debut title for Respawn, a team formed from some of the best minds in FPS gaming. Veterans of Call of Duty banded together to form the new developer, and if their success at E3 2013 is any indicator, this franchise is here to stay.
Set in the distant future, the game is set on the very edge of interstellar expansion: the Frontier. On one side of this looming conflict, the IMC (a massive corporation) looks to exploit new worlds for incredible profits. On the other side, the Frontier Militia (a gaggle of factions) stake claim to land they themselves discovered. It’s not the thickest of plot soups, but it’s enough to hold the game together.
In the preview book The Art of Titanfall, designers and artists share the journey that began with a year’s brainstorming and ended with one of the most anticipated titles this year. The gorgeous paintings and 3D renderings serve as an appetizer to the more filling meal to come. More than that, these glimpses into the creative process reveal a lot about the heart and soul that went into making Titanfall the game it is today.
Respawn aimed to make Titanfall an entirely new style of scifi shooter. Sure, there are alien creatures stomping, creeping and flying in the background, but this isn’t just Halo with mechs. Every detail was designed to fit a familiar and gritty asthetic. The IMC soldiers look vaguely stormtrooper-esque, immediately conjuring images of Bobba Fett with their rocket packs and featureless masks. The Titans themselves were designed after American and Russian tanks, down the use of external exhausts and drive shafts. Even the environments are meant to evoke a feeling of “have I been here before?”
This isn’t to say that the journey doesn’t feel fresh. On the contrary, the experience is better than most shooters I’ve played in the last few years. And with good reason: the developers spent at least as much time tweaking the balance as they did fine-tuning the art.
But I suppose the real question is: Is it any fun to play?
Holy crap, yes.
While there is no Single Player campaign, the game never really needed one. The multiplayer has been so carefully designed and implemented that my only complaint is the rather small scale of the battlefield. Computer AI makes up the brunt of the ground force, leaving only twelve players to compete in a six-on-six arena. Sure, the robotic soldiers can pick away at your health, but you’ll never feel they add more than window dressing to the chaos of the war.
And “war” is the key word. As you fight for every inch of rock, immense space battles rage overhead. What sounds like thunder is usually a cruiser exploding into fragments high in the atmosphere. Nimble fighters zip into your airspace, dropping payloads and providing close air support when you desparately need it. And of course, there are the Titans.
In one match, I was cornered by an Ogre in a shattered building. I had spent all my remaining ammunition just clearing out the room, and now death seemed an inevitability. And then the tone sounded and I was told my Titan was ready (pilots head down the ground without their powerful battle suits, which seems a poor tactical choice in my opinion). As the enemy closed in, I placed down my marker and prayed it would arrive in time. As the countdown neared zero, I made a break out a nearby window and sprinted toward the drop zone. I was feet away when the Ogre rounded the corner.
As I stared death in the face, I made my peace. Perhaps I would find more success in the next life. Er, respawn.
And then: KATOOOOOM!
My own Titan dropped down onto the map, crushing the Ogre and killing the pilot instantly. I was so stunned I almost didn’t climb aboard. As the hatch closed and my HUD came online, I breathed a sigh of relief. The tides had turned in my favor, and I had some payback to deliver.
Titanfall has its flaws, but is overall the most impressive reason for the XBox One’s existence yet on the market. More than that, it is a new franchise, something original and inventive and just plain fun. If you own the Microsoft system, you need to pick this title up as soon as you recover financially. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to drop $500, this may just be it.
And if you want to dig a little deeper into the creation of this new title, I recommend picking up your copy of The Art of Titanfall, now available on Amazon.com.