The Top 5 Games of 2014, and Why You Should Be Freaking Out

Written by: Adam "ManKorn" Korenman, CC2K Video Games Editor

Titanfall

In my first article, I made it known that I was a fan of another mech-based game: Shogo: Mobile Armor Division. The early-generation PC title combined standard FPS combat with insane giant robots, all with a fancy Japanime style. Though the market for such games has been filled for the last few years, there has not been anything as ambitious or promising as the upcoming Titanfall.

While the story has only been hinted at, the gameplay and art design has been broadcast around the world. As an FPS/MMO title Titanfall looks to shake up the online shooter arena that has been dominated by Call of Duty and Battlefield for so long. Introducing city-stomping mechs into the fray should certainly add a bit of flair missing from the market. The closest we’ve come to any innovation was Call of Duty: Black Ops II, where the developers glanced slightly into the future to pull out new weapons and gameplay.

Why you should freak out:

Every play Battlefield 2142? Launched off the success of 1942, the developers launched far into the future to create new and exciting gameplay, inventive weapons and addictive matches. If you never played the game, hold on for a quick trip down memory lane.

I’m an infantry soldier, carrying a modified assault rifle and a satchel full of explosives. I run across the freezing landscape of a ruined city, bullets snapping passed my face and tank rounds ripping into the ground at my back. I can see the enemy titan ahead, a massive floating fortress covered in armor and artillery. Every few minutes, shells rain down on the battlefield, shredding my brothers into pieces. I manage to take cover before another barrage destroys an APC full of friendly troops.

Up ahead I find a pod launcher and climb inside, taking care to aim for the back of the enemy ship. As I line up for what may be my last assault, I hear my commander screaming for support back at our own titan. The shield is breached, and the core will soon be exposed. There is no time to think of defense. I say my prayers, close my eyes, and fire the pod. The man-sized capsule launches in a high parabola, falling onto the back deck of the hovering behemoth. Enemy soldiers glance up in surprise as I emerge from the pod, firing in controlled bursts.

It takes me no time at all to reach the core. Scores of my fellow soldiers lay on the ground, having paid the highest price to open the path for me. I squeeze my eyes shut and press on; this is not the time for mourning.

The core is damaged and smoking, and two of my squad mates hold the line inside. Enemy reinforcements stream in constantly, but our heavy gunny keeps them out of reach. As I lay the satchels down, however, a sniper tags my battle buddy, ending his time in the fight. I quickly take cover, pull out the detonator, and press the trigger. The explosion rocks the entire ship, sending soldiers crashing to the ground. I peek over my cover and see the core is completely destroyed.

Alarms sound immediately. The core is broken and coolant sprays in every direction. There are seconds left before the titan’s engine will overheat and erupt, and I use every one of them. My feet barely touch the ground as I sprint back down the corridors. Fleeing enemies take wild shots, but miss hitting me by a mile. I pay them no mind as I break free of the ship and emerge on the back deck. A friendly transport hovers nearby, the pilot waiving frantically. Without hesitation I lunge for the chopper.

As my finger grab ahold of the shuttle door, I feel the pressure at my back. The titan, its core destroyed, explodes in a massive wall of heat and debris. Enemy soldiers fly off the back, dead before they hit the ground a hundred feet below. The immense ship crashes down to the earth, plowing a new canyon into the landscape. I look back over my shoulder, staring at the desolation left behind by our skirmish. This was just one battle for one empty patch of land. And the war is far from over.

If Titanfall achieves even one percent of that level of excitement and innovation, I will play it a billion times.