Wrath of the Titans.
Take a trip down memory on the still freshly laid path of E3 2013, and you might remember Titanfall making an appearance at the E3 press conference for both Microsoft and Electronic Arts. At first glance, everyone wanted a piece of Respawn Entertainment's next title. But as a critic that favors RPGs above all else, I have the tendency to cross my arms at any bombastic announcement for Call of Duty, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, any competitive multiplayer FPS boasting how it will be the next greatest thing in gaming. So naturally I had the same reaction to Titanfall.
But then I saw a hands-off demo of a 7v7 multiplayer Domination match (no word on how campaign is integrated yet) at the E3 booth for Electronic Arts, and I finally understood want all the nerd-rage was about. Mechs. Lots of mechs. One for every player on the battlefield. In a destructible environment where mechs rule and can crush puny humans beneath their gargantuan feet. And above all, insatiable speed.
Most mech games tend to have lumbering quality to them, which makes all the sense in the world, but Titanfall doesn't stop for anyone. Soldiers sprint from one point to the next, free-running on the side of walls like ninjas, shooting bullets that can curve from a Smart Pistol, and falling from any height without damage. Once your Titan mech is ready, you can call for its deployment and watch as it roars down from the sky like a bolt of metallic lightning. The Titans themselves are highly maneuverable, have incredible firepower, and can be used as a lift to a higher ledge, in case you want to flank some unsuspecting opponents from above.
While this might lead you to believe that the mechs are overpowered, soldiers and other mechs are quite of taking yours out, in ten seconds if you're not careful. A soldier's Sidewinder is a rapid-fire rocket launcher specifically designed to take down mechs, and rival mechs have the same access to cannons, 40mm rifles, and Vortex Blockers as yours does. Although It doesn't take too long for your Titan to be repaired once it's out of commission, much of your success in multiplayer will be determined by how long you can maintain your Titan from utter destruction.
That said, if you believe your mech is about to sustain too much damage, you can hit the eject button, soar through the air away from the self-destruct explosion, and start raining bullets at the poor souls below. Of course, they can shoot your body as falls to the planet, so don't get too comfortable up there.
But that's the point: rapid, constant, furious action. It's a tenet that Vince Zampella, co-founder for Infinity Ward, understands and something that Microsoft covets for its next-gen platform. So it's no wonder that Titanfall is currently an Xbox 360 and Xbox One exclusive slated for release for Q1 2014.
