I had signed up for the Titanfall Beta on Xbox One as early as I could. On Friday along with many others I was ‘patiently’ refreshing my emails, alas nothing arrived until Saturday, but I was jumping for joy either way. Now I could play part of the game that was initially going to be released on launch of the Xbox One console, and inform you kind readers of my experience of course.
Starting the beta, you go through a training session for a pilot and a Titan. They are not going to plunge you head first into an online battle whilst you guess what buttons you need to press. I was initially imagining me doing this, picture some person shooting at me whilst I am jumping and running like a complete spaz going “I can’t find the button to punch this guy!!!”.
Panic aside, you go through the training and have the option to go through it again. It is then time for the big guns. This game is fast paced and eventful. The slightest mistake can cause your death.
“You don’t dread seeing you are against a Titan unless you are in it’s line of sight.”
There were two maps available in the beta, supposedly there will be more when the actual game is released as well as other content. We have had a snip of what the game will provide. When you hear the teams are six a side, you wonder if you will spend ages walking around trying to find an opponent to fire lead at. This is far from the case, here are NPCs placed around the maps for each sides so there is generally always something to shoot and all kills are of benefit, unless its yourself or your own team member.
Graphics are smooth and if they are to be improved for the release then that will be a bonus, as I feel they are acceptable as they stand with the beta. Everyone wants even better graphics though, no matter how good they are.
I tend to prefer games where I am slightly non human. Due to using them for escapism, I think, I can get shot once in real life and die, I want to be invincible when I play a game. Titanfall has a mixture of both. Your pilot can die very easily. However your titan, is a different kettle of fish. You have a health bar and a shield. Taking cover, will regenerate your shield if damaged. You can die in your Titan if not careful, either not ejecting in time or getting pulled out by another Titan. Frustrating if you are the victim, but extremely satisfying if you are the executor.
Pilots versus Titans in fights is fair. You don’t dread seeing you are against a Titan unless you are in it’s line of sight. If that happens, run as if your own arse is on fire.
Getting around the environment as a pilot is different with jumping but it adds to the speed of the battles and the game. Titans cannot go into the small places. You can leave your Titan to guard or follow you with it’s AI system.
There are three types of matches on Titanfall Beta, I imagine there will be more on the release of the game, Respawn are not divulging the information of what extra content there will be in the game compared to the beta.
There was no lag on the server I was playing on. It was great to have a game that was uninterrupted by lag spikes. This may be due to me being on the West Europe server rather than one reaching further than that distance. I did find on my server for people to be slightly unsociable. Not that I was forcing people to speak. Literally no one spoke. Well I lie, there were some French on the opposing team. I did German at school so I could pick up very few words. In fact the only German I remember is “Ich habe ein Etui” which is, I have a pencil case. A sentence that is used in everyday conversation. Anyway, the only other people that spoke were English and very ignorant. Mentioned the word “kids” and continued to ignore me. As I explained to one moron who called me a “little boy” on Halo. I am of the female species, is getting his arse handed to him on a plate by a little boy more appealing than by a woman. He got another pistol whip in the face for that one. As you have gathered by this paragraph, I am a little disappointed by the social etiquette of fellow Western Europe players I have gamed with. Team work can be the key with battles and people just aren’t bothering. Nothing that the developers can do about that though really.
Overall thoughts:
So, is it worth buying this game? Yes! Mine is pre-ordered. I am looking forward to playing more of Titanfall with the full content and of course the good old achievement points. Registration, for a Titan to be assigned to my persona full time completed. You can guarantee a full review will be on it’s way to you on release.
