3.5/5 ★ – cha0sknightmare's review of Titanfall 2.

Titanfall 2's campaign certainly packs enough high-octane punch to leave you craving more. Tight gameplay, creative level design, and bombastic set-pieces form a three-pronged assault on the senses that the game maintains throughout its far to brief duration. Graphically, Titanfall 2 still holds up spectacularly, even nine years and a console generation later. Environmental details are rich, locations are varied and dense, and the semi-futuristic military and industrial theming pops. This quality extends to the audio design, which is excellent across the board and punctuated by punchy, satisfying weapon sound effects. While the number of levels on offer is limited, each one feels unique and introduces its own twists. Respawn truly pushed the envelope here, experimenting with mechanics like in-game time dilation or the dynamic construction and deconstruction of levels in real time. These twists work in perfect harmony with the gunplay and smooth first-person parkour, creating thrilling, moment-to-moment gameplay. I’d go as far as to say the creativity on display here invokes the spirit of Half-Life 2 and Portal-era Valve. It would be remiss not to mention the Titans, so let’s just say they feel suitably effective in combat and deliver exactly the kind of power fantasy you’d hope for when piloting one. There are multiple Titan loadouts that unlock throughout the campaign, each introducing new mechanics and weapons to the mix. While some of these loadouts feel underdeveloped or underutilized, the variety they bring is still appreciated. That said, an easier way to swap loadouts without pausing gameplay to navigate menus would have been a welcome addition. Similarly, more environmental interactivity that encouraged swapping loadouts would have added a layer of depth that feels missing from the Titan's combat-only gameplay. Where Titanfall 2 really stumbles, however, is in its story. The narrative treads familiar ground, with predictable story beats and unremarkable characters. Weak villains and voice acting that leaves much to be desired further detract from the experience. Even in its weaker areas, though, there are moments of brilliance. The chemistry between the protagonist and his Titan, BT, feels surprisingly genuine, and their banter provides the closest thing to heartfelt character interactions in the game. Unfortunately, there’s a tendency to repeat the same emotional beats too often between the two, which softens the impact of what could have been more meaningful payoffs. Titanfall 2 is a great package, one that can be found relatively cheap and will provide you with a solid gameplay experience. It's campaign is to short and it's weak story and characters ultimately hold it back from the greatness that could have been. The game is still worth your time though, it's just a shame that a sequel is unlikely. Some games aren’t fully appreciated or recognized at launch but, over time, are looked back on fondly, sometimes even gaining cult classic status. A few examples I’d put in this category are Beyond Good & Evil, EarthBound and Spec Ops: The Line. Part of me thinks that, given another 5–10 years, people might start to mention Titanfall 2 in this same category too.