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Titanfall 2 Tech Test: Week 2 Impressions



                Last weekend Respawn Entertainment released a weekend Tech Test demo for the rest of August. This weekend is the last time you can enter the public test servers. Most of the features released on the first weekend was still in the second week. There are some new changes for the second Tech Test. A new map for more verity, some minor changes for Amped Hardpoint and Bounty Hunt, and something that all players will enjoy is the Amped happy hour event. These features are not finalized and might change in the full game’s release. These are the changes I hoped for on the second week of the test. Respawn did an excellent job responding (get it? cause their Respawn) to the community. They knew what the community wanted and applied it to the game.

        
            Titanfall 2’s second tech test weekend had major changes to gameplay, along with new weapons. Increase in movement, Titan meters, and easier sights from enemy players. The movement in Titanfall 2 is seamless, I have nothing to change from the first tech test. And for the second tech test they increase all aspects of movement, max wall-running speed, base wall-running speed, acceleration while jumping off walls, and Titan dashes recharge 2 seconds faster. They also fixed what amount a Titan meter gets filled up, now every five seconds a small amount will fill-up. I didn’t think these changes were needed, especially the increase in movement, but I guess the majority of the player-base didn’t think the movement was up to par.

Titanfall 2’s Tech Test #2  Patch Notes
           
            The second tech test for Titanfall 2, Respawn added a new map exclusive to Amped Hardpoint mode, called “Forward Base Kodai.” From the limited time I had on this map, it’s a big desert map with open areas in the outer perimeter. The center of the map is where most pilots will roam in, because it’s covered from Titans. The center is filled with undercover areas. It’s also tight, with no room to see where enemy players are moving. This allows players to move freely without exposing yourself to opposing players.


This second weekend test I spent most of my time with Amped Hardpoint, rather than Bounty Hunt. I knew they changed and balanced some feature for Amped Hardpoint, along with Bounty Hunt, I wanted to see what changes they made for the modes. My time with Amped Hardpoint for the first weekend was not as enjoyable as Bounty Hunt, but the second weekend Respawn added much needed changes. The new map will be specific too Amped Hardpoint to allow for open spaces to move and traverse. 

One of the things that kept me off this mode is that Titians will appear less often. Now the Titan meter fills up faster for every kill and objective you complete. This mode kept me coming back the whole weekend, mostly because of the happy hour event for Amped Hardpoint. It was held only on Saturday from 9-10am PT and 4-5pm PT, anyone who participates will receive an exclusive callsign when Titanfall 2 fully releases on October 28, 2016.


Now Bounty Hunt also had some balancing changes. This mode is most enjoyable for me, but the mode has its low points. Like matches running out of time rather than completing the mode’s objective. They lowered the amount of cash to complete the objective, it was 6000 now changed to 5000 to balance the time of the match. Another change for Bounty Hunt is the length of the bank’s time. It has changed from 60 seconds to 45 seconds. Respawn did a good job balancing the two modes and pilot gameplay. The changes were small but felt much bigger, like a much different game.

            The tech test is now over, now everyone will have to wait until October 28 to play the full game of Titanfall 2. With the hours I clocked in, I’m excited to play the full version of the game. The multi-player aspect is a great experience; I got really involved and connected to every match I played.


But the multi-player is a second thought to me. What I really want out of this game is the narrative. The story between a Titan and a pilot. Watching previews for the campaign, I notice they are going all-out for the campaign. Their marketing is directed to the single-player gamers and their narrative aspect of the game. It makes sense for them to go in hard for the campaign, because the lack of narrative in the first game. Now they will resonate to all gamers, if you’re a competitive multi-player Respawn has it, if you’re a solo-player Respawn has it with the campaign. I can’t wait until I get my hands on the full game. And go explore with my Titan companion.

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