With Titanfall 2 technically Respawn Entertainment’s first swing at a singleplayer story experience, all eyes are on how the developer will deliver the pulse-pounding Titanfall experience fans love, in a narrative, solo form. Only a few months away from release, the team is beginning to pull back the curtain a bit more when it comes to what gamers can expect from the sequel.
As Respawn showcased in the singleplayer reveal trailer, Titanfall 2 follows Jack Cooper, an inexperienced Pilot, and BT-7274, a Titan without a Pilot. Both stranded, the two team up to survive. “Titanfall 2 is about the bond between Jack and BT. That’s the essence of the story we want to tell,” Respawn says in a post on the game’s website. In an effort to help that “buddy story” really take shape, the game will feature dialogue choices for when Jack talks to BT.
Though the dialogue options “don’t change the outcome of the game, they give you a fun way to banter with BT by choosing the tone that best reflects your own personality,” the developer continues. But that is only a single example of how Respawn is crafting an experience fans might not expect.
“While you’ll experience a wide range of intense battles as a Pilot and as a Titan during your journey with BT, those experiences will be contrasted against opportunities for exploration and some quieter moments of contemplation.”
Respawn is keen to avoid letting singleplayer feel like simply a training ground for multiplayer. Though the same skills will transfer between the two, the team is looking to make the solo portion of the game able to stand on its own. “We wanted to create something new and fresh, taking full advantage of the gameplay pillars of Pilot mobility, Pilot combat, and Titan combat.”
And with that as a framework, the team doesn’t seem to be planning to skimp on story this time around. “One thing that surprised us after the release of the first Titanfall was just how much fans wanted to learn about the universe. This sentiment gave us an extra push to find ways of delivering lore across all parts of Titanfall 2.”
The game comes to PS4, Xbox One and PC October 28.