The Xbox 360 version of Titanfall finally received the new update which brings the Wingman Last Titan Standing and Pilot Skirmish modes to the multiplayer. Having heard of the features of Pilot Skirmish, i.e. 8v8 players, no AI bots, no Titans, I was eager to give it a try and see just how fun it was. After playing it for a few hours, I must say: this mode is the much needed variety that Titanfall probably could have had from the beginning.
When Titanfall launched back in March earlier this year (and April for Xbox 360) the famine of multiplayer modes was a big hit to the longevity of the game, among other problems. This was rectified in time with the addition of new modes and updates, as well as the DLC maps which are actually quite varied and exciting. However, one of the biggest issues players had with Titanfall, myself included to some extent, was its severe insistence on having AI bots and Titans in absolutely every mode, without any variations to player count. This lack of variety was a shame for a game like Titanfall, which boasted a stellar next gen multiplayer experience and only delivered a few modes and weapons. This doesn’t mean that the gameplay itself isn’t fun, because it is, however the lack of content overall put a lot of people off.
That’s where Pilot Skirmish comes in. The mode itself isn’t the ‘game changer’ some thought it would be, but it’s instead a supplementary mode that’s based directly off of Titanfall’s core gameplay. Indeed, there are no AI bots appearing all over the place and absolutely no one can summon Titans (not even with a Burn Card), meaning that all the action is player against player. And in my humble opinion, I found this to be exhilarating. Sure, a lot of Titanfall’s excitement comes from the Titan engagements and crazy cinematic moments, but the rush you gain from just pure gunplay is something I felt like this game was missing. The act of shooting at player controlled pilots was sometimes few and far between, lost in all the fluff, particle effects and falling mechs. Pilot Skirmish eliminates all the noise and gets you right into the thick of it.
No gimmicks, just gunplayThat isn’t to say the mode is perfect. Perhaps due to it being on its first legs or perhaps the game can’t handle the 4 additional players; the connection isn’t always competent and the map can feel empty. Very empty. The large Titanfall maps become more apparent in size when there’s no hulking mechs walking around and no AI grunts for you to shoot while running about. At the same time though, I found myself better able to get accustomed to the map layouts in relation to pursuing or fleeing from opponents, no longer having to quickly wall run to avoid a Titan. There’s always the more quiet moments where you can get to admire the environments and watch the real time events happen in the backdrops and skylines of each map. Pilot Skirmish is fully based on the Titanfall engine and isn’t a mode that particularly ‘changes the game’ and that’s just fine.
Some may feel that this draws comparisons to Halo or Call of Duty, due to the lack of Titans or bots, but the game is still Titanfall through and through. Every weapon, ability and equipment remains the same and can be applied the same way in the moment-to-moment gameplay. The big change you’ll notice is that the meta-game shifts more drastically than even that of Last Titan Standing (one of my own person favorite modes) and you’ll have to put your parkour and shooting skills to the test. There’s no hand holding or time to breath; with 8 players on the enemy team, it’s a constant battle for survival as you maneuver your way through buildings to gun down the next opponent. The best thing about this mode is that with it being optional, it’s a fun break from all the other modes. It’s important to note that this doesn’t completely divorce you from the rest of the game, since most challenges can only be completed by shooting bots and Titans, so you’ll still have to stick to Titanfall as it is overall.
Just like how Last Titan Standing places an emphasis on head-to-head mech battles, Pilot Skirmish brings the fight to the pilots. I feel like if this mode were available from launch (alongside the other modes introduced down the line) it would have given this game that much needed variety to keep the experience fresh and accessible. While I still think Titanfall is fun and has achieved relative success, I also believe that options are the spice that keeps multiplayer shooters alive and hopefully the Titanfall sequel(s) will learn from this.
