2019-07-01_PC_Gamer

T

he revealtrailerfor
Jedi: FallenOrderis
full ofminorfeatsof
impossibility.The
protagonistleaps
great chasms, runsonvertical
surfaces, and loosensthesturdy
metal panels of a spaceshipusing
only the spiritual spannerinhis
mind. I’ve played powerfantasies
like this before andambracingfor
it to feel more like Jedi:FallenOver
under my fumblingfingers.

Or at least I was untilI wentbackto
Titanfall 2. Respawn’sonlysingle-
player campaign to dateis the
sensible place to lookforpointerson
how its Star Wars gamemightplay,
and it bodes well forFallenOrder’s
acrobatics. I really likehowforgiving
Titanfall is of my jumpsandwallruns

• matching my intentions,rather
  than punishing me forputtinga foot
  wrong or botching alanding.There’s
  no fall damage, somethingI’ve
  confirmed through empirical,if
  accidental, testing. Idriftunhurriedly
  through the air like MaryPoppins,
  and the double jumpallowsmeto
  correct my directionmid-flight– soI
  don’t necessarily evenneedtoknow
  where I’m going beforeI leap.It’sa

setofsystemsdesignedtodeliveron

thedreamofmebeinga Pilot,a

mech-meldingparkoursharpshooter,

andisn’tconditionalonmeactually

knowinghowtodothosethings.

Otherstudioshavemadeusfeel

special,ofcourse– it’salmostthe

industrystandardtobabyusinto

believingwe’rebrilliant.But

Respawn’smagicis topairthat

feelingofpowerwitha terrible

senseofvulnerability.

Asa Pilot,I canfeelall-too-

squishable– especiallyonoccasions

whereI’mcaughtoutofmytitanas

themechsstartfightingabovemy

flimsyhead.TurnsoutI rarelyfeel

moreconnectedtoa worldaswhen

I’matriskofbeingmushedintoit.

Ye s ,Titanfall 2 is a powerfantasy,but

it doesn’tcompromiseonthevery

humanexperienceofabsolutely

shittingyourpants.

TITANSVSJEDI

It’sthathumanconnectionI’m

hopingRespawnwillbringtoFallen

Order. Whisperit,butit’snorealloss

if thestudioleavestheTitanfall

universebehind– beyondthetitans

themselves,there’snothing

particularlydistinctiveaboutit.But

thewayRespawntellsa storyis

secondtonone.IfI simplyinform

youthatyourenemiesinTitanfall 2

arebuilding,essentially,multiplayer

arenastopracticekillingyouin,it’s

aninterestingtitbit.Buttheway

Respawndoesit – pullingyouallthe

wayalongtheproductionline,

piecingtogetheranIkeacolony

beforeyoureyes,andthenleaving

youtofightinthetrainingground

you’vejustseenfabricated– is

devastating,bringinghometheodds

againstyourfrontiermilitia.Swap

thoserebelsforthedowntrodden

Jedianda worldasdeepandbeloved

asStarWars,andI believeRespawn

candosomethingextraordinary.

JEREMYPEEL

THISMONTH

Believeda

super-soldiercouldfly

ALSOPLAYED

Jalopy

SeeingtheStarWarspotentialinTITANFALL 2

“I drift unhurriedly through

the air like Mary Poppins”

I DON’TNECESSARILYEVEN

NEEDTOKNOWWHEREI’M

GOINGBEFOREI LEAP

It’snotjustthetitanswhofall.

The floor is lava.

NOW PLAYING (^) I UPDATE I MOD SPOTLIGHT I GUIDE I HOW TO I DIARY I REINSTALL I M U S T P L A Y
EXTRA LIFE