Beta Impressions

[Pegasus Actual]

So... anyone else playing? This game if f'ing legit bros. Super fast-paced. It takes a little bit of time before you get a feel for which enemies are AIs and which are players for target prioritization purposes but it's totally doable. For, what, like four years now, I've been hoping that Respawn would come through with the next big thing. This is it.

With COD being as slow and campy as it is this year, this is really hitting at the perfect time.

[wittyscorpion]

Thanks for sharing. I have been wondering how players feel about the game.

A few questions:

1) How is the weapon variety? I assume that there are multiple choices in each weapon category (AR, SMG, Shotty), just like CoD?

2) Pilot vs. Pilot: how does it compare with typical CoD? Very similar? comparable TTK? One thing I did notice from watching game plays on twitch is evasive move options seem to be much richer and players seem to have easier time to get away from unfavorable encounters;

3) Titans: it is obvious that Titans are much harder to kill. I guess that its health system is consisted of regenerable shield and a non-regenerable core health (or both are regenerable)?

4) (This is probably still too early to tell) With Titans, I assume that the game play requires more strategic thinking and teamwork? Things I can think of:

a) having teammates choose different types of Titians and focus on different "roles";
b) in titan vs. titan fight, try to get into 2+ vs. 1 situations, prioritize enemy targets, etc. (I assume that the team with more titans on the field always have a big advantage over the opposing team, therefore one main goal of the team should always be to establish and maintain that advantage)

5) (This is also probably still too early to tell) In general, how much "gun skill" factor does this game have? More than CoD, less than CoD?

[Deleted]

I was watching fwiz stream the game and he was complaining about how fast the ttk is (coincidentally he had a terrible score), I REALLY hope respawn doesn't listen to whiners like him. This is the only reason I am going to buy the game, because the weapons functionalities are practically the same as they were back in MW2.

Fjuck fwiz

[Pegasus Actual]

^TTK is pretty quick, though sometimes it can be hard to track someone with all the double jumping, wall running, and the crazy speed boost ability. Like I said, this game is fast.

[Pegasus Actual]

Feb 14, 2014 15:44:46 GMT -5 wittyscorpion said:

Thanks for sharing. I have been wondering how players feel about the game.

A few questions:

1) How is the weapon variety? I assume that there are multiple choices in each weapon category (AR, SMG, Shotty), just like CoD?

So far there's really only one weapon in each class. With a couple of attachment type options. I assume there will be more. You can get 'burn cards' which might give you a souped up version of one of the weapons for I believe just one life.

2) Pilot vs. Pilot: how does it compare with typical CoD? Very similar? comparable TTK? One thing I did notice from watching game plays on twitch is evasive move options seem to be much richer and players seem to have easier time to get away from unfavorable encounters;

Your eyes do not deceive you. Easier to get away but also more opportunities to outflank and outsmart. Really enjoying that aspect so far.

3) Titans: it is obvious that Titans are much harder to kill. I guess that its health system is consisted of regenerable shield and a non-regenerable core health (or both are regenerable)?

The former. I haven't really mastered Titan combat, but it's been fun. Your movement options are far more restricted by the map. Very important to have an exit strategy. You have a sweet fast dodge maneuver that you can use twice (with a cooldown).

4) (This is probably still too early to tell) With Titans, I assume that the game play requires more strategic thinking and teamwork? Things I can think of:
a) having teammates choose different types of Titians and focus on different "roles";
b) in titan vs. titan fight, try to get into 2+ vs. 1 situations, prioritize enemy targets, etc. (I assume that the team with more titans on the field always have a big advantage over the opposing team, therefore one main goal of the team should always be to establish and maintain that advantage)

I haven't customized a Titan yet, so I'm not sure of the depth there. The assault titan's gun seems well suited for more of an anti-pilot role though. 1v2 is tough. But 2 enemy Titans can easily block each other's shots since they're so big in a comparatively tight space a lot of the time. It's an obvious advantage for sure... but pilots can really factor into Titan battles. If I'm in a Titan I think I'd rather have a couple of pilots watching my back than another Titan but maybe that's just me.

5) (This is also probably still too early to tell) In general, how much "gun skill" factor does this game have? More than CoD, less than CoD?

Yeah it is early. There's a noob gun that auto locks after a few seconds and hooks you up with headshots. Aside from that I'd say more gun skill because everyone is flying around so fast. Recoil is super low. The most fun I was having was when I busted out the SMG and was getting in close hipfire style.

[wittyscorpion]

Feb 14, 2014 16:02:27 GMT -5 Pegasus Actual said:

^TTK is pretty quick, though sometimes it can be hard to track someone with all the double jumping, wall running, and the crazy speed boost ability. Like I said, this game is fast.

IMHO "harder to track" is a very good thing. It will impact the gamer behaviors positively in the following aspects:

1) as pegasus pointed out, encourage movement and reduce camping;
2) reward skill: aiming accuracy;
3) reward skill: evasive maneuvers during fighting;

Regarding TTK: keep it fast is good because that's how the game can attract CoD fans. Besides, the fast pilot TTK is (somewhat) balanced out by the much slower TTK of Titans.

[wittyscorpion]

Question regarding burn cards: how are these rewarded?

I assume that these are "rewards" for doing well in the game? In other words, the better a player is doing, the more chances he can get these?

[Pegasus Actual]

This is not a game for campers. Didn't see one target finder LMG or corner hugging behind an IED shotgun, honest!

Oh, and the sniper rifle in this game seems almost comical. I busted it out for one game, tried to hold a rooftop in the middle of the map near the B flag. Ok, well, didn't try, I mean I succeeded... but I literally went 0 and 0. For a whole game. Ok I sniped a few of the little AI Happy Meals that run around. But 0 and 0 in pilot terms. Maybe if I unlock the lower range scopes it would be somewhat useful. It didn't really feel like COD sniper to me. Is it a one-hit kill? I don't know I'd have to hit a pilot with the fucking thing first, lol.

[Pegasus Actual]

Not sure how burn cards are awarded? For doing challenges maybe? Playing well in general? They're not available until you level up a bit and then you have to unlock it in a menu somewhere. It felt kind of like Ghosts squad points. They just kind of get awarded and I don't really know why

They get awarded after the game, you select which ones you take into a round. And they are one-use and gone. You can have a max of three once you're leveled enough.

[wittyscorpion]

Quick Google search of "titanfall burn card" found

1) this article: gamerant.com/titanfall-burn-cards-feature-details/

2) this video from IGN:


3) this wikipedia entry: titanfall.gamepedia.com/Burn_Cards

2 says they are rewarded "randomly", while 3 says they are rewarded after earning an achievement. I think the latter makes a lot more sense.

[tiesieman]

Any of you lads got a spare code :x?

[deston]

Got the mail yesterday, downloading now. Twelve gigs, had to install bloody Origin. Haven't seen much more than a few 5 second clips so far, but I'm sure it'll be good. Still reluctant to think I might end up paying money to EA, but we'll see after the beta... Hopefully it will run on my current pc. Will get a new pc the coming week, but I'm not certain how long the beta will run for.

Also, my teammate supposedly signed up for the pc beta and got an xbox one code. Apparently a lot of people have been 'trolled' this way by EA.

[wittyscorpion]

I believe that if you got the code for the wrong platform you can exchange it for the right one.

More questions/comments after watching more game play:

1) it seems to me that it is hard to visually differentiate between bots and real players. What are the tells? 1) jetpacks more advanced move pattern? 2) minimap?

2) Map size is a tricky issue. As it stands right now, they are the right size for titans, but too big for 6v6 pilots. I guess that's why they have to put in bots to fill the space. Hopefully if this game is successful the next one can support 9v9 or even 12v12 and get rid of the bots.

[LeGitBeeSting]

Feb 14, 2014 18:32:21 GMT -5 tiesieman said:

Any of you lads got a spare code :x?

I have 2 PC codes and 1 Xboner code now.

[Deleted]

Here is a pretty good review of the beta by TotalBiscuit

[torrero]

This game is absolutely amazing. Once you get the hang of the whole wall running/double jump thing, it becomes one of the most fast paced shooters I have seen in a while. I will definitely be pre-ordering this and as of right now, I fully expect it to replace COD as my go to game.

[tiesieman]

Right. Unpopular opinion here. I don't like it very much.

Netcode is client-side, which doesn't collide very well with very high movement speeds aka lotsa past wall sorta deaths.
Titan balance seems kinda messed up. Getting a quick titan usually means you win in the TDM mode

Also I feel like the titan combat in general is a bit lacking. It's best when you're sorta duelling with another titan but that hardly ever happens

Matches are waaaaay too short, and I feel like the pilot-phase ends too early


edit: Oh yeah I forgot that I think the burn cards are a cool concept but they fuck with the pacing of each match even more by basically giving you option to spawn with a power weapon. fun times

[torrero]

I do agree the matches seem pretty short. I have only really played the attrition mode, which can seem to end pretty fast.

I havent really experienced issues with the netcode or lag, if anything the hit detection seems pretty spot on. I do notice there are times when the frame rate will crash down. Typically this happens when there are 4+ Titans on the field all going crazy. Doesnt seem to be too terrible tho, and hopefully its something they can fix

[Pegasus Actual]

This game is pure crack.

Loving the shotgun:


I like the Titan combat as well. Fast Titan is a big advantage, but hey if you really want you can just cower indoors in fear and wait for your Titan. The thing I don't like about burn cards is that you have to constantly manage them. Kind of tedious. As far as balance goes well.. pretty much everyone is going to go into each match with three of these so it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I really liked the amped LMG... I assume there will be a non-amped version in the real game?

Was just going to get the Xbox version but now I'm leaning towards getting PC as well. Though I need a new graphics card, GTX460 SLI not cutting it here, running 1600x900 low settings... ouch!

Oh and personally I think the rounds are the perfect length. Beatdowns don't get dragged out.

[tiesieman]

Don't get me wrong, I think there's lotsa good stuff in here. Was really impressed with how fluid the movement is, especially with the animations when entering your titan. Very crisp

Just feel like there's something very very off with the pacing of all things

[torrero]

One thing I will say that I havent figured out yet is the minimap.

Anyone have any idea how the colors system works out. I see red dots, orange dots, red arrows (titans), faded red (kinda) arrows (titans), and various sizes of each dot.... seems confusing and I havent really been able to make a ton of sense of it all.

I assume some are indcating pilots vs grunts but unsure.

[Pegasus Actual]

Big dots are enemy pilots, smaller dots are grunts and spectres. Not sure about the fading coding. Maybe faded red-arrow = auto-pilot titan? I run the perk that lets you see enemy minions on your map at all times, in that case light red small dots are said minions and they go full red when they start firing.

[Deleted]

How is the shotgun? Is comparable to a MW2 spas 12?

[tiesieman]

Shotgun is semi auto and has terrible spread and range, but mobility is much higher making it pretty decent I guess

[deston]

Shotgun = fun

Short reply for now, but I will say this. My current pc is almost literally the minimum requirement specs and I can play the game really fluently, no hickups (everything lowest & low resolution). Well done to Respawn for that.

Regardless of that... I am waiting on parts for a new pc. Titanfall soon, beta now, hopefully TESO beta within a week or so. Good times.

[wittyscorpion]

Beta is now open for everyone on XBox One. No beta code is needed, just go to game demos and download it.

[qupie]

Feb 15, 2014 9:35:41 GMT -5 LeGitBeeSting said:

Feb 14, 2014 18:32:21 GMT -5 tiesieman said:

Any of you lads got a spare code :x?

I have 2 PC codes and 1 Xboner code now.

Do you still have a pc code to spare? Or the xbox one? I can probably concert it to a pc one. Pretty please

[qupie]

Feb 16, 2014 6:01:22 GMT -5 qupie said:

Feb 15, 2014 9:35:41 GMT -5 LeGitBeeSting said:

I have 2 PC codes and 1 Xboner code now.

Do you still have a pc code to spare? Or the xbox one? I can probably concert it to a pc one. Pretty please

Nevermind, my spam filter fought it...

[Usagi]

I have a spare PC code and an Xbone code if anybody wants them.

[wittyscorpion]

As I mentioned above, Beta is now completely open for XBox One so code is no longer needed: majornelson.com/2014/02/15/xbox-one-titanfall-beta-opening-up-to-everyone/

PC beta could be opened up too, "possibly":