A genre that’s been around for at least a century or two, Sci-Fi is still one of the most popular genres in pop-culture. Whether it’s superhero movies,Star Wars, cyberpunk animes, or just about anything with aliens, robots or electronics,the Sci-Fi genredominates the worlds of movies, TV, and video games. And at the very top of one of the most popular genres in gaming wasHalo, the peak Sci-Fi military shooter that’s inspired every Sci-Fi game since. ButHalo’s time in the spotlight has come to an end, and it’s time forTitanfall 3to finally step out of the shadows.
WhenTitanfallreleased back in 2014, it was met with a bit of a mixed reception. Though itsparkour-shooter/mech gameplaywas innovative, its reliance on multiplayer-only modes was a little disappointing. But with the release ofTitanfall 2in 2016, perception of the series changed dramatically, and even seven years later,Titanfall 2is still considered one of the best shooters around and one of the best Sci-Fi games of all time. And while EA and Respawn have repeatedly refuted thatTitanfall 3is in development, fans should never say never, asHalo Infinite’s loss could easily beTitanfall 3’s gain.
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What Titanfall 3 Could Learn From Halo Infinite
It’s no secret thatHalo Infinitehasn’t quite worked out as well as both fans and 343 Industries would have hoped. ThoughHalo Infinite’s multiplayercomponent started out strong, with gameplay reminiscent of the franchise’s golden age, its lackluster attempt to follow a live-service model only led to disappointment, and when bundled together with a confused campaign mode and a severe lack of additional features that are considered staples of the franchise,Halo Infinitehas left a sour taste in fans' mouths. But it isn’t all bad.
At its core,Halo Infiniteis not a bad game.Halo Infinitereally shined when it gave fans exactly what they wanted,a traditionalHaloexperience. In its first few weeks,Halo Infinite’s reception was overwhelmingly positive, with fans loving the return to simple-to-learn but difficult-to-master arena-shooter gameplay. But by making the game live-service, 343 Industries wasted a lot of the fans' initial good faith in the game.
The biggest lesson that a hypotheticalTitanfall 3can learn fromHalo Infiniteis to just stick with what made the series so beloved in the first place. The most adored aspect ofTitanfallis its engrossing high-octane gameplay, blending tight shooting mechanics with fluid parkour maneuvers, all topped off with empowering mech gameplay.Titanfall 3should make its gameplay its sole focus.Titanfall 3shouldn’t worry about a Battle Pass or a constant stream of new content, as it should just focus on delivering a tight and funTitanfallexperience that’s complete on launch.
Halo Infinitealso suffered from a pretty big scaling issue. 343 Industries tried to makeHalo Infinitethe biggest and bestHaloso far, and it’s that elevated scope that led to some of the game’s biggest problems. WhileHalo Infinite’s open-worldwas initially quite fun to explore, evoking the same feelings as some ofHalo: Combat EvolvedandHalo 3’s best moments, its lack of side activities made it a little redundant.Titanfall 3shouldn’t adopt a “bigger means better” approach to its own campaign or its multiplayer. One of the most well-loved elements ofTitanfall 2was its short but thrilling campaign mode, with its tight level design and experimental, unique gameplay being a true highlight.Titanfall 3doesn’t need to make things bigger, it just needs to hone in on what made the series so beloved in the first place. With theHalofranchise losing its way, there’s now a big spot at the top of the Sci-Fi gaming genre ready to be filled, andTitanfall 3should seize that opportunity as soon as it can.
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