Titanfall

Titanfall created instant buzz when it was announced last year. Here was something that looked fresh and exciting and ready to revitalize the first-person shooter genre.

So, does it live up to the hype? Yes and no. There's not a huge amount that's new about Titanfall. Mechs? Seen them before. A bit of parkour? It's been done. But it's how Titanfall combines them all to make a first-person shooter a little different that is the appeal.

Titanfall is all about multiplayer, even in the campaign mode. There are no solo runs. But the campaign feels a little thin – two factions, facing off with a bit of light narrative – so the multiplayer battles is where it really shines.

Regardless of what mode you’re in, you have two options for playing. As a pilot, you’re agile and fast, with the ability to run up walls, jump large gaps thanks to a jet pack, and get better vantage points to take out your opponents. Then there’s the aforementioned titans, heavy-duty mechs with serious firepower to back up their pilots. You can hop inside to control the titan, or control it from afar. Either way, it’s formidable.

You start the multiplayer mode on foot, facing down your opponents. After a couple of minutes, everyone has the chance to call in their titans, bringing cold, hard steel into the game with a satisfying thunk and crushing everything beneath them.

As a titan you are slower to move, but far more powerful. You have shields that renew if you hide out from the crossfire, but if you sustain too much damage, you need to eject before things get too hot.

For players less than perfect at FPS games, Titanfall is more forgiving, thanks to AI soldiers that can help boost your experience. And as you play, you earn power-ups that can do everything from boost speed to firepower.

Titanfall isn't the perfect next-gen game for the Xbox One. It doesn't take advantage of the improved graphics power behind console. And the online-only requirement means you're at the mercy of servers. Still, it brings a fresh look at FPS, which is welcome.