Home Gaming Respawn: Titanfall single player would be “a step backwards”

Respawn: Titanfall single player would be “a step backwards”

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TitanfallSP

Titanfall, Respawn’s mech shooter doesn’t have anything even remotely resembling a single player campaign. Their excuse for not including one was that they had a small team, and they wanted to focus on making the best multiplayer experience possible. The hope was that the multiplatform sequel would include one – but it doesn’t seem like that’ll happen. Respawn has shot down the prospect of a single player campaign in Titanfall.

"A single-player campaign? I don’t know," Respawn  boss Vince Zampella told CVG in an interview on the future of Titanfall.. "I think we want to hit whatever part of the brain it is that triggers that feeling of a single-player campaign.

"There’s nothing wrong with a single-player experience. They should exist and they do exist and I would work on one. But doing one with this feels almost like taking a step backwards."

Titanfall director Steve Fukuda agrees, saying that it feels like going backwards.

"To me it would almost be a step backwards," he said. "Doing straight up single-player just feels a little bit to me like going back to what you know, going back…"

So instead, they’ll be focusing on making multiplayer experiences that feel like they’re cinematic enough to tell a compelling narrative within a multiplayer experience. And frankly, I don’t think that’s enough. I bought Titanfall, and I rather enjoyed it, but its world seems to be stuffed with lore that seldom gets touched on. It would be ripe for a great single player campaign. Without one, I won;t be buying the next Titanfall.

Last Updated: June 27, 2014

43 Comments

  1. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    June 27, 2014 at 14:05

    Actually I kind of agree with them.

    How often do we moan because the SP of a MP focused game is bad or vise versa.

    Focusing on what your game is meant to be is a great thing that many companies fail at lately and then just tack on the optional SP or MP as an afterthought. I take my hat off to them for sticking to their guns, so to speak.

    However I will agree that an SP game around Titanfall would still be epic.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:10

      I also kinda agree, but it’s not a deep enough game I feel with just the MP offering.

      Reply

    • Kaihaku

      June 27, 2014 at 14:23

      If that was their meaning, I think that you’re right…but they could have worded it a lot better.

      Reply

    • Lourens Jordaan

      June 27, 2014 at 14:49

      It is true that critics penalize a MP focused game if the SP isn’t up to scratch but I personally like the “Why we fight” factor. With every COD and BF game I’ve bought I completed the single player campaign before even touching the multiplayer. It places the entire “war” in context. The problem is that if the critics bash the game for certain less important aspects it negatively influences sales.
      I’m not saying that a half-assed effort for SP is ok or leaving SP out entirely is a better option, but rather that either way you go, you undermine the value of the game.
      for Titanfall I would have tried altogether different media to flesh out the back story and lore. Maybe a graphical novel or webisode series. Maybe 90 minute in-engine film, mockumentary style, expanding on the Titanfall universe that is included on your gamedisc.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        June 27, 2014 at 15:02

        Yeah I hear ya. But I think as @Anon A Mouse:disqus said perhaps allow history to be unlocked while playing MP that will reveal more and more backstory and perhaps have something like “story mode” multiplayer events. But anyway. The choice has been made I guess

        Reply

        • Lourens Jordaan

          June 27, 2014 at 15:19

          Alea jacta est. – the die is cast

          Reply

    • Anon A Mouse

      June 27, 2014 at 14:53

      Why not go MP but give “achievements” that will unlock the history behind the war, etc? I’ll never play MP, but that’s only because I despise the human race in general. But that might be a work around for the people that feel that they are missing out.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        June 27, 2014 at 15:01

        This is what I think could work too

        Reply

  2. MrChinwag

    June 27, 2014 at 14:06

    Wanna make it better.. Dont play it 😛

    Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    June 27, 2014 at 14:08

    They shot down the prospect of a single player campaign? Well they shot down a couple of million sales as well.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 27, 2014 at 15:03

      Mmmm that PS4 saltiness! 😛

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 27, 2014 at 15:35

        EA couldn’t give a toss, it’s Respawn studios that needs the cash

        Reply

  4. Liquid Kaz (Umar)

    June 27, 2014 at 14:09

    I don’t get why’d they create such great mythos for a shooter that will never focus on it. Seems like such a waste. It’s an MP shooter that’s main focus was meant to be a competitive game. They say doing SP is going backwards, yet they still slap on a make shift “Campaign” to the game….Seems like much more of a backwards mentality than making an SP campaign

    Reply

  5. Jonah Cash

    June 27, 2014 at 14:10

    Destiny has it down, you can play all those missions on your own if that is what you want to do, or you can buddy up…. and you can buddy up mid game even!!! Yes you have to be connected to the internet but I played a hell of a lot on my own over the Alpha and never felt like it wasn’t a single player game…..

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:26

      Can’t wait anymore!!!

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        June 27, 2014 at 14:28

        Man I am really in full withdrawal!! It feels like the first time I fell in love, I think I need to go and see a doctor!! I really, really want to play it again…..

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 27, 2014 at 15:04

      My point exactly. I don’t like the trend of always-online games, but at least Destiny will throw in worlds of content. Titanfall had some Call of Duty jelly blood and Brink-style parkour. Sure, the gameplay was fluid, but how many of those that lauded Titanfall were still playing it after the first month?

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        June 28, 2014 at 05:40

        Them having open weekends within the first 6 months shows me that they are not doing as well as they would have liked to!! They backed the horse with the Xbox ONE, had they launched on both consoles it might have worked……

        Reply

  6. Gavin Mannion

    June 27, 2014 at 14:11

    According to the Final Days of TitanFall (read it on the AppStore, it’s brilliant) Titanfall had a single play originally that sounded great but was scrapped due to time.. as Geoff mentioned

    So the idea of going backwards just doesn’t sit with me, Titanfall is fun but it is definitely missing a proper single player experience. The world it is set in needs more love

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:12

      Maybe the sequel will have SP?

      Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      June 27, 2014 at 14:15

      Skip the (titan) Fall, it is your Destiny…. Hahahaha, terrible joke I know but as I said below: Destiny is perma online with single player everywhere you so chose!! It doesn’t feel like a step backwards but rather a step in the right direction!!

      Reply

  7. Rince&Shitity

    June 27, 2014 at 14:12

    “I think we want to hit whatever part of the brain it is that triggers that feeling of a single-player campaign” If that was the case, the lose of that last braincell would more than likely stop those who play the game from returning…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:14

      If I’m hungry don’t show me pictures of food and hope it hits the part of my brain that controls hunger

      Reply

      • Rince&Shitity

        June 27, 2014 at 14:15

        Exactly. What a bloody stupid thing for him to say?

        Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        June 27, 2014 at 15:03

        It’s more like they’re showing you pictures of flour and hoping it hits the part of your that controls hunger for bread.
        No, wait that would imply going forward.
        It’s actually more like they’re showing you pictures of penicillin mold and hoping it hits the part of your brain that controls hunger for bread.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 27, 2014 at 15:35

          Hahahaha

          Reply

  8. Rags

    June 27, 2014 at 14:17

    There is simply no need for a SP campaign in a multiplayer game. Compare UT3 with UT99. UT99 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UT3. The fluff is simply not needed.

    There is a reason why we still play UT and Quake 3 every day after 14 years.
    SP campaign last a week. While MP is a timeless blast. Focus on making it fun, balanced and skill based and you have a winner.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:26

      I’d pay premium for an excellent SP campaign. Be it Bioshock, Killzone or Wolfenstein. DOOM is coming as well and I’m already gathering goats for the ceremonial slaughter.

      Reply

    • Kaihaku

      June 27, 2014 at 14:26

      Depends on the game. No, I never even finished the single player for UT even though it was a favorite in University…but I certainly replay Half Life’s single player periodically.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 27, 2014 at 14:27

        I finished UT because back then we only lanned on the weekends, so I played the SP weekdays.

        Reply

      • Rags

        June 27, 2014 at 15:00

        Agree. Titanfall is a new MP IP so there is no need to add a SP campaign. I just don’t get the ‘won’t buy the new one unless it has SP’. Its like saying I won’t get the new DOTA because it has no SP campaign.

        Games like Wolfenstein(Half Life too) have a legacy to consider with their excellent and highly popular MP from previous titles.

        And as Quake 4 proved, having a solid SP campaign can destroy the heart of Quake: its MP.

        Reply

  9. oVg FX

    June 27, 2014 at 14:18

    Yet Wolfenstein sold more. A Single Player FPS with NO!!! on-line.

    Reply

    • Rince&Shitity

      June 27, 2014 at 14:20

      BOOM!

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 27, 2014 at 14:23

      And Wolfenstein was fantastic, no parkour,no mechs and no boycott because we don”t need any servers to play it.

      Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      June 27, 2014 at 15:02

      Where you got those stats? Titanfall was in the top 4 UK sellers before and after Wolfy.

      Reply

  10. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 27, 2014 at 15:00

    Titanfall (in its entirety) was a step backwards.

    If you’re going for the “always-online experience”, then at least give us reason to shell out 60 dollahs. Destiny at least throws in a MMO-style campaign with oodles of content. Give us a reason to stick with the game after month one.

    No Respawn, it is you who are going backwards

    Reply

    • Rags

      June 27, 2014 at 15:05

      75 employees versus 500?

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        June 28, 2014 at 05:41

        If you want to run with the big dogs don’t piss like a puppy!! Hahahaha

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          June 28, 2014 at 10:34

          You stole the words right out of my mouth! Hahahahah!

          Reply

  11. Alien Emperor Trevor

    June 27, 2014 at 15:00

    Whatever. I’ll parkour in SP with my goat.

    Reply

  12. Brian Murphy

    June 27, 2014 at 17:33

    “Titanfall, Respawn’s meh shooter”

    Fixed

    Reply

  13. john dozer

    June 28, 2014 at 01:32

    I’m sure multi player is great but I still like single player with a story instead of just endless battles. So for me I’m out… I’ll buy Destiny or the next Halo which ever one has a single player option.

    Reply

  14. Ngoc Anh

    July 7, 2014 at 18:25

    images on funny looking.

    Reply

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