Story
When it comes down to both Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1’s campaigns, each one offers something completely different. Battlefield 1’s shorter war stories give us a short and sweet glimpse into the lives of a number of different soldiers, while Titanfall 2’s campaign shows us the importance of the bond between pilot and Titan. When it comes to a solid storyline, however, Battlefield 1 grabs it.
Granted, Battlefield 1 is based on the real-world events from World War I, but the way in which DICE has managed to expertly craft these stories, make these characters truly feel real, and wrap them up into bite-size yet wholly fulfilling blocks of missions is an impressive feat. Titanfall 2, on the other hand, is by no means telling a bad story, but it just didn’t feel quite as succinct and well put together as its opponent. The story was clearly left open for a sequel, the ending felt all too rushed, and the pacing flitted between feeling dragged out and going way too fast. On this occasion, Battlefield 1 has the leverage.
Multiplayer
While single-player campaigns are important and all, both Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 really shine when you take them online. Once again, however, they offer completely different experiences. Battlefield 1 offers large-scale team-based action, whereas Titanfall 2 provides a fast-paced battlefield with huge mechs able to decimate an entire team when put to good use.
Judging which game has the best multiplayer is incredibly tricky as, ultimately, it comes down to what kind of online experience you prefer. If you enjoy feeling like a small cog in a large war machine, then Battlefield 1 is likely going to be your jam. Prefer the fast-paced, chaotic action of wallrunning, parkour, and giant robots? Then you’ll want to choose Titanfall 2. From our own personal experiences, we preferred the time we spent with Titanfall 2, though Battlefield 1 was close behind.
Gameplay
While we’ve touched a little bit on gameplay in the multiplayer section, it’s an important factor to consider overall. Both of these two games are on opposite ends of the scale when it comes to the FPS genre, but both doing their own thing incredibly well. Battlefield 1’s action may feel a little slower and clunkier, but it brings a level of realism and authenticity to the WWI setting that cannot be met elsewhere. Its focus on a variety of vehicular warfare and on-foot assaults on huge maps provide a sense of scale unrivaled in other FPS titles.
Titanfall 2 focuses on bringing a futuristic feel to the now iconic Call of Duty gameplay mechanics. Everything feels largely the same, except you’ve got a jetpack, can wallrun, oh and call in a giant mech. Titanfall 2 isn’t going for realism, but instead an adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster ride. Whether you’re playing the campaign or online multiplayer, Titanfall 2 keeps the action consistently fast and smooth.
Both are a joy to play for different reasons, and which suits you best will ultimately be decided by your preferences for realism and authenticity or off-the-scale chaotic action. We’re calling this one a draw.
Visuals
Both Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 have certainly benefited from EA’s excellence in the visuals department with each title looking stunning. As you explore a foreign alien planet and the facilities built upon it, checking out every nook and cranny of the world is a treat thanks to some fantastic lighting effects and lush scenery.
Battlefield 1 meanwhile uses the power of the Frostbite engine for realistic destruction and physics effects, incredible detail to character models, and lifelike explosions. Watching the sands of Arabia shift as you travel on horseback, flying through the clouds in a plane, or storming a war-torn village in a tank, each one’s authentic feel is only further accentuated by the almost gritty style. The detail on the barrel of every gun and vehicle is something that surpasses many other titles out there. For that, Battlefield 1 gains another edge over Titanfall 2.
Review Scores
When taking into account the opinions of other critics in the industry, the gap between both Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 doesn’t get much wider at all. While we personally enjoyed Battlefield 1 a tiny bit more overall than Titanfall 2, the two games have no light between them when it comes to Metacritic.
That’s right, both games across all three platforms average out with a score of 88 from critic scores. Battlefield 1 was praised for its unique style of presentation, compelling campaign, and tactical gameplay, while Titanfall 2’s inventiveness, strong gameplay mechanics, and frantic multiplayer were its highlights.
With virtually nothing between these two titans of the FPS genre when it comes to critic reviews, this one has to be marked off as a draw.
Who Wins?
Both Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 do things that are completely different, but are similar in the high level at which they’re executed. Ultimately, which one is best falls down to what kind of experience you’re after. Battlefield 1’s large-scale battles may be ideal for some, whereas others may prefer a more confined and chaotic online experience.
Regardless of which you pick up, you’re sure to be in for an excellent experience with plenty of replayability and an enjoyable campaign. Which one is your winner? Share your thoughts down in the comments below.
