Titanfall is a first-person multiplayer shooter that supports up to twelve players at the same time. It takes place on a war-torn planet with two factions (the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation (IMC) and the Militia). It contains conflicts between pilots on foot or onboard gigantic mech-style Titans. The game has six game modes: Attrition (team deathmatch with hostage rescuers versus kidnappers), Capture the Flag, Hardpoint (capture and hold three locations), Last Titan Standing (last player alive wins, and all players start in a Titan), Pilot Hunter (score for the team by killing pilots, not Titans – at the end of the match, respawns are disabled and the losing team must reach an evacuation point/dropship for additional experience), there is also a Campaign mode for each group, which includes a variety of game formats and chunks of story in between missions.
The game is fast-paced, and when on foot, pilots can wall jump, and link parkour jumps with a jet-boosted belt. In a general game, participants begin by selecting a pilot type. Assault rifles, SMGs, shotguns, sniper rifles, and innovative pistols are available weaponry. During the contest, a countdown (usually three minutes) counts until a Titan can be deployed. Killing other players will reduce the timer countdown. A pilot can board a Titan as it falls from the sky. Titan mobility is radically different, but it is still agile. Because a Titan cannot jump, crouch, or seek shelter, the pilot’s double jump is replaced by a dash. A Titan has unique weapons and is significantly more potent than other Titans. When under attack, it can be ejected at any time, and commands can be issued to have it follow or guard you. Other players can try to board and throw a player out. These can be repelled using electric smoke, and a Titan has unique abilities, like the vortex blocker, which can stop incoming projectiles, gather them, and return them in midair. Pilots might be crushed as well. A new countdown timer begins when a Titan is destroyed.
Burn cards (up to three per match) provide temporary power-ups, and AI-controlled minions come in three varieties: grunts, marvins, and specters. Pilots can level up and gain persistent experience in the game. This, for example, determines the loadouts for both pilots and Titans pre to each match. The available slots for pilots allow for a primary weapon with mod and attachment, an anti-Titan weapon, a sidearm, a tactical ability (such as cloak, stim, or active radar pulse), and kits with tier-specific capabilities. The loadout for a Titan comprises the chassis, primary weapon with mod, tactical knowledge, ordinance weapon, and several kits.
