Oh, there are moments when this game feels like it could have been the most memorable FPS of this generation. In particular, when I hit the middle two or three levels, I experienced several "wow" moments while enjoying the innovative and creative gameplay mechanics that the boys over at Respawn cooked up. In one level, I had to use my wall-running and double-jumping abilities to the utmost in a sequence that felt like a first-person platformer combined with a fast-paced shoot 'em up. In the next, a time-travel device had me seamlessly transitioning from the past to the present in order to navigate through the level and defeat my enemies. For instance, when a shielded enemy appeared in front of me, I could hit a button to go back to the past, maneuver myself behind the the bad guy's position, and then returning to the present to blast his exposed flank. Pure joy.
Other positives include the meaty feeling of the weapons and the smoothness of the controls, which made this one of the most tactile and viscerally pleasing FPS titles that I've enjoyed in a while . . . perhaps since the original Halo. I also love the dynamic between the player-character and his Titan, BT, who has a fond place in my memory and (perhaps) in the pantheon of great AI characters.
The puzzling part of this game is why it discards its most inventive and exhilarating mechanics after teasing them in a single level. In most games, the introduction of new abilities leads to levels where the complexity gradually scales up and require the use of combinations of the character's expanding pool of talents. Here, however, each level feels like a standalone experimental sub-game, where a specific device or mechanic shines, only to be discarded in the next level. I wonder whether there were different development teams handling different levels! These constant bait-and-switches make Titanfall 2 feel like a study in untapped potential in some ways, albeit an incredibly fun one.
There are other minor quibbles. The default difficulty setting is a bit too easy, so experienced gamers should start on a higher level. Also, the story is forgettable, although that's par for the course for this entire genre. Even with all these flaws, this is one of the better shooters that I've played in this console generation, and it receives my hearty recommendation.