Which is a shame because few games really make me want to go back and experience them in their prime like Titanfall 1 and 2. The Smart Pistol arguments. Riding on the back of a fellow Titan, or calling down one on top of an enemy. Steamrolling an entire match with Titans as your opponents struggled to fight back, and in the same vein, coming back against overwhelming odds, no matter how many Grunts required farming in Attrition

And yet, there’s a reason why we haven’t seen similar movement-based shooters: They don’t last. The high skill floor and ceiling can make for a massive struggle if you don’t master the art of hanging out in the sky box and shooting your hapless enemies below. But that hasn’t stopped other developers, like 1047 Games of Splitgate fame (and Splitgate 2 infamy) from trying.

Enter EMPULSE, a game that unabashedly borrows Titanfall’s fundamentals and really didn’t spend the time on cultivating an identity. Sure, you have the wall-running, sliding, grappling and even the mechs, but the approach is equal parts intriguing and eyebrow-raising rather than a true successor, much less the next big multiplayer shooter.

"Non-descript buildings and characters, uninspired environments – it fails to really get you raring and willing to dive into the action. It’s like futuristic dystopia-lite that’s not really sure if it wants to commit to the Mirror’s Edge aesthetic."

Because while EMPULSE certainly apes many of Titanfall’s core essentials, it lacks the finer points and nuance. I’ve seen people call this a Splitgate title repurposed into a movement-based shooter, and it’s very hard to unsee. And while this is early access, one of the biggest reasons for its lack of identity is the absolutely lackluster narrative. Or context. Or really anything to explain what’s going on, or why you’re doing what you’re doing.

You’re thrust into Freehold, competing across urban maps of varying degrees of verticality, and tasked with completing objectives (or simply gunning down the opposition). Now I’m not expecting anything even close to Titanfall 1’s “campaign”, which drew considerable flak at the time, but there really is nothing to guide you in. Are you playing as vigilante graffiti artists, fighting against The Man (who presumably manufactures these giant mechs)? Is the opposing team akin to a corpo force of graffiti taggers?

Again, not saying I need anywhere near the lore surrounding the IMC or Frontier Militia, which wasn’t much to begin with, but something, anything is desperately required instead of simply tossing players in with a goodbye and good luck (and they don’t recall wishing you good luck).

Then there’s the presentation. For what it’s worth, EMPULSE’s performance is pretty solid, and the fidelity is good even at Medium settings. The art direction is a completely different story. Non-descript buildings and characters, uninspired environments – it fails to really get you raring and willing to dive into the action. It’s like futuristic dystopia-lite that’s not really sure if it wants to commit to the Mirror’s Edge aesthetic. The less said about the generic rock music in the main menu, the better.

That isn’t to say the layouts are all completely terrible, which brings us to the gameplay front. As with Titanfall, you can wall-run, jump, hover, grapple, and slide. Chaining these together can result in some pretty slick momentum while making you much harder to hit. And to EMPULSE’s credit, some of the levels have extensive verticality to leverage that. Crossing is perhaps the most visually notable – it’s two buildings with a sky bridge in between with multiple avenues for flanking.

"Imitation is the best form of flattery, but it still feels pretty bare-bones, perhaps because of the lack of a signature ability. On the plus side, at least the perks offer some decent variety…"

Running straight down the middle often feels like a death sentence, but wall-running on the sides? Or navigating away from a jump pad’s trajectory to access the boost pads near the arena’s edges? Those offer some more creative routes. Meanwhile, something like Plaza or Elevation will reward you more for scaling higher and higher, locating hapless fools on the ground to then pounce on them. Even if these locations don’t feel nearly as organic or memorable as their inspiration, at least they’re designed to lean into all the movement possibilities.

Of course, 1047 Games adds its own movement mechanic into the mix with P.A.I.N.T. These are essentially paint bombs which grant different benefits, like boosting your speed or recovering health when you pass them. Or like straight-up bombs that explode. Initially, I was a bit mixed on these since the Speed P.A.I.N.T. felt like the best option overall in the demo. The early access version has toned down its overall effectiveness, and now I’m unsure whether that was the right call because it still feels essential – just not as good as before.

Otherwise, EMPULSE delivers on its promise of verticality and relatively high-speed movement, even if it doesn’t feel as polished or crisp as Titanfall. The grapple seems especially weird at times. For all those moments where you’ll smoothly swing around behind an opponent, there are more than a few others where you won’t seamlessly transition into a wall-run from a grapple. Instead, your momentum halts, killing the flow before it even gets going.

When it comes to loadouts, 1047 Games doesn’t stray far from the tried-and-true formula. Limited slots for attachments. Three perk slots (and you can only equip options within that slot instead of mixing and matching across the entire pool). A single grenade, or rather P.A.I.N.T. type. Imitation is the best form of flattery, but it still feels pretty bare-bones, perhaps because of the lack of a signature ability. On the plus side, at least the perks offer some decent variety, whether it’s restoring health and obtaining a speed boost with kills, extending your grapple range, refueling your jetpack faster, and so on.

The weapon variety is also pretty solid overall – between the assault rifles, SMGs, shotguns and rifles, there’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but they get the job done, and gunplay feels responsive enough. Some balance adjustments are still sorely needed, especially for the DMR-like Resonance, and progression feels somewhat slow when trying to unlock attachments. I’m also not a fan of the ADS view since it feels more like Splitgate’s magnified zoom rather than actually aiming down sights (unless you have a scope, of course).

"And that’s really the core issue with EMPULSE. All its little gimmicks like P.A.I.N.T. and mech camping aside, it’s not Titanfall, nor does it approach the highs that it provided."

Last but not least, there are the mechs. With how easy it is to steamroll in Titanfall with a Titan, I was curious how EMPULSE would approach this. Instead of awarding mechs to each player, two will spawn on the map at timed intervals. In theory, this would mean both teams have equal opportunity to obtain their own. In practice, an enemy mech will immediately camp the other, preventing opponents from evening the odds.

But that shouldn’t be too much of a problem because the mechs themselves are surprisingly easy to kill. Leaving aside how difficult it is to hit opponents with its mini-gun, it feels very fragile – even more so when the entire team is focus-firing on it. There’s only one dedicated anti-mech weapon, and a sledgehammer that feels incredibly awkward, and leads to moments where an enemy is simply smacking your toes, and you can’t get a bead on them. No, you can’t crush players underfoot, much less run over them, or self-destruct or even climb on a mech’s back. Even ejecting sees you hopping out rather than soaring sky high.

And that’s really the core issue with EMPULSE. All its little gimmicks like P.A.I.N.T. and mech camping aside, it’s not Titanfall, nor does it approach the highs that it provided. There are plenty of ways for 1047 Games to improve the experience, whether it’s providing some actual data on the weapons that killed me, adding more mechs with different abilities, or expanding on the map pool. For now, it’s what everyone pretty much expected – a no-frills movement-based shooter with mechs to scratch but never fully satisfy that Titanfall itch. Nothing more and nothing less, for now.

This game was reviewed on PC.

This 6v6 shooter is all about staying on the move and letting your momentum win the day as you soar across its open spaces and make full use of the verticality it brings to the table. Think of Freehold as a canvas on which you’re free to P.A.I.N.T. your own version of a win, no matter how that shapes up as you try to one-up your opponents. We’ve waited a long time to drop that pun, almost as much as we’ve been waiting to get started with this one.

You’ve got a handy grappling hook, cool bombs that do more than cause explosions, and powerful mechs that you’re going to be fighting for control of in this one. Of course, there’s more to it than that, and this one is probably going to have you spending hours as you use every tool in your expansive arsenal to try and secure a win for your squad.

EMPULSE is available for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with the PS5 version still to come due to certification. Check out the trailer below for all the action.

But are the post-utopian streets of Freehold a suitable battleground for your style of play? Well, we’ve put together a list of things that might help you decide one way or another. Let’s not waste any time and get right to it.

1. A 6v6 Movement Shooter

EMPULSE isn’t just about how well you can aim and fire off shots at your opponents. It’s about fluidity and using your forward momentum to control the space around you, and position yourself in places where every shot gives you an advantage. The streets of Freehold come with a lot of verticality, and you’ll need to seamlessly move between traversing maps, using your wall-runs, grapples, P.A.I.N.T. tools, and mechs to gain every advantage you can get.

2. Movement-Based Combat

To that end, you’re going to be chaining wall-runs into grapples and swings, setting up those perfect mid-air kills that look like a perfect combination of style and spectacle. Every district in Freehold is built around getting to that “flow state” with your movements, and that’s a good thing. You’re going to have to be fast, precise, and deliberate with your pathing through a level if you want to get the drop on opponents who are also trying to do the same thing against you, after all.

3. The Walls Are Combat Lanes

You don’t just wall-run forwards, but also backwards in this one. That means you get the ability to keep your opponents on their toes as long as you use the game’s movement mechanics intelligently. What’s more, nearly any ability can be chained into a wall-run, which could mean that the walls aren’t just decorative, but a crucial part of succeeding in Freehold’s many districts. That’s a mechanic that holds a lot of promise, and it definitely has us interested in trying it out for ourselves.

4. A Grappling Hook Like No Other

Of course, wall runs aren’t the only trick that the game gives you. Your grappling hook is going to tie in very well with your vertical flights of fancy, allowing you to build the momentum you need to cover large distances, swing around cover, and generally get to your enemies a lot faster while letting you throw off their aim. Even better is the ability to reel them in for a one-hit melee attack that could have you gaining a significant advantage in battle. The best defense is a good offense, we’d say.

5. Use The Element of Surprise

The grappling hook isn’t just a useful tool for getting around and closing gaps, but can also let you launch attacks that your enemies won’t see coming until it’s too late. Use it to swing across angles and hit your enemies when they least expect it, and you’re going to find yourself tearing through your opponent’s ranks with ease. Of course, you’re going to have to be vigilant against surprise attacks yourself, but that only makes this one look like it’s going to be very entertaining indeed.

6. Let Your Teammates Carry You

Yet another unique feature of the grappling hook is the ability to tether yourself to your teammates or any mechs that they may be piloting. The use cases for such an ability open up a lot of possibilities for you in the heat of battle. Use your buddies to gain some momentum, or coordinate your attacks to hit your enemies from all sides as you swing past their sightlines and launch an offensive that could have them scrambling for cover. It’s all up to you and your wits when you’re on the battlefield, and that’s probably going to be among this one’s biggest strengths.

7. Holojumps and Jetpacks

You’ve probably already guessed that in a game that puts a lot of emphasis on kinetics, wall-runs and grapples aren’t going to be the only ways to get around. You could pick up a jetpack that lets you take the high ground, or use Holojumps to keep your vertical movement going. Chaining both of them, along with all the other movement options at your disposal, is paramount to your success, and the last ones walking away from the fight are probably going to be the ones that managed to outfly their opponents.

8. P.A.I.N.T.ing a Pretty Picture

Aside from everything we’ve already talked about, Freehold also has something called P.A.I.N.T. Bombs, which come with varying effects that alter the surfaces you deploy them on. Using those effects well is definitely going to work in your favor, and this one’s probably our personal pick among the many fascinating mechanics that EMPULSE is offering. You could turn the map itself into a very potent ally if you use it correctly, and you’re probably going to get in the habit of doing that fairly regularly once you settle in.

9. Create New Routes With Jump P.A.I.N.T.

If the rest of your gear and abilities aren’t giving you the elevation you need to pull off a spectacular kill, the Jump P.A.I.N.T. lets you turn a nearby surface into a launchpad, opening up new routes and new ways to get the drop on an enemy, unwitting or otherwise. You could also use it on a wall to open up a high-speed kick off, which could be quite nifty if you know your opponent is expecting a grapple.

10. Keep Your Momentum Alive With Speed P.A.I.N.T.

Like its Jump counterpart, Speed P.A.I.N.T. lets you sustain your forward momentum off of nearby surfaces or perhaps do the same for one of your teammates as they attempt to pull off a spectacular kill. What’s more, you could slide into it to get more momentum at the end, which is certainly going to help with chaining your moves like wall runs and grapples to become a speed demon that your enemies are going to have to work to keep up with.

11. Bring The Fire With Explosive P.A.I.N.T.

A bomb that bursts not once but twice? We’re definitely going to go for something like that. This one is going to be quite useful for laying traps, protecting your flanks from an ambush, or straight up blocking off a route that your enemies were counting on if you use it correctly. Denying your enemies an advantage could be the difference between victory and defeat in a game like EMPULSE, and trading raw damage for a bit of control is a tactical move that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

12. Heal Your Buddies With Heal P.A.I.N.T.

Of course, your P.A.I.N.T. Bombs aren’t all offensive. There are ones that add a healing surface to where you deploy them, which gives your teammates a moment to catch their breath and recover from damage before they get back in the fight. It’s a great way to give EMPULSE a hint of strategic thinking without making it feel less like a hero shooter in the process. Use it well, and you’re going to have your team shaking off injuries that could have otherwise ended their run.

13. Slow Things Down With Sticky P.A.I.N.T.

If you find yourself on the run from an enemy soldier or mech, this one could be what you need to make a clean getaway. It slows down anything that steps on the surface you lay it down on, and 1047 has told us that it’s incredibly useful against mechs. That means you negate a significant advantage your enemies get in the event that they get to a mech before you do, letting you wrest control of a battle away from them before you’re wiped off the map.

14. Mechs Are The Center Of An Intense Power Struggle

You’re going to see two Mechs form at the center of each level, and getting to them should be a priority, given that they come fully equipped with a deadly arsenal. We’re happy that you don’t call them in and have to fight for control of them for the advantage of a massive health pool and some serious damage potential, thanks to each one’s firepower coming into play. Think of them as a weapon to end all weapons, and act accordingly.

15. You Can Counter Mechs

We’ve already told you about Sticky P.A.I.N.T., but that’s only one way to bring a mech down. It isn’t going to be easy considering each one’s chaingun, rockets, powerful melee capabilities, a charged jump or slash that can have you second-guessing your own reactions, and that giant health pool. Did we forget to mention a darned bubble shield? But have hope, as a coordinated attack can have that shield down in no time, while the rest of your team whittles away at its health until it’s down.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s fast, and looks like a lot of fun once you manage to find your rhythm. It enters early access on June 24, 2026, and we’re definitely visiting Freehold when it does. We’ll see you there!

New gameplay also debuted during the PC Gaming Show and if you thought it was very Titanfall-esque before, then nothing has really changed (aside from the irritating trailer music). As part of a Crew in Freehold, you’re fighting for…something across urban environments with extensive verticality.

Wall-running and grappling with assault rifles, pistols, and shotguns is really only the start, as you can deploy P.A.I.N.T. bombs to “alter surfaces” and use Holojumps for some extra bounce. There’s also a grappling hook, and as with many games, it’s great for looping around to flank an enemy.

Finally, there are the mechs, which spawn on the map. Only one team can claim it for a period, and its devastating firepower means you could be left on the backfoot. That’s where the mobility becomes even more essential, especially if your team can coordinate to take it down. Only one mech has been showcased thus far, but there are others with different abilities. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

It should be immediately familiar to Titanfall fans with the wall-running, grappling and mid-air combat amid high-rise buildings. At one point, the player pops a P.A.I.N.T. bomb that seemingly enables them to slide or perhaps increases slide distance, avoiding sniper fire. Of course, during all this, one of the giant mechs native to the game is powering up and prepares to mete out some destruction.

It’s apparently only one such type – others seemingly exist with their own abilities. However, you won’t be dealing damage and netting kills to call them down. Instead, the mechs will spawn on the map, and players must battle to commandeer them. They can serve as a massive difference-maker with their raw power, or for the less skilled, paint a giant target on their backs.

You would have to think that 1047 Games would have some kind of mode that would function like classic Titanfall, but we’ll have to wait and see when EMPULSE enters early access on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Of course, the big hook is that it’s inspired by Respawn Entertainment’s beloved Titanfall series, right down to the implementation of mechs. Appearing throughout the different maps of Freehold, they possess powerful weaponry, a “massive health pool”, and unique abilities. Only one has been revealed thus far, but the idea is to seize one and wreak havoc.

Then there’s the movement side of the gameplay, with maps designed to chain wall runs, grapples, and Holojumps. Interestingly, there’s a mechanic called P.A.I.N.T. bombs, which can be used to “alter surfaces” and gain a “tactical advantage.” Also, you can wallrun forwards and backwards – a nice little twist on what we’re used to.

Additional details have yet to be delivered, but you can make out some of the weapons, from an assault rifle and shotgun to what looks like a submachine gun. One of the levels is also set on a skyscraper under construction, complete with cranes to jump across. Of course, there are the standard luxury high rises with vine decorations to battle through.

Check out the official site here, including sign-ups for being the first to gain “access” (potentially for a beta down the line).

Known as Empulse (which may not be the final name), the shooter reportedly features giant mechs. They can reportedly be found on the map and have been described as “strikingly similar” to Respawn Entertainment’s Titans. Pre-alpha gameplay viewed by Henderson apparently showcased one mech with a gatling gun, missile launcher and shield.

The total number of mech types is unknown. As for modes, Team Deathmatch is reportedly in and alongside the usual boost pads, there are grappling hooks and the classic wall running.

Despite development being announced last March, it seems that an announcement is happening later this year. Then again, that could mean somewhere around The Game Awards rather than Summer Game Fest (which is set for June 5th). Hopefully, 1047 Games avoids a repeat of the disastrous Splitgate 2 release.

As for Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, it’s available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. It peaked at 2,297 concurrent players on Steam, a far cry from Splitgate 2’s launch numbers, and hasn’t crossed 1,000 players since February 2nd.