Respawn Entertainment’s popular battle royale, Apex Legends, underwent significant evolution before reaching its current form. In a recent interview, animation director Moy Parra and narrative lead Ashley Reed shed light on early prototypes incorporating more elements from Titanfall 2, revealing features that were ultimately scrapped.
According to the interview, one major difference involved movement mechanics. Wall-running, a staple of Titanfall 2, was initially present in Apex Legends. However, concerns about fairness and unpredictability in a battle royale setting led to its removal. Similarly, infinite wall climbing was deemed problematic for balance and replaced with the more grounded sliding mechanic.
The developers also experimented with integrating Titans, the iconic giant mechs from Titanfall 2. Early maps featured larger entry points designed to accommodate Titans, but the concept ultimately clashed with the core battle royale experience. These elements were removed, and the map design was adjusted to focus on infantry combat.
Legend abilities also underwent significant changes. Pathfinder, for example, initially possessed unlimited grapple usage, was deemed overpowered, and subsequently balanced with cooldowns. Finding the right balance between movement options, legend abilities, and map design was a crucial aspect of development.
Interestingly, some unintended mechanics emerged as unintended features. Advanced jump techniques and wall bouncing, not originally intended, were embraced by the community and became signature elements of the game’s high-level movement.
The article concludes by touching on future plans. Season 20 of Apex Legends marks a significant shift, revamping Ranked mode and the core gameplay experience. Additionally, the developers aim to address rat spots that encourage passive hiding, pushing players toward more active engagement.
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