Warframe is a co-operative third person shooter that mixes powers reminiscent of Star Wars Jedi or Mass Effect biotics with ninja like movement to create an exciting fast paced action game. Wall running is the norm in Warframe, and with a large array of movement abilities, it brings the fantasy of being a space ninja to life. The Warframes (or Tenno), command powers such as lifting a group of enemies to crush them under magnetic force to creating a decoy to distract enemies to even pounding the ground with such force that it disrupts time and sends all nearby enemies tumbling around in a slow motion stasis, putting a variety of creative methods for dispatching foes at your fingertips. It is a glorious power fantasy of defeating hordes of enemies that one could liken to Mass Effect horde mode or Dynasty Warriors.
Missions range from your basic 'kill all' and defeating unique bosses to the slightly more elaborate weekend events which feature unique objectives such as picking a side in missions featuring one enemy faction versus another or seeking out and destroying informer drones hidden throughout a map. This all happens as part of some greater call from the Lotus, a voice that serves to direct and guide you. While currently lacking in explaining the larger context of the story, the atmosphere of the game sets a stage that explains all you need to know, you are Tenno, and this mission must be done.
Finding a team is easy, simply by selecting a planet the game will automatically check if anyone else is running that mission and simply drop you in with them. If no one else is running that mission, it will give you the option to 'play now'. All of the public co-op happens seamlessly and easily, and of course, there is the option to play with only friends online or solo, if you desire.
Where Warframe shines is in it's frenetic pace of action and the little details fitting for it's sci-fi setting. A rogue gun blast can blow out windows causing the ship vent oxygen and slowly deplete health until players engage air locks by hacking a nearby console. A well timed shot can be used on an explosive barrel to incinerate a group of enemies at just the right moment, and security cameras trigger automatic turrets and laser doors if not taken out. Let's just say, it's not just some chintzy freemium game. The sheer number of animations in this game is staggering. Wall running and dashing off of walls is fluid and reacts smoothly to player input. The game is loaded up with stellar animation quality and looks gorgeous at 1080p resolution with DX11 Nvidia PhysX, and perhaps more importantly, feels great to play.
As a long time player of Mass Effect 3 multiplayer, I tried this game out originally simply because I saw a video online and thought I'd give it a shot since it was sci-fi. I'm glad I did. Once you learn how to utilize all of the movement abilities your Warframe has available to them, you might simply fall in love with the playground the level design in this game offers. Many seemingly out of reach places can be reached using the mobility at your disposal and it's incredibly satisfying to make a long leap only to use the slight momentum swinging your battleaxe at the end brings to finish the jump. Few games play with this kind of speed and once you experience wall dashing onto a group of enemies to ground slam them and then finish off a knocked down enemy with a stab to the face, you may likely be hooked.
The game, however, does not feature dedicated servers, but instead uses a player host system similar to Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer. Thus, players may run into occasional lag when being hosted by a player overseas or a player whose host computer and/or ISP is not fast enough to maintain a solid experience. Finding a good clan or regular players to play with, however, can alleviate this problem.
Additionally, as with any MMO, you will eventually find yourself playing on the same maps or nearly identical missions to what you've already played countless times before. Your tolerance for repetition may eventually come into question, but thankfully, there is a vast array of weaponry to play with to keep things fresh and interesting, and the gameplay itself feels so good, you might not even care. There are even weapons that feature unique mechanics such as the Glaive, which ricochets around the environment until eventually returning to the user like a boomerang, or the Torid, which shoots canisters of corrosive gas which leaves acid clouds that damage player and foe alike.
On Monetization
The game is freemium. For many of you, that brings up warning bells. So, let's talk about exactly how the game is monetized so you can decide for yourself whether or not that experience is one that appeals to you. The game will start you off with a choice of one Warframe. Carefully pick the class that appeals to you the most, because it will take a bit before you can unlock your second. The game starts you out with two Warframe (class) slots and eight weapon slots, as well as enough free in-game premium currency to purchase a few more.
Everything in the game outside of cosmetic details can be unlocked for free by looting and crafting. While this might sound like a classic time versus money freemium tactic (and it is), I can say that I played for the first month without purchasing anything, and I had unlocked a slew of weapons/additional Warframes simply because I was having fun playing the game. That's not to say there isn't any element of grind, but I personally did not find it to be frustrating or strenuous. It felt akin to any classic MMO's search for new loot. As an example, new Warframe classes are unlocked by defeating the same boss level several times to loot the blueprints to craft all three components of the Warframe (helmet, chassis, and systems). This will undoubtedly take repeating the same mission several times, so your tolerance for repetition may vary. Of course, if you prefer, you can simply buy the new class for about $10 worth of premium currency, which can often be purchased on sale.
Additionally, some rare classes/weapons/upgrades can only be obtained during the special alert missions which pop up randomly throughout the day. Key among these is the ability to double your modding capacity for both your weapons and your Warframe, which is among the most coveted rewards. While essential for high end play, if you play regularly, you will inevitably obtain a few of these eventually. Additionally, they are relatively inexpensive to purchase through the store, being only $1.33 worth of premium currency, which can be bought in $5 minimum increments.
Also, crafting weapons and classes has either a 12 hour or 72 hour crafting period respectively where players must wait for their item to complete before it can be used. Again, in a classic time versus money dilemma, impatient players are encouraged to simply pay an amount of premium currency to complete it now.
Lastly, once a player has filled their initial two class slots and eight weapon slots with crafted weapons/Warframes, purchasing additional slots or deleting unused weapons/frames is the only way to acquire new gear. Thankfully, additional character and weapon slots are the most inexpensive purchase one can make from the store. At their most expensive, buying Platinum at full price and without any discount/bonus, two new weapon slots cost $.80 and a new class slot costs $1.33.
Cosmetic upgrades range from additional coloring options ($5) to a cape ($3.33) or little wings for your pet ($1-$1.33). Again, priced at their highest, premium currency can be purchased for less if bought in bulk or if purchased with a sale token (a random login reward).
In conclusion, I had a lot of fun with this playing completely for free, and eventually purchased additional weapon slots and a few cosmetic items because A) I wanted to support the developers, B) I think this game offers a great value, and C) I wanted to collect every weapon and warframe. Depending on your level of patience and your tolerance for freemium tactics, your results may vary, but it's hard to beat the simple, dumb fun of playing it for free.
Community
Warframe has a dedicated and positive community. Rarely have I participated in missions with players who are not helpful, friendly, and quick to revive fallen teammates, even when it might put their own characters at risk. The developers also regularly livestream every Wednesday at 2 PM EST and every Thursday at 7 PM EST where they discuss upcoming content and showcase works in progress, discuss community hot topics, and weekend events.
Conclusion
Warframe is well worth the try if you enjoy sci-fi and cooperative shooters, and especially if you want to experience what being a sci-fi ninja with jedi-like powers and some cold, hard steel in your hand feels like. The speed of combat and the mobility available to players gives this game a niche to make it stand out from the rest of the pack.