Free-to-Play: Is Warframe Good?

F2P: Is Warframe Good?

So every gamer can appreciate some good quality content for free. And if you spend as much time googling “best free to play games” as I have, you’ve probably heard of or run into Warframe at one point. But what exactly is Warframe?

Warframe is a game developed by Digital Extremes. The same company is responsible for the abomination of a video game known as Star Trek (2013). Originally conceived as as “Dark Sector,” the game was reimagined into what it is today after the final release of the product did not meet the design expectations the developers had intended. Interestingly, Warframe is also the game that saved Digital Extremes after the Star Trek failure. Fast forward to today and we find Warframe has experienced a slow but steady rise in popularity since its release, maintaining a spot among the top 15 most played games on Steam.

What Is Warframe?

This game can be summed up in two words: “space ninjas.” Players assume the role of “Tenno,” who make use of neurally-operated suits of armor called “Warframes.” Each Warframe comes with a different set of themed abilities that give it an edge in combat. These suits also have immense physical strength and agility compared to a normal human being, and can be equipped with a variety of weapons.

 

Warframes and weapons can be upgraded and modified to suit the player’s preferences. Photo Credit: Warframe (Screenshot by author)

Gameplay in Warframe is instance-based. Players can opt to join public queues, play solo, or invite friends to clear missions by completing different objectives. When not in an active mission, players are taken to their “Orbiter,” which is a spaceship that serves as the base of operations.

F2P: The Good

It’s a bittersweet feeling to know that a free game produced in Development Hell has more to offer than AAA titles such as Tom Clancy’s The Division. The game receives regular updates which patch old gear and content, and adds new weapons and Warframes for players to try out. There are even rocket-powered space-wings! Visual design is a joy to look at as well… though there are quite a few graphics glitches. The various Warframes all have unique appearances from swordsmen, to fairies. There’s even one meant to portray a stage magician in a top hat. “Good day to you, sir.”

One of my personal favorites: the gunslinger Mesa. Photo Credit: Warframe (Screenshot by author)

The game also has an incredibly engaging storyline, with very rich lore. The story is the most attractive aspect of the game. The moment you awaken from cryostasis, you are thrust in the middle of a war-torn solar system. You take up the lifestyle of a mercenary as you slowly progress through the system and discover secrets about your past as a Tenno. Characters are memorable and almost lovable, and fit in with the game environments to near-perfection.

The most outstanding feature of Warframe however, is the economy. All gameplay content in Warframe can be obtained for free by crafting or questing. Alternatively, players can spend a paid currency called Platinum to directly purchase items, or to skip waiting times. The only content not obtainable without Platinum are additional inventory spaces, and aesthetics such as color palettes and skins. Sounds typical F2P? Wait for it. Platinum can be traded with other players.

 

Players can barter rare items in exchange for this currency which can then be used to buy cash-exclusive content. Photo Credit: Warframe (Screenshot by author)

Players who spend $0.00 – $2.00 over the course of their Warframe lives have just as much of a competitive edge as those who spend $100.00 and above. The only difference is the amount of time it takes to get that edge.

F2p: The Bad

Warframe does have its share of problems, though. First of all, Warframe is an instance-based game, and that means repetition. Players tend to grind the same quests multiple times, and if you don’t change your equipment too often, you quickly get burnt out. Player-versus-Player in Warframe does not do much to solve this problem either.

The second problem of Warframe is a pattern in online games known as “power creep.” This is the tendency for older equipment to pale in comparison to newer releases. New content either has better attributes or properties than older content, or simply encourages more effective strategies to be developed, thus making older gear less than optimal. This pattern is present in every online game, and is the source of frustration for many older players.

Finally, there is the never-ending debate on whether F2P is actually free. Yes, you can access it for free, and you may choose to pay only for specific content; but the combined cost of all content in F2P games can reach into thousands of dollars in investment.

17 Color Palettes at 75 Platinum each; $4.99 for 75 Platinum without counting discounts or promos.                        Photo Credit: Warframe (Screenshot by author)

The Answer

When it comes down to it, people pay game developers for at least one of two things: gameplay and immersion. While Warframe has the content and design to make gameplay exciting, its repetitive nature can dull the experience a bit. However, Warframe’s flaws can be traced back to the nature of this type of game in itself, and not just to this specific title. The rest of the content is just so well-done and polished. There are just so many combinations of weapons, upgrades, and Warframes that players can avoid burnout simply by swapping them around.

As for immersion, there is no denying the skill of the writers behind the plot. From the moment your Tenno first awakens, to the climax of a questline where you rip the entire Moon out of interdimensional space, there is so much to keep you intrigued and playing. But those are spoilers for another day. For now, the fact that you can get gameplay and immersion of this calibre for free – or whatever price you want to pay – should suffice as an answer.