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Game Review: Warframe
10 years ago
Ninjas + Space + Guns = Warframe. No more need be said....except....
This is an excellent game, this is honestly a good example of how free to play should be done, though at the same time an example of how it shouldn't be done as well. The game itself is fun to no end, it has a difficulty curve that is relatively easy for new players to get acquainted with, the controls are intuitive for most and works well both on controller and PC Keyboard+Mouse combination. The movement of the characters or "warframes" that you play is fluid and has a motion control that I will admit is better than some triple-A titles that are out there. The lighting, sound, and level design is quite amazing considering you can literally go back into the same mission (minus some Dark Sector missions) and the levels themselves are randomly generated, different elements, different layouts, and different objective locations keep you guessing and exploring the movement capabilities of your parkour-space-ninja-with-guns, self.
Though the good points aside, the bad things do stand out unfortunately...badly.
The game itself relies on an in game currency to be able to build new weapons, frames, research and build new equipment, etc...The 'essential' items that are sometimes needed for an increase or mission are ridiculously expensive or when/if you do get the credits for them, take on average 8-12 real time hours, yes, -REAL TIME- as in real life daylight hours on the clock, to construct. That is...unless you spend your hard earned money on "Platinum" which is a currency akin to World of Tanks "Gold" for a heavier in game currency. The platinum exchange rate is rather...poor in my opinion and unfortunately for a lot of players that do enjoy playing different things daily or they -finally- farm that last part for their new "Oberon" or different warframe that they want to play, they then have to spend 36 hours waiting for the three parts (Helmet, chasis, and systems) to build. THEN after that its average of 72 hours on top of that 36 hours for the actual new frame to build; UNLESS you decide to spend your money on Platinum and pay 25Platinum -per part- to construct in a "Rush" and then 50-75 platinum to "rush" the final frame. And the best part? You may find that after you build this frame and spent roughly 15 dollars CAD or 10 USD on the platinum to build said Warframe, that you might not actually like it, and there are no refunds for Platinum. You can only sell warframes that you have for in game credit currency.
That, is my biggest beef with this game, is the fact that the build times for these warframes almost essentially -force- a regular player of the game to actually spend real world money on an imaginary product that's exchange rate is worse than trying to transfer CAD into USD. Essentially it is a 'pay wall' that honestly, is quite annoying, but for a casual player that maybe logs on once or twice a week? Might not be a big deal and they don't mind waiting for the new frame to be built. Though then it comes to the weapons. The same problem with the warframe build times and paywall transfers over to the weapons as well. On average depending on weapon, it takes 8-12 hours for one weapon to build or 25 platinum to Rush. Once again, if you do not like the weapon? No refunds in platinum, only piddly amount of in game credits (I think my last weapon I sold netted me 10K creds, and it was a high leve whip too.)
Personally? I give this game a recommendation on just the simple fact that the game itself -is- fun and it definitely is entertaining when you can get your friends to join in. Working together as a team of 4 warframes is -uber- satisfying and completing objectives like Mobile Defense, Excavation (hardest imo), Defense, or even just simple Extermination against different factions (Corpus, Grineer, Infested, and Orokin) is quite satisfying to be had! If you can get around the negativity of having a 'pay wall' in essence if you plan on playing this regularly, then I highly recommend it. If you can't get around that fact? I'd say give it a pass.
Final Verdict: (Items with an * beside it will have an explanation further down)
Gameplay: 8/10
Visuals: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Level Design: 9/10
Warframe Design: 10/10
Warframe Selection: 6/10*
Weapon Selection: 7/10*
Enemy Design: 8/10
UI Design: 7/10*
Microtransactions: 5/10*
Overall: 7.5/10
*1) Warframe Selection: This received the score it did due to a few things. The main one being that the warframe selection in the game itself is quite extensive yes, but the problem lies in that there are some frames that do not have blueprints available to be purchased with in game currency and therefore if the player wishes to enjoy a new warframe that they think will suit their play-style better than the one they currently own, they are forced into either not having it, period. Or paying a fee of real money in exchange for the frame they wish to have. Also one of the other points for this to note is inventory space; for warframes initially upon downloading the game and firing it up for the first time, you -only- are limited to 3 spaces for warframes. One of which is taken by the one you select off the bat. Excalibur, Volt, or Loki. Each additional inventory slot for a new warframe is 20 platinum ONLY. You cannot purchase these slots for in game credits, which I think is once again, another issue with the pay wall b/s. Once again this goes back to the 'pay wall' that I mentioned earlier. As well as the ridiculous build times needed to create one in game item. A total of 108 real world hours for something that you may not even enjoy or 10 USD(15CAD) to get immediately. The build times should in my opinion be shortened to a -maximum- of 8 hours overall, and even that is pushing it.
*2) Weapon Selection: This received the score it did due to similar reasons from the previous bullet point on "warframe selection". A lot of weapons in the game have blueprints available for them through regular in game currency, but if you wish to use certain weapons that seem to fit your play style more than others, a lot of them require you to purchase platinum once again, hiding these weapons in particular behind 'pay walls' for Platinum. And once again the build times for some weapons that you may or may not enjoy using is again, 8-12 hours or about 4USD(6CAD) to "Rush" and once again, no guarantee you'll enjoy the weapon itself.
*3) UI Design: This received a score of 7/10 for the following reasons: The UI itself is actually very well integrated but the problem is that for new playsers getting into the game, a lot of the things that you need to know, like powers, mods, management of inventory space, etc...are all hidden in sub-menu's of sub-menus. I call this "The Witcher Syndrome" No, not Wild Hunt, the very -first- Witcher game, aka, spreadsheet simulator. I feel that the menus for communications, friends, and inventory should be a little more available and easy to get to without someone having to tell you "You hit this key, go here, and then into this menu and then into here and click this and tadaa! There you go!" Might be a little nit-picky, but at the same time for new players to the game it can be a little difficult to get ones head wrapped around.
*4) Microtransactions/Platinum: This received a score of 5/10 for the following reasons: I will be the first to say that I completely understand that this is a free to play video game that was developed with the soul intention of being just that and with a paid currency in game to allow a service to be provided for server maintenance, and support as well as continued development. That is just business, and I completely understand it. BUT The big thing that brings this score to the point that it is, is this: The fact that these 'microtransactions' for Platinum currency essentially are -NECESSARY- for progression into the game at a reasonable rate of time rather than spending most of your time playing idling in the background waiting for things to build or construct. Microtransactions imo make or break a game, in this game its no exception. Hit or Miss, 50/50 shot on whether you'll enjoy or not. I leave it up to you.
SO! Overall, Warframe, is it good or bad? I'll say. Yes. On both points. It is a fun, fast paced action hack and slash space-ninja-with-guns-and-swords adventure game that has fluid movement, stunning visuals and great playability; though the paywall thing mentioned earlier puts the brakes on this truly being an amazing free to play game.
Let me know if you thought this was helpful or not. If you wish to add me as a friend on Warframe please, do so! I play it whenever I can. PM me if you'd like my tag!
This is an excellent game, this is honestly a good example of how free to play should be done, though at the same time an example of how it shouldn't be done as well. The game itself is fun to no end, it has a difficulty curve that is relatively easy for new players to get acquainted with, the controls are intuitive for most and works well both on controller and PC Keyboard+Mouse combination. The movement of the characters or "warframes" that you play is fluid and has a motion control that I will admit is better than some triple-A titles that are out there. The lighting, sound, and level design is quite amazing considering you can literally go back into the same mission (minus some Dark Sector missions) and the levels themselves are randomly generated, different elements, different layouts, and different objective locations keep you guessing and exploring the movement capabilities of your parkour-space-ninja-with-guns, self.
Though the good points aside, the bad things do stand out unfortunately...badly.
The game itself relies on an in game currency to be able to build new weapons, frames, research and build new equipment, etc...The 'essential' items that are sometimes needed for an increase or mission are ridiculously expensive or when/if you do get the credits for them, take on average 8-12 real time hours, yes, -REAL TIME- as in real life daylight hours on the clock, to construct. That is...unless you spend your hard earned money on "Platinum" which is a currency akin to World of Tanks "Gold" for a heavier in game currency. The platinum exchange rate is rather...poor in my opinion and unfortunately for a lot of players that do enjoy playing different things daily or they -finally- farm that last part for their new "Oberon" or different warframe that they want to play, they then have to spend 36 hours waiting for the three parts (Helmet, chasis, and systems) to build. THEN after that its average of 72 hours on top of that 36 hours for the actual new frame to build; UNLESS you decide to spend your money on Platinum and pay 25Platinum -per part- to construct in a "Rush" and then 50-75 platinum to "rush" the final frame. And the best part? You may find that after you build this frame and spent roughly 15 dollars CAD or 10 USD on the platinum to build said Warframe, that you might not actually like it, and there are no refunds for Platinum. You can only sell warframes that you have for in game credit currency.
That, is my biggest beef with this game, is the fact that the build times for these warframes almost essentially -force- a regular player of the game to actually spend real world money on an imaginary product that's exchange rate is worse than trying to transfer CAD into USD. Essentially it is a 'pay wall' that honestly, is quite annoying, but for a casual player that maybe logs on once or twice a week? Might not be a big deal and they don't mind waiting for the new frame to be built. Though then it comes to the weapons. The same problem with the warframe build times and paywall transfers over to the weapons as well. On average depending on weapon, it takes 8-12 hours for one weapon to build or 25 platinum to Rush. Once again, if you do not like the weapon? No refunds in platinum, only piddly amount of in game credits (I think my last weapon I sold netted me 10K creds, and it was a high leve whip too.)
Personally? I give this game a recommendation on just the simple fact that the game itself -is- fun and it definitely is entertaining when you can get your friends to join in. Working together as a team of 4 warframes is -uber- satisfying and completing objectives like Mobile Defense, Excavation (hardest imo), Defense, or even just simple Extermination against different factions (Corpus, Grineer, Infested, and Orokin) is quite satisfying to be had! If you can get around the negativity of having a 'pay wall' in essence if you plan on playing this regularly, then I highly recommend it. If you can't get around that fact? I'd say give it a pass.
Final Verdict: (Items with an * beside it will have an explanation further down)
Gameplay: 8/10
Visuals: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Level Design: 9/10
Warframe Design: 10/10
Warframe Selection: 6/10*
Weapon Selection: 7/10*
Enemy Design: 8/10
UI Design: 7/10*
Microtransactions: 5/10*
Overall: 7.5/10
*1) Warframe Selection: This received the score it did due to a few things. The main one being that the warframe selection in the game itself is quite extensive yes, but the problem lies in that there are some frames that do not have blueprints available to be purchased with in game currency and therefore if the player wishes to enjoy a new warframe that they think will suit their play-style better than the one they currently own, they are forced into either not having it, period. Or paying a fee of real money in exchange for the frame they wish to have. Also one of the other points for this to note is inventory space; for warframes initially upon downloading the game and firing it up for the first time, you -only- are limited to 3 spaces for warframes. One of which is taken by the one you select off the bat. Excalibur, Volt, or Loki. Each additional inventory slot for a new warframe is 20 platinum ONLY. You cannot purchase these slots for in game credits, which I think is once again, another issue with the pay wall b/s. Once again this goes back to the 'pay wall' that I mentioned earlier. As well as the ridiculous build times needed to create one in game item. A total of 108 real world hours for something that you may not even enjoy or 10 USD(15CAD) to get immediately. The build times should in my opinion be shortened to a -maximum- of 8 hours overall, and even that is pushing it.
*2) Weapon Selection: This received the score it did due to similar reasons from the previous bullet point on "warframe selection". A lot of weapons in the game have blueprints available for them through regular in game currency, but if you wish to use certain weapons that seem to fit your play style more than others, a lot of them require you to purchase platinum once again, hiding these weapons in particular behind 'pay walls' for Platinum. And once again the build times for some weapons that you may or may not enjoy using is again, 8-12 hours or about 4USD(6CAD) to "Rush" and once again, no guarantee you'll enjoy the weapon itself.
*3) UI Design: This received a score of 7/10 for the following reasons: The UI itself is actually very well integrated but the problem is that for new playsers getting into the game, a lot of the things that you need to know, like powers, mods, management of inventory space, etc...are all hidden in sub-menu's of sub-menus. I call this "The Witcher Syndrome" No, not Wild Hunt, the very -first- Witcher game, aka, spreadsheet simulator. I feel that the menus for communications, friends, and inventory should be a little more available and easy to get to without someone having to tell you "You hit this key, go here, and then into this menu and then into here and click this and tadaa! There you go!" Might be a little nit-picky, but at the same time for new players to the game it can be a little difficult to get ones head wrapped around.
*4) Microtransactions/Platinum: This received a score of 5/10 for the following reasons: I will be the first to say that I completely understand that this is a free to play video game that was developed with the soul intention of being just that and with a paid currency in game to allow a service to be provided for server maintenance, and support as well as continued development. That is just business, and I completely understand it. BUT The big thing that brings this score to the point that it is, is this: The fact that these 'microtransactions' for Platinum currency essentially are -NECESSARY- for progression into the game at a reasonable rate of time rather than spending most of your time playing idling in the background waiting for things to build or construct. Microtransactions imo make or break a game, in this game its no exception. Hit or Miss, 50/50 shot on whether you'll enjoy or not. I leave it up to you.
SO! Overall, Warframe, is it good or bad? I'll say. Yes. On both points. It is a fun, fast paced action hack and slash space-ninja-with-guns-and-swords adventure game that has fluid movement, stunning visuals and great playability; though the paywall thing mentioned earlier puts the brakes on this truly being an amazing free to play game.
Let me know if you thought this was helpful or not. If you wish to add me as a friend on Warframe please, do so! I play it whenever I can. PM me if you'd like my tag!
