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Warframe is a free to play sci-fi third-person co-op action shooter. A very cinematic shooter that also has a very original look. The gameplay itself consists of as much gunplay as it does melee, allowing for a great selection of playstyles and maneuvers.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro A huge array of weaponry
Warframe boasts over 300 weapons, split into 3 classes: Primary, Secondary, and Melee. Primary weapons are the big guns such as assault rifles, shotguns, bows, and grenade launchers. Secondary weapons are the sidearms, usually handguns, machine pistols, and thrown weapons. The melee weapons consist of swords (even katanas), hammers, fist weapons, scythes, and others.
Most of the weapons have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Simulor is a weapon which creates small balls similar to black holes, which pull in and kill enemies. Unfortunately, the range is very short, so you'll have to predict enemy movements and place the shots carefully. Another example is the Zarr, a massive canon, which has two firing modes, allowing you to use it as a canon or a shotgun. The downside is that you'll get damaged by your own explosions, so you have to always keep distance.
The weapons can also be upgraded, adding various elemental damage types such as radiation or corrosion. You can also improve other stats such as rate of fire, crit or reload speed.
Pro You can choose your own play style
In Warframe, there are tons of weapons, both ranged and melee, that will let you fight however you like. Maybe you want to be a long-range sniper, or a massive melee beast with a huge hammer, or maybe you want to stick closer to the ninja tradition and use a sword and a bow. Whatever you prefer to play, Warframe has an option.
Pro Several different archetypes to play as
In Warframe, you're able to play as several different character types (called "Warframes"). You start off with a couple of basic frames, but are able to run missions to find plans for new ones, or purchase them with credits (the real-money currency). There are currently 31 basic Warframes, plus several "Prime" Warframes which are stronger than their regular counterparts.
Pro Great selection of classes
In Warframe, you're able to play as one of the many Warframes, which are essentially character classes. You start off by choosing one of the three basic frames. Excalibur who specializes in swords and has an ability to equip an energy sword and shoot beams of energy. Volt who uses electricity to boost his damage, movement speed and attack speed. Or Mag, a frame specializing in magnetism and controlling the enemy. After that you can run missions to find plans for new ones, or purchase them with platinum (the real-money currency).
There are currently more than 30 basic Warframes and their "Prime" variants, which are superior versions of the basic frames.
Pro Very fair micro-transactions
A lot of free to play games tend to have a fair amount locked behind paywalls, but Warframe tends to shy away from that. There are very, very few things that are actually behind a paywall (mostly cosmetics), and only one of which is actually important (extra inventory slots). Aside from that, everything in the game can be obtained through gameplay or trading on the market.
Pro Great contact physics
Many online titles and MMOs feature combat with poor contact physics, so it often feels like you're not actually hitting the enemies. In Warframe, hitting an enemy with a hammer will make them fly and sliding at their legs will make them trip. This makes it feel more like a single player game than an online co-op game.
Pro Great free to play, great action and movement, but don't expect perfection
Warframe is one of those games that every player must try.
It's mind boggling how the game can do many things so good while others so bad.
This is why after so many years the player base comes and goes into the game.
The core loop is great. The fluidity of the game is unmatched by any other game, it's fun to move and jump, fun to attack or shoot but after awhile its shortcomings start to bother you and you remember why you took a time off.
Cons
Con Can get repetitive easily
At the very core, Warframe is a game that needs a lot of grinding. You'll always be grinding for new blueprints, relics, materials, credits or just leveling your existing equipment. After a while some of the mission types such as defense (where you fend of waves of enemies), will get really boring. Then it turns out the blueprint or relic is really rare and you'll probably have to repeat that mission about a hundred more times. Coupled with the fact that there's no real progression outside the Mastery Rank, some players may quickly lose interest.
Con Weapon build flexibility / Mod flexibility
The game has a mod mechanic where you slot mods to make your weapons and your warframe (class on other games) stronger.
While your warframe has some mod flexibility for what you need on the mission ahead the same is not true to weapons.
The mod flexibility on weapons is close to non-existent, all weapon types share most of the mods.
Guns suffer the most since players need to restrict mod type to allow for the best mods to be used on them due to the polarity system. While most mods are always the same this restricts the little flexibility that there once was, making alternative builds impossible.
Due to this, as of 2022, a gun needs 3x as much investment than a melee to do hard content.
Con Unbalanced weapon types.
Unbalanced weapon types. While the game has a huge arsenal of options, for several years players have given feedback about the lack of viability of many weapon types specially for more recent and harder content. Problem still persists, it might even be worse now.
While having weaker weapons unable to do harder content is ok, restricting weapon types from that same content is not.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Pro Contact physics make the game feel like a single player title over that this is an MMO
Many MMOs feature combat with poor contact physics; Warframe does not have this issue. Add in the amount of guns and great melee weapons and there is plenty for every type of play style.
Con Crafting new equipment takes really long
The crafting system in Warframe involves very long wait times, varying from 12 to 72 hours. The wait times can be be skipped by paying platinum (bought in the in-game store with real money), but most of the time it's not worth it.
Out of Date Pros + Cons
Pro You can play with a huge array of weaponry
Warframe boasts well over 50 weapons, all of which have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, which can be further improved through by empowering your weapons. You can do this simply by completing missions and collecting your loot, which can then be used to upgrade your character.