Digital Extremes, the developer behind the highly acclaimed sci-fi shooter Warframe, has treated eager gamers to a fresh 30-minute preview of their upcoming free-to-play fantasy action RPG, Soulframe. The reveal offers a captivating look into the game’s combat mechanics, questing system, and character customization features.
Set in a visually stunning fantasy universe reminiscent of titles like Final Fantasy 16 and Elden Ring, Soulframe embraces a deliberate and measured approach to combat. Unlike the fast-paced action of its sibling game Warframe, Soulframe places a strong emphasis on thoughtful planning, dodging, and parrying during engagements. The preview also delves into the game’s narrative, which revolves around a conflict between the forces of nature and industry, drenched in high-fantasy drama.
Character customization plays a vital role in Soulframe’s gameplay experience. The Virtues system is showcased, allowing players to allocate their build among Courage, Spirit, and Grace, representing strength, magical prowess, and agility, respectively.
The Nightfold, an eerie parallel reality, serves as a sanctuary where players can manage their characters and make critical decisions. Additionally, Soulframe introduces a unique combat mechanic with Pacts, specific archetypes of combatants that players can bond with after defeating bosses. These Pacts significantly influence a character’s playstyle, offering a diverse range of possible approaches to encounters.
The preview also provides a glimpse of the game’s open-world elements, featuring charming and well-animated insectoid quest-givers. Soulframe’s transition to an open-world format marks a departure from Warframe’s usual self-contained instances, where environments, while connected in an overworld map, are generally separate. In Soulframe, missions, although procedurally generated, unfold within a larger and immersive world characterized by impressive graphics and meticulously detailed environments.
While the game is still in its early stages, Digital Extremes appears to have high aspirations for Soulframe. Given Warframe’s well-deserved reputation as one of the premier free-to-play titles, it’s evident that Soulframe will build upon a solid foundation, incorporating valuable insights gained from a decade of development on its sci-fi counterpart. Gamers can anticipate a unique and engaging experience in the world of Soulframe, where strategy, customization, and a captivating fantasy narrative converge.
