Warframe is a third-person action game with shooter elements, with the developers describing it as a "space ninja" game. When players first begin, they are thrown into a tutorial that explains many of the game's basic mechanics and at the end, they will get to choose from one of three different Warframes.
Warframes
Warframes are exoskeleton suits that the players wear, which function similar to classes in many other games. At the end of the tutorial at the beginning of the game, players get to choose one from three (Excalibur, Loki, and Mag). Each of these Warframes have access to equipment and up to four abilities.
Abilities
As mentioned, each Warframe will have access to four different abilities, which can be classified according to how much Energy they use. Each ability will use up Energy, with players starting with 50 at the beginning of a mission. Class 1 usually uses 25 Energy, with Class 4 (the ultimate ability for a Warframe) using 100 Energy, the default maximum.
Solar System Map
After finishing the tutorial, players will be brought to the solar system map, where they will be able to do many different things, such as choosing a mission, checking out the market, go into their arsenal to change equipment, and a few more things.
Missions
Only one mission will be available to the player at the beginning of the game. The way the missions are set up is that each planet in the solar system will provide various missions. As you finish one, the next one in the line will be available. Keep completing them and you'll eventually be granted access to the next planet.
When players do a mission, they must complete the objective given to them and then return to the extraction point to fully complete it to get the full reward. There are many different types of missions in the game, which are as follows:
- Assassination - Players must kill a specific target, usually a boss
- Capture - Players must find and subdue a red Corpus Crewman
- Conclave - A PvP type pitting players in a duel (1v1 or 2v2)
- Deception - Players must bring a datamass to a terminal to upload it. Upon picking it up, they are reduced to melee weapons and pistols
- Endless Defense - Players must defend something against waves of enemies. For every 5 rounds cleared, they can leave the mission or receive a reward to keep going against progressively difficult enemies
- Exterminate - Players must kill all enemies in an area
- Mobile Defense - Players must bring a datamass to multiple terminals to upload it, with them having to defend it from enemies
- Rescue - Players must find and rescue a hostage, bringing that person back to extraction
- Sabotage - Players must find the reactor room and destroy the core
- Spy - Players must locate and hack terminals, bringing all of the datamass that appear to the extraction
- Wave Defense - Players must defend a waypoint from waves of enemies, with no exiting at all until all waves are complete
Market
One of the other areas players can explore from the map is the market. It is here that they can purchase items to help them in missions, such as health recovery items, as well as upgrades to their equipment and even new pieces. The player can purchase things with either Credits or Platinum.
Combat
Combat is played out in third-person view and has been described as a third-person shooter mixed with Ninja Gaiden. Players can perform some missions in stealth, although it's difficult. If an enemy sees them, then they will alert the rest in the area. Players have access to various weapons, ranging from pistols to rifles and even melee weapons.
Should a player's health reach zero, they will be in a downed state, where they can be revived by another player before they bleed out. While downed, they only have access to their pistol, but enemies can expedite the bleeding out process if they attack the player.
If the player isn't revived in time, they will be incapacitated. Incapacitated players cannot participate in the mission, although they can still chat and interact with their teammates. However, each Warframe has the ability to self-revive from an incapacitated state 4 times every 24 in-game hours. Should a player use up all four revives, they will either need to wait until the next day or use Platinum to get them right back.
Platinum
Platinum is the premium currency used in the world of Warframe. Every player begins with 50 Platinum when they begin the game, and it can be used in a number of ways. For example, extra Warframes must usually be built using parts scavenged from missions and enemies, and then must be built. Platinum can be used to purchase the completed Warframe from the market, or even be used to expedite the building process itself. Extra Platinum must be purchased with real-life money.
