Soulframe Gameplay And Combat<\/span><\/h3>\nStarting with the gameplay, since it’s the main thing we’ll all be doing, Soulframe offers a more slow-paced experience compared to Warframe. The combat is more deliberate, focusing on dodge rolling, isolating enemies, and using your Pact – your cursed arm, which is Soulframe’s version of a character class. The Pact has its own <\/span>set of<\/span> magic abilities and effects to stun, debuff, or damage enemies, complementing your weapons to dish out damage and cleave through foes.<\/span><\/p>\n
Soulframe will have a slower-paced combat system and focus more on player position, dodging, and using abilities more tactically as opposed to aggressively. (Picture: Digital Extremes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThis combat feels much more akin to Souls-likes, as you can’t just rush into encounters; taking your time to assess enemies seems pivotal. Speaking of combat, the enemies and bosses in the game, such as the Bromius – a massive armored bear introduced as an omen beast – and the Nimrod – a towering enemy capable of manipulating thunder and lightning, armed with a Tesla-coiled melee staff – require tactical approaches to bring down.<\/span><\/p>\nFor instance, jumping when the Nimrod performs electrified ground attacks and rolling to evade its weapon swings, or breaking its combos with your Pact are key strategies. <\/span>The combat system in Soulframe is deep and methodical compared to its sister game Warframe, and we’re here for it.<\/span><\/p>\n
There will also be powerful and reoccurring bosses and enemies in Soulframe that you can defeat for powerful items and experience. (Picture: Digital Extremes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSoulframe Ancestory System – First Impression<\/span><\/h3>\nThankfully, the developers built other systems in the game to complement this playstyle and approach to combat, exemplified by the Ancestor system showcased in the dev stream. <\/span>Simply put, the Ancestor system allows you to travel to a hub area called the Nightfold (instantly from anywhere in the game) where NPCs called Ancestors grant you unique abilities and serve various purposes. <\/span><\/p>\n
The Ancestry system allows you to employ the help of powerful beings to your Nightfold that then empower you through their various uses like crafting, smithing, customization and more yet to be seen. (Picture: Digital Extremes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe main ones are the Blacksmith (Tuvalkane) and Arsenal (name TBD), which allow you to craft new weapons and armor sets, respectively. <\/span>In addition, we were shown the process of finding and adding new Ancestors to the Nightfold, with the devs demonstrating how they locate and recruit a new Ancestor called Verminia, the Rat Witch.<\/span><\/p>\n This new Ancestor character will help players with customization options, allowing them to enhance their cosmetics and craft various potions, elixirs, and tinctures. Verminia is likely just the beginning, with more Ancestors to add to your Nightfold, providing tons of character customization options both aesthetically and mechanically with new abilities and cosmetics.<\/span><\/p>\n
The end of the stream showcased an ominous creature we’re likely to defeat once the game is released, and we’re excited to see more soon. (Picture: Digital Extremes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nVerminia also opens up a new path of progression through the game, revealing a new enemy toward the end of the stream and likely the next Ode we need to defeat. With more Ancestors, we get more missions to play through and clear as the chosen Envoy. This all ties together to offer an immersive and rewarding experience, which is a tough balance <\/span>to pull off<\/span> for any MMO RPG, but it seems that Soulframe is ticking all the boxes so far.<\/span><\/p>\n