The Duviri Paradox, the latest update for Warframe, is set to take the game by storm with its stunning visuals and innovative gameplay elements. As a new player-friendly update, it promises to captivate both veterans and newcomers alike. I recently had the opportunity to attend a hands-off preview of the Duviri Paradox with Warframe's Creative Director, Rebecca Ford, and Community and Live Ops Director Megan Everett. The update goes live on April 26th, and based on what I've seen, it is a game-changer for the Warframe experience.
The Duviri Paradox whisks players off to Warframe's fourth open-world, in Duviri, a fascinating realm where the landscape is shaped by the ever-changing emotions of its ruler, Dominus Thrax. The world is a cornucopia of floating islands, with environments that shift and transform as Thrax cycles through fear, anger, joy, envy, and sorrow. The moods influence not only the visuals but also the behavior of the enemies and citizens of Duviri, which will bring it’s own set of challenges depending on what mood you happen to experience during a battle – but we’ll touch more on this later. The unique story-driven gameplay is meant to immerse players in a way that Digital Extremes has yet to do to this degree, and it will truly reshape the way new players will interact with the game.
It’s Okay to Drift Away
The team has also updated the melee combat system, and when you’re working your way through the Duviri Paradox, you will be able to test out the new Drifter melee enhancements. As players progress, they'll also unlock powerful Decrees that reset with each mood spiral, adding a roguelite element to the gameplay, which is quite intriguing as it will bring a lot of replay ability to the experience, with players attempting new Decree options to find the best mix for the upcoming battle.
The Incarnon Genesis System is another notable addition to the game, catering to more experienced players. By installing Incarnon Adapters on eligible weapons, players can unlock improvements for in-mission use. However, these adapters can only be found in the challenging Steel Path Circuit missions on Duviri.
The Duviri Paradox unsurprisingly integrates core Warframe elements with the Drifter storyline. The new system is meant to be a lead in to the bountiful content that Digital Extremes has added over the years, and in many ways, this may even play as a refresher for veterans that might be finding their way back after taking some time away. Digital Extremes has put a tremendous amount of thought into making the Duviri Paradox accessible to all players, regardless of their experience with the game. The update cleverly bridges the gap between the New War and the Drifter's narrative, falling into both a paradoxical prequel to New War that also resides simultaneously at the same time of New War.
Having not played Warframe for several years, I was happy to hear that the new expansion provides an updated introduction to the game. After a short "survey" by Lotus, which determines the player's starting path, players can choose between the Warframe path, which offers a more classic experience, or the Paradox path, which takes them to the new open world and provides a story-driven introduction to the Warframe universe. I was immediately drawn to the roguelite elements and the fresh approach to the game's introduction.
As the play through began, we were shown a cave where Teshin explains your basic objectives and the narrative takes off, sending you out on your first quest, where you’re tossed into Duviri, and left to take on Thrax, and whatever happens to be his emotional state at that time. This is explained to us through an ongoing narrative, as Teshin chimes in every so often to update you on what you’re seeing. The world of Duviri is chaotic and engaging, with a deep color pattern and rolling clouds depicting an angry face in the distance. Shortly after leaving the safety of the cave, enemies quickly gather and charge towards you, and in the customary Warframe fashion, they were all dispatched. Throughout your battles, you’ll hear beautifully voice acted monologues from Lodun, the Prince of Nothing, and Teshin, as they round out the exceptional story aspects and immerse players further in the world.
The play through showcased the new Drifter melee combat, utilizing the Sun and Moon blades given to you by Teshin at the beginning of the quest. The changes to melee allow for players to interrupt their opponents attacks, which will provide some necessary strategy to defeat enemies. After beating the first chapter, we were met with the first Decree option, where players can choose on of three choices to enhance their combat prowess before they move on. This is where the roguelite nature of the game really shines, and it was the most enticing piece of the gameplay I witnessed, primarily because I’m a huge fan of rogue-esque gameplay, and there were some exciting choices, like a stacking attack buff on kill, and attack speed bonuses on critical hits.
Roguelite + Warframe = <3
The upgrades that you earn in the Paradox mode are just for the instance, and will reset on each play through. They are also added benefits to whatever mods you already have built into your chosen Warframe, so everything will continue to increase your power, but choosing wisely could make all the difference in how fast you’re able to defeat your enemies. The open world of Duviri has more than just enemies. There are side quests that players can choose to take on, which will provide additional rewards like intrinsics, resources, and another Decree. There is no limit to the amount of Decrees you can earn, but there may be a limit to the amount of side quests available, so you can build your Drifter as powerful as possible before making it to the end and taking on the boss.
Megan jumped into the Undercroft and we were able to see several different enemy types, and the introduction to the Voice Flood game mode, before the play through culminated in a retrieval of part of a Thrax figurine, which was then brought back to Tenshin. Players should expect the Paradox quest to run about an hour and a half, and it will teach new players the basics while providing some exceptional storytelling for Warframe players familiar with the New War update. Luckily, the Duviri Paradox can be played similarly to roguelite games, and you can choose to play a run whenever you choose, which ends in an Oro Wyrm battle.
The Oro Wyrm will take on properties of the mood that Thrax is in, when you enter Duviri. That means that the mechanics of the Wyrm will change and you may want to impose different strategies depending on what you’re up against. For example, Anger is predominantly a fire-based wyrm, while Envy would be a poison wyrm. These fights take place in two separate phases, one of which starts in the open world, and the second find your Drifter battling your emotion-wyrm in the Undercroft.
By Far the Most Accessible Warframe Ever
With the Duviri Paradox update, Warframe has taken a significant step forward in creating an experience that is both accessible and engaging for players of all skill levels. The striking visuals, dynamic environments, and seamless integration of new and existing gameplay elements make it a must-play update for fans and newcomers alike. I hope you’re ready for April 26th! Prepare to embark on a novel, unforgettable journey through the Duviri Paradox.
