My extended foray into WarFrame, a universe teething with humanoid replication, deadly automatons and infestations of twisted creatures, afflicted by aggressive necrotic metamorphosis looks set to continue with an all expenses paid trip to “The Plains Of Eidolon”, a free expansion courtesy of Digital Extremes that endows its committed users with an interactive open land, a distinct tangent from habitual spatial restraints of the randomly generated corridors and environmental limitations that us Tenno’s usually traverse with erratic acceleration. “The Plains Of Eidolon” will finally enable users to negotiate a terrain unrestricted by tight linear environments presented on cloistered space vessels and Grineer facilities, if you exclude the infuriating space combat which can die to death as far as I’m concerned. Finally I could emulate the same cursory impetuosity that my PC brethren had been accustomed to for over a month, and I couldn’t wait.
Patiently I endured the wait for the update to download, presiding over my household with anxious fervour, hoping that my girlfriend would permit me the necessary time to actually play it, as she is undisputed ruler of living room activities. Thankfully she did, and I seized immediate action by commencing a sustained and calculated desertion of my domestic responsibilities. Delving into the Plains I briefly perused “Cetus”, a colonised shopping district that acts as the Plains principal hub. Congested with a conglomerate of eccentric proprietors peddling all manner of arbitrary goods and customisable ballistics that would no doubt aid me with particular endeavours down the line. But it was the Plains themselves I wanted to explore, to extract precious materials for refinement, abuse the indigenous creatures and ultimately initiate the imperious delivery of my own demise by doing something inherently foolish. As the doors to the outside environment opened with glacial like momentum a stream of blinding light pierces through, before your eyes finally adjust to the evanescent glare and you take those first awkward little steps out into these new generative lands, making a reckless beeline to the nearest combat situation. Yet my audacious pursuits weren’t immediately punished as I skirted across the desolate prairie with nimble elegance, leaping over the malformed peaks, often plunging into a watery crevice and occasionally aiding teammates with the resolution of a few sporadic errands.
Preliminary exposure was stimulating if not entirely realised, feeling more like a fertile concept that hasn’t had time to fully mature yet, but certainly a satisfactory sample to a much grander plan. After an hour or so I began seeking extraction and refuge from the increasingly volatile Grineer that mount sporadic intrusions in these desolates wastes, presumably so we have something to shoot. Having negotiated my way back with another confederate to the ornate door that permits entry back to the municipal market sanctuary of Cetus, I waited for the timer to indicate the end of our expedition, which becomes active once two participants in the four man group reaches the extraction point. But there was just one problem: there was no timer? Presumably this was a glitch of some kind, which is to be expected from a newly furnished update, particularly one of this size. There’s bound to be a few bugs scuttling around. Perhaps once a third member of our party arrives we can leave. A minute or so later a third participant did arrive, but extraction did not.
Each of us stood around, listless and pondering what to do. It occurred to me that perhaps we needed the entire team back before a request for safe passage to Cetus could be accepted. I mean I could abort the mission, but then I’d be losing all of my gathered resources that I’d accumulated over the past hour? No, not an option, we had to find the fourth player! Mercifully the individual in question wasn’t too far away, fishing in a pond just beyond the crest of a slight incline. With no means of communicating verbally, owing to a broken headset I was left to interact through a series of gestural emote’s and darting around him/her to encourage them through my inferences that we needed to leave. They didn’t respond.
In summary I got to explore a breadth of expansive land never before seen in Warframe. We savaged invading enemies, secured rare and unique resources and then got held hostage by an angler. We were thwarted not by crashes, enemy resistance or even server volatility, but by an individual looking to find Nimo. Typical.
Have you played “The Plains Of Eidolon” yet? If so what do you think of it? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.
Game, Complain, Repeat 