With how much I am looking forward to the launch of Soulframe, you better believe I was eagerly anticipating seeing and hearing more about its development while at TennoCon 2024. And learn more I did, starting with a preview hosted by Soulframe’s Creative Director Geoff Crookes and Community Manager Sarah Asselin along with Digital Extremes CEO Steve Sinclair. Then Soulframe’s keynote address offered more tidbits, keeping my excitement bubbling.
What am I excited about? Even though – as Crookes said – “the stuff you are going to see is very much a work-in-progress,” a few new aspects really caught my eye. Whereas last year’s peek into development was more focused on environmental impact, redemption, and healing, this year the look was skewed toward, well, looks. The preview started and ended with customization, with some rodent-rescue and boss-bashing in between. This keynote/devstream took us through the prologue of the game with its story-driven character customization, then offered a peek into the latest prelude that introduces the newest ancestor, Verminia.
Soulframe is growing
Did I just say Soulframe’s keynote? Yes, this fantasy adventure got its own keynote address separate from its sister game, so there was no spotlight sharing — or hogging. (Honestly I am even hoping it grows to take its own day at TennoCon in the future. A mini EnvoyCon, anyone?) The keynote also doubled as the debut of Soulframe’s first devstream. “First” means more to come and more to show and say about the game. I am all for that.
The fact that Soulframe’s presence has grown at TennoCon is heartening. It shows that the game is developing and maintains a focus. You can’t blame me for my worry; when I like new projects, they seem to always disappear. (I’m looking at you, Amazing Eternals). And I really want this one to come to pass. The more I see of it, the more I am eager to play.
Story-integrated customization
At the opening of the tour, I was already drawn in. Crookes called it the start of the very first significant player quest, the Warsong Prologue, and it began with a story snippet as we followed a bird through the battleground of a siege on a keep. My first question was, can I pet or be the pretty birb? (Answer to follow later!) When the bird alights at the keep, we are introduced to a mother and her newborn babe. The story bit continues, and suddenly you are transitioned into an interactive character customization as you select the skin, hair, and eye colors of the mom. After each selection, the story continues using your choices.
I was quite impressed with the seamless integration of story in a gaming feature that is usually considered separate from and outside the narrative. What unique character customization! I now hope more housekeeping-type features in Soulframe can be worked right into the story and gameplay, just like this and the idle screen animation. It really enhances immersion.
As you finish customizing, you learn the baby is you. These characteristics become the default base of your character, or phase one, as Crookes called it. Then your mother, a knight maiden, sends you off. Why must she send you away while she remains? Perhaps that is learned as the quest continues.
Special note: A super sweet little Easter egg is that the baby in the prologue is actually voiced by a DE dev’s baby! So the new child of Sound Designer Willem Schonken already has a voice acting credit.
Adventuring in the overworld
At last year’s TennoCon, the Soulframe footage was dashing about and solving puzzles inside a procedural dungeon. This year, it highlights adventuring in the overworld. While Sinclair noted that DE isn’t considering the topside an open world like some Warframe zones, he did offer the comparison that the starting island is about two times bigger than the Plains of Eidolon. That’s plenty of room to run, jump, or possibly get lost in. Hey, you try following that little rat as it scurries away!
What rat? The rat creature that the Envoy — played live by Asselin — saved during the demo, only to be bitten! That’s rodent gratitude for you. She then had to chase after to find where it was leading her.
During this journey, however, the Envoy ran into a few troubles. The camp of enemies was dispatched while taking advantage of stealth techniques, but the big lightning-calling boss Nimrod took multiple encounters to beat. That fight highlighted two mechanics that really interested me. One, the death mechanic: If you die, you get to be that bird from the beginning to fly back to your body. Yay for birb! I am willing to die in game just to enjoy this feature. (You heard it here, all deaths will be on purpose.) The second is using a bow and arrow, a weapon I have grown to love in other games so am excited to use in Soulframe.
Upon finally reaching the rat’s destination, we meet the witch of elixirs, Verminia, who is quite the character. She is also one of the ancestors who can join you. When she does, you find out that she also helps with customization as she can offer dyes to changes the color of your outfit. She also coined the memorable phrase, “Your aura is showing!” when you’re stripped down to your skivvies testing the dyes. Honestly, her personality is just kooky enough I want to go visit and talk with her more.
Can play, when?
Prelude 5 has just dropped, with more features and things to do, especially in the overworld. “We are spending more time on density,” Sinclair said, explaining that new systems and mini adventures are being added to the overworld. If you are interested in playing, DE is inviting more and more people into the preludes from the signups. However, if you don’t get in sooner, Sinclair says, “We hope to get into more public hands this fall.” He elaborated that this means opening the game up to everyone for testing.
When the game opens, it will stay free-to-play, but there will also be founder’s type packs for sale.
