The Drifter - Warframe's GREATEST Character

A video essay discussing Warframe's greatest character: The Drifter. This is my best production-wise video to date, I thoroughly hope you enjoy!
Thank you to the Warframe creators who have inspired me:
‪@TriburosOnline‬
‪@ShiroNature‬
‪@CoolKid369‬
‪@StallordD‬
‪@TheDsIEGE‬
My previous video: • Duviri is Flawed | War...
CHAPTERS
Introduction: 0:00
Quick Story Recap: 2:18
The Duviri Paradox - STORY: 3:22
The New War - STORY: 5:15
Stealthy Strategies - GAMEPLAY: 7:39
Only Human - GAMEPLAY: 9:21
No Longer Human - COMPROMISING: 10:12
Silenced Protagonist - COMPROMISING: 12:37
Narmer Fight - DRIFTER'S FUTURE: 13:34
Duviri Melee - DRIFTER'S FUTURE: 14:20
Operator's Complement - DRIFTER'S FUTURE: 15:19
Conclusion: 15:54
Outro: 17:17

[@lemniscatelogos7917]

I abandoned the operator so fast once I unlocked the drifter

[@slygamer6035]

For the record: I agree with you! The Drifter was such a well-written character in "The New War." Knowing what we know now about what happened in Duviri, the Drifter has the potential to be a very layered character. I don't know if you watch DE's Devstreams, but they've addressed the topic of the Drifter's gameplay once. Not sure which number, but it was at the beginning of 2022. DE explained that slowing the gameplay down has its benefits and showed why they chose this approach. They even created a survey after "The New War" to analyze the impact of that update. Nonetheless, apparently, the survey showed that many players really disliked the Drifter segments. Essentially, they'll move the Drifter's gameplay into Warframe's sister project: Soulframe. As a kind of veteran of this game, I think Digital Extremes has written themselves into corners. Let me explain: The mod system used by skilled players turns Warframes into MCU characters who can negate gameplay. DE doesn't want to punish their audience for finding new meta, so they introduce new characters like Kahl, Veso, Teshin, the Drifter, the Stalker, etc. To me, "Whispers in the Wall" just continued this trend of moving the focus from the Operator. I believe Warframe 1999 will not be different in that regard.

[@emm6101]

Honestly loved playing as the drifter and fighting the enemies while being more grounded and normal. No super speed magic instant death stuff, just skill.

[@Mr-Man456]

Perhaps the devs just think its too much of a contrast to the rest of the game. Even though variety is the spice of life.

[@MuchVery]

Exactly. Especially considering that, for years, Warframe has been in its 'clear rooms at light speed' meta for years. A change of pace would be really nice, and we had that.

[@malaki7335]

I dont think it would make sense for the drifter to revert to a state with no powers, as their aquisition if those powers were foreshadowed through their whole story. If the drifter still played how they did in New War, for every quest, they would essentially have to design 2 quests. One balanced around the slow and stealthy combat of the drifter, and one balanced around the fast-paced and extremely powerful tenno and their Warframes. I do agree that the Drifter could use more differentiation, though. Maybe additional or unique abilities when playing as the drifter instead of the operator, though it would need to be balanced so one is not just straight up better than the other, which would be the case if the drifter retained their New War gameplay. The drifter/operator arc is, in a way, complete. I don't expect that the choice between them will be more than flavor and dialogue differences in future quests, similar to Angels of The Zariman. And while this is a bit disappointing, it is understandable because designing different gameplay, visuals, voices, dialogue, etc, would not be viable for creating new quests at their current pace. I think there is still room for more gameplay in the style of the Drifter from New War, but I don't think it needs to come from the drifter we have now.

[@MuchVery]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a swap between the Warframe / Operator and Drifter, but rather segments specifically designed for each. That way, both characters play as they normally do, and there's no need to double-up on writing scenes and creating Quest missions. Side by side, rather than on top of each other.

[@malaki7335]

@MuchVery I think they could and should do gameplay like that in more quests, and I suspect they will, but it is a bit too late to have the Drifter take that role with how the story has progressed. Unless they come up with some way to take away our powers, which is a possibility.

[@TheAssassin409]

I agree that i would like to see more differenciation between drifter and operator. But its very obvious that drifter was made to function identically to operator for standard gameplay reasons. I think theres a way to work around the issue though. Press 5 for operator. Standard operator gameplay. Hold 5 for drifter. Give drifter duviri melee gameplay. Maybe the drifter abilities would have to change (maybe something like what teshin does?), and melee back to warframe would have to change, but i think its doable. Why have one or the other when you can have both?

[@MuchVery]

@@TheAssassin409 Exactly. I don't like the idea that only one can have any sort of significant impact on the story or even standard gameplay, especially outside of the New War.

[@cdgonepotatoes4219]

I can see a third and fourth ability slot being used to differentiate the two in the normal game. What? No idea., and all my theorycrafting proved significantly worse than what DE is capable of over the course of Warframe's development.

[@jager2691]

Warframe lore videos are always welcomed on my feed

[@shemmyy.6322]

crazy video, was very interesting!

[@sungodmattie6693]

I feel bad for DE cause they try new things and actually talk to us about their ideas then see the feedback and will change their minds people need to remember this was a dream game they made it’s made with love and hope but having half the people u want to make happy complain if u do give them what they want still have the other half that complains cause they don’t like it 😢

[@MuchVery]

While that's certainly the case sometimes, I don't think it is here. It just seems like DE doesn't consider the Drifter's character worth expanding upon independently, regardless of what players have had to say.

[@sungodmattie6693]

@@MuchVery I have faith their going too it just takes time my friend

[@TigraPolosatiy]

After the New War, I am now constantly in Drifter mode as it represents me more as an adult person. In general, I agree with the author's opinion. And I’m glad that the author not only criticizes, but also suggests. This is very reasonable. DE is known for listening to its community. So we have a good chance that they will give at least a little more love to Drifter in the future than they do now. But it all depends on how clearly we convey this idea to them.

[@ProcyonDei]

DE definitely played it too safe with the Drifter, the Drifter is essentially just the Operator but older, and only really stands out in Duviri where it just gets repetitive fast; I was genuinely disappointed that the Drifter can't use guns like the teaser trailer showed, and can only use melee in Duviri but not in other missions...

[@josephghodsee1710]

I really want to hear you take on the leaked romance plot involving the drifter.

[@MuchVery]

@@josephghodsee1710 You’ll hear about it in my next video coming soon!

[@pinktr_ee]

yoo what

[@calloushayat]

Alternative title: Glazing the drifter for 18 mins. Jk man, Its a pretty well made video and I agree that the drifter has been forgotten pretty quickly after it was just introduced. It's a ༼ ಠل͟ಠ༽ˢʰᵃᵐᵉ cause the characters could've been used alot better then just it being operator's stand in as you've said or should I sah the glorified operator skin.

[@kryptostheos2770]

This was the only way they could have the tenno be a adult the size change is drastic and that why we are able to wear armor on the drifter but not the tenno. It's a scale issue. I always wanted the story to have my character grow up so a new player is a small child still since they are fresh out of dream.and we have been awake for awhile now

[@RichHimes-sd1nj]

I am kinda new 600 days tomorrow, my favorite part of the game is Duviri. Using the drifter to fight ride the Kaithe play komi solve puzzles save sick animals and fly around flying as a bird is almost never boring. I run Durivi SP arcane portals solo most of the time. So for me the game is still about 50% using the drifter. Unfortunately fighting is usually bugged and shooting results in melee and melee is just walking into enemy attacks but if you hit and hold aim melee and shoot your drifter unleashes hell on everything ( and random teammates think you are cheating). I do hope a drifter story line is developed but will it be needed? Prototype warframes that ride motorcycles and hopefully a lot of other cool stuff are being introduced to the game. I really enjoy the drifter but am really looking forward to the new characters and story lines in 1999.

[@MuchVery]

Duviri is certainly fun in its own right. An expanded Drifter story arc isn't needed, but definitely wanted. But yeah, it seems they're making way for the likes of Albrecht Entrati and the Protoframes to be our next cast of characters steering the narrative.

[@khanghua966]

It’s literally ghost of Tsushima but a lil bit more fantasy and space magic I love it tho

[@thimovijfschaft3271]

I LOVE Whispers. I cannot shut up about it and tell everyone I meet about it. But yes I fully agree with this. There being no difference between the Drifter and Operator and there being no dialog whatsoever was a massive disappointment. Overall after completing the New War, I was quite disappointed that the Drifter was just the Operator but adult and nothing more. But I held hopes that maybe they'll add more in the future. But after we've had several post New War updates that didn't do that, I started being a bit more skeptical. Overall I fully agree with you and don't have anything to ad oitside of personal emotions. Which is a bit of a rarity. But I'm just leaving a comment for the algorithm!

[@MuchVery]

Oh same, I think Whispers is one of the best Quests to date. But yeah, the lack of a role our Tenno was pretty disappointing. I don't even think they made a Drifter version of Wally for the players using the Drifter during the Quest, which kind of goes against Wally's character design. All we can do now is wait and see. At the very least, Warframe: 1999 SEEMS to have a healthy amount of dialogue. Thanks for the comment!

[@bappojujubes981]

I'm still praying for Veso's Veilbreaker quest because I LOVE combat puzzles and want to see better set pieces to strategically conquer! Also Veso-R is the GOAT. For Profit.

[@khanghua966]

I think i need drifter/operator combat like a void infused knife and we can actually use drifter/operator more (I’m a newbie and i have no experience using drifter/operator)

[@strgn1360]

Problem with such gameplay in warframe is the fact that Warframe is a looter shooter, and only instance where such gameplay could be implemented could be only the one where looting is no longer a significant portion of progress. For an instance, Kahl missions, despite being similar, lost their playerbase the moment new types of missions were introduced, despite being as repetitive as any other type of missions in solo, despite the reward for them being much more significant then any other, and achievable faster then solo archon hunts. Development of stealth based gameplay on the other hand takes much more effort then majority of other missions (that is why a significant portion of Kahl missions were lifted from NW with slightly altered paths). Making it into a multiplayer experience will either change it into a slow slaughterfest with a lot of walking, wich was a plague of pre-parcour2.0 Warframe, players optimized with specific weapons to the point where meelee become a stat stick with only one available option. If there is an option to witness NW Drifter again, it's in solo quests, but even then, encounter design will not be an easy task to assigned developers. About drifter being basically the same character as the operator after NW, it makes sense to me specifically because our (players) connection to Tenno became efectively the same as our connection to Lotus and Cavia, despite them not being available for gameplay, but aligned in their desire to appear in certan way. I don't know where DE is going with it naratively, but I definitely expect it to be a buildup to some sort of revelation eventually. Alongside the choice in WITW.

[@Dr_Dragon115]

Ngl I thought bro was byf for a solid second

[@valerianos8635]

Considering the fact that they couldnt even be bothered to change all the clothes of the operator for the drifter and the amps(i hate looking at the Sirroco ever time i switch my amps), i doubt they will ever make the Drifter anything but "Operator but older". Also such a shame they didnt Update the Naramon focus tree to fit the Drifters melee combat from duviri. Afterall the Naramon focus tree its melee focused. They can keep Drifters void powers but they can also make her more distinct than the operator hell it dosent even have voicelines like the operator when you are playing the game normaly. Also i really wanted to see Wally reaction to the Drifter in Whispers in the Wall but dam the Operator in general in that quest its just mute lol. Also where was the Lotus during that entire quest???? The overall story of Whispers its cool but it feel too detached....

[@MuchVery]

I think the Lotus is less present because her role in the main narrative was concluded with The New War. We've moved onto the next chapter of Warframe story with a fresh cast of characters. And yeah, the lack of the Tenno's role in the Quest concerned me. Perhaps they'll have more dialogue and impact later on, but we can only hope.

[@valerianos8635]

@@MuchVery I dont mind her getting a back seat role. But the lack of involvement especially when it comes to the tenno being in real danger its very concerning. Its not about her being less present shes not there at all! I mean we see her trying her best to keep the man in the wall at bay at the end of the New War, and now she dosent even show the slightest bit of concern for the tenno. Its like 11 years of character development its gone. This is what i HATE about DE's writeing inconsistent, nonsensical when it comes to character development/involvment. Idk who the writer/writers are but dayum they are incapable of writeing a connected and coherent story. Warframe should really stop delevoping their stories like this. Remember Umbra? Yup outside of The Sacrifice he dosent exist. Not even mentioned if for example you use Umbra on New War. Small conections like this would really help the story feel more connected.

[@onebraincell5035]

Ayo whens the necramite video dropping

[@F0X1907]

based.

[@F0X1907]

MF IM FIRST RAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

[@kaistermeister9260]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@F0X1907]

@@kaistermeister9260 MWOHAHAHAHA

[@klezepant8226]

I so much hate decision that drifter is operator from another dimention, the story should be that operator survived ballas and now, after some time passed, as an adult he's rebel against his terror. So when i play the game im just telling myself that drifter IS our operator, because time has passed and i do not consider teenage version anymore.

[@Void_Jay]

👁️

[@dracko9809]

Give me Drifter whit a litte faster move becouse all the time its feels like he always have to take weapon from graund and scrob floor ths not natural slownes is strange*

[@espinita.]

This

[@tctc4413]

hmm , 11 year vet here F, that's weird to write , but i'm afraid that de doesn't really do continuous plot , and chr development , each new update is a new take or a new surprise , or a new retcon there's a reason that picking a Lotus skin is a huge plot line ; we're picking how we see her on a personal level , is she a machine a mother or a handler to us , and all are valid . which version of Alvin V is current ... idk for sure and with the whole dualism , DE take on it that they all are ... Divuri 's Drifter is done folded into the Operator, but DE loves open worlds and given that Divuri is a book , i can see another book open world with another Drifter re-nerfed down weapons and warframes ripped away , and the cycle repeating , but i just don't see any chr growth just more Suprise revels , surprise were not warframe we're magic children , surprise our powers come from the man in the wall , surprise our powers really come from a heart controlled by a family , surprise .... i have learned to embrace the game play and ignore the meta-narrative plot .

[@GhostEmblem]

The drifiter is cool but far from warframes greatest. I dont understand people who want to try to slow warframe down the are 100s slow methodical stealth games, warframe is one of if not the fasstest shooter on the market play a different game for slow stealth the stealth in warframe is supposed to be more fast-paced and ninja-esque. Warframe is among my favourite games because its so fast paced isn't every basic shooter the gameplay you get from the drifter why not just play one of them?

[@MuchVery]

I think a lot of the Drifter's value as a character comes from outside gameplay, for the narrative reasons I explained. When it does come to gameplay, I think the Drifter stands out simply because they are unique, and their uniqueness was executed well.