Crimson Desert is an ambitious open-world action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss, offering players freedom and an engaging combat system. Set in the unique universe of Pywel, players assume the role of Kliff, a warrior facing a mysterious threat. After a hands-on session, the combat appears promising but requires refinement, with challenges like lack of control and movement issues identified. With a tentative release in 2025, the developers plan to enhance the game before its launch on PC and consoles.
Crimson Desert is an exciting open-world action-adventure game that promises a thrilling experience. With a strong emphasis on freedom of action and dynamic combat, we had the opportunity to play it for an hour and a half, and here are our initial thoughts.
Following the success of Black Desert Online, Korean developer Pearl Abyss is venturing into new territory with Crimson Desert. This ambitious title is a single-player open-world game that draws inspiration from renowned titles such as Breath of the Wild, The Witcher 3, Dragon’s Dogma, and Red Dead Redemption 2. The game aims to immerse players in a vast universe, allowing them to explore and engage with a myriad of gameplay options. Our play session was accompanied by developers who shared insights into the game.
Despite its name, Crimson Desert is not a spin-off of Black Desert. While it features some familiar gameplay elements, it exists in a separate universe and utilizes a different game engine. This title stands on its own, catering to a broader audience beyond just MMO enthusiasts.
Distinctively, it’s not classified as an RPG; instead, it is more of a narrative-driven adventure game. Players take on the role of Kliff, a warrior on a quest to save the continent of Pywel from an enigmatic threat. What sets Crimson Desert apart is its expansive continent designed as a cohesive whole and a thrilling combat system influenced by titles such as Dark Souls, Dragon’s Dogma, and Assassin’s Creed. This is an area we had the chance to experience firsthand.
A Combat System Full of Potential
While testing Crimson Desert, we were involved in intense brawls featuring four formidable bosses. Our challenges included two human adversaries, a towering yeti, and a colossal tortoise. Although the experience left us with mixed feelings, it showcased significant potential.
The combat mechanics are straightforward on the surface: a weak attack with R1, a strong attack with R2, shielding with L1, and dodging with Rond. However, Pearl Abyss intends to push for “challenging” gameplay. The combat system also integrates a variety of skills, such as scaling enemies, executing jump kicks, and using web-like maneuvers similar to Spider-Man. Activating these abilities requires combinations of buttons, such as cross and round or round and triangle. While it sounds intricate, the developers assured us that these skills will unlock progressively as players advance.
We began our encounters with the stag king and reed devil. The stag king encounter was relatively traditional, while the reed devil presented a more tactical challenge. This battle, set in a wheat field that obscured visibility, required strategic thinking against a speedy and cunning opponent wielding ranged attacks. Unlike the slower-paced combat seen in Souls games, Crimson Desert offers a more frenetic, beat-em-all style. Overall, the combat shows promise, but there are areas that require refinement.
At times, we felt a lack of control over our character’s movements. Initiating combos didn’t always yield the expected results due to occasionally awkward key combinations. For instance, attempting to stab using round and cross usually ended in a roll instead, which can be quite frustrating.
Additionally, the overall system still requires work. Movement felt somewhat slippery, and the impact of attacks was often lacking. This was particularly apparent during battles with larger foes like the yeti. To defeat such opponents, players must climb aboard and strike at specific areas, but in the chaos of combat, it can be challenging to gauge successful hits. The absence of a lock-on feature contributes to confrontations feeling a bit chaotic. Nevertheless, the battles remain engaging, and it’s evident that Pearl Abyss is on the right track. As confirmed by the developers, the game is still under development and will see improvements ahead of its release.
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What’s next for Crimson Desert? There’s still ample time for enhancements. Developers mentioned that the projected release date in 2025 is tentative, hinting that the game could arrive later than anticipated. They are committed to taking the necessary time to deliver a polished experience. Ultimately, it will launch on PC and consoles. Will it emerge as the next standout title in the open-world action-adventure genre? Only time will tell.