Of all the games I’m looking forward to playing at Gamescom this year, Crimson Desert is probably one of the ones I’m most looking forward to. A stylish action game from Pearl Abyss, built from the bones and gristle of the popular MMO Black Desert Online and infused with particle effects. It seems to me, judging by the trailers, that this game will be a feast for the eyes and soul, but after actually playing it, I’m still not sure. The real problem is that I don’t even think it’s the game’s fault.
You see, one of the most fascinating features of Crimson Desert is its combo system. Pressing both buttons simultaneously produces various special attacks. Pressing light attack and heavy attack results in huge slashes, but face button combinations can result in stabs, kicks, and even drug-wrestling-style brain damage. The result of having all this is a surprisingly cathartic brawl that has you flitting between typical fantasy combat and often hilariously cool action sequences. It helps that the Pearl Abyss team also has brutally powerful melee combat – big hits have weight to them and really make players feel powerful.
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But, and this is a big but, this system only works best when fighting other humanoids. These skills can all come in handy when fighting bandits. The part of the Gamescom demo where you face off against such an enemy was brilliant – the quality level was even beyond my expectations. But the vast majority of the demo has you fighting bosses, all of which are largely unaffected by these abilities. Combat devolves into sprinting (and blocking/recasting against the Reed Demon and Deer King), where the most effective method of combat is a slow and patient marathon, using a charged slash or two when an opening arises hit.
Why on earth they would have the media and influencers sit down and present all these exciting aspects of the fight, only for them to be bogged down in these scenarios that don’t work, is baffling. It encourages you to play Souls-style hit-and-run style, and when the game is at its best, it’s when you dive in and treat yourself to a thick, Moore-esque beating. Yes, the game still feels good, but after defeating three bosses, all I wanted to do was restart the demo and try the tutorial again because it throws about 20 regular mobs at you.
Let me pull out some more color and paint you a picture of why this is the case. The bosses, while nice, are all one-on-one fights. They charge at you and unleash a variety of powerful attacks that you can focus on in typical boss fight fashion. In a gang fight, when you’re charging into five people, that’s a different story. Forget the patience you’d find in other action games – this game’s regular enemies will gang up on you and beat you up like a world-star street fight video. You’ll get two sword strikes from one guy, only for his brother to kick you in the back while Steve to your right swings out with a giant axe. it’s great! I haven’t felt this way since being stomped by Absolved players.
But hey, it’s worth mentioning that Crimson Desert isn’t just about combat. The game looks gorgeous, there’s no doubt about it. Pearl Abyss went to the lab and did some evil work through test tubes and flasks, managing to create a game that’s better looking than anything they’ve ever made before, and is indeed one of the best looking games currently being developed . It all looks great in motion, and the particle effects I mentioned earlier are rich to an almost ridiculous degree. The boss swings his sword at you with an energy-packed motion that’s likely to send off more sparks than a welder’s torch.
When you are thrown into a brick wall or cliff edge, the stone will shatter. When you cut the reeds, they will scatter around you. Ground impacts crack the floor and bosses glow and emit vibrant colors, pushing this game’s graphics to another level. Despite my frustration with the preview demo, it’s clear there’s a great game here. This is the game you and I saw in the gameplay trailers, with drifting horses rounding corners and engaging in arm-wrestling contests in taverns. I came away from my time with Crimson Desert a little frustrated, but eager to try more.
With the game’s release date set for 2025, there’s plenty of time for both future previews and a final review. What I can firmly say now is that the core of this game – its combat and appearance – is excellent. I just wish my first real exposure to the game had been in a format that best highlighted the game’s strengths.
“Crimson Desert” is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2025.
