Crimson Desert: A Bold New Action-RPG Experience
Despite a somewhat slow initial reception, Crimson Desert is a remarkably ambitious blend of open-world exploration and action-RPG mechanics, paying homage to genre greats while forging its own distinct identity. After over 40 hours of gameplay, I find myself completely captivated, unable to put it down. This action-RPG is a masterclass in synthesis, seamlessly merging the visceral combat of Dragon’s Dogma with the expansive scale and sense of adventure found in Breath of the Wild.
While drawing inspiration from modern open-world titles, Crimson Desert introduces innovative mechanics that elevate the overall experience, setting it apart as a standout game rather than a simple imitation. You assume the role of Kliff, the leader of a mercenary group known as the Greymanes. As the band gathers to mourn fallen comrades, they are ambushed, thrusting Kliff into a desperate fight for survival. Following a series of battles, the Greymanes are scattered, and Kliff meets his demise. However, divine intervention resurrects him, tasking him with a greater purpose.
Ambitious, But Demanding
To call Crimson Desert ambitious would be an understatement. However, this ambition comes with a significant learning curve. It’s a systems-heavy game that utilizes nearly every button on your gamepad – and even complex button combinations – to unleash Kliff’s abilities. This leads to unique interactions with the world, such as an Ocarina of Time-inspired targeting system, even used to focus on NPCs for conversation.
However, Pearl Abyss sometimes introduces unnecessary complexity to otherwise simple controls, leading to initial confusion. For instance, I spent a considerable amount of time in the dark early on because I couldn’t figure out how to equip my lantern. The lantern can’t be used while wielding a weapon, requiring you to sheath it first. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten the corresponding button, leaving me to explore dark caves, forests, and a snowy mountain without illumination for an embarrassingly long time. A simple automatic sheathing function when selecting the lantern would have resolved this, but Crimson Desert operates on a more “manual” philosophy.
A Unique Control Scheme
Crimson Desert’s controls have other quirks, like requiring a button tap to sprint instead of a simple hold. It took several hours to build muscle memory and become comfortable with the controls, essentially relearning mechanics that are genre staples. It’s akin to switching from an automatic car to a manual transmission. But the effort is worthwhile, as Crimson Desert is incredibly fun once you adapt.
A Dynamic and Immersive World
The game world is a dynamic, lived-in backdrop reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption 2’s realism, but filtered through a fantasy lens. Like the Rockstar classic, Crimson Desert boasts impeccable attention to detail, including dynamic NPCs who follow daily routines and react to your actions. Even simple actions like petting animals, sitting on benches, or leaning against walls contribute to the immersive atmosphere.
A surprising element is the Grand Theft Auto-style wanted system. You can harass and assault NPCs, but you’ll be flagged as a criminal and forced to flee before being apprehended by guards. I discovered this firsthand after testing my suplex ability on an unsuspecting peasant woman. I initially assumed NPC reactions to weapon draws were merely visual cues, but I was wrong – and promptly became a wanted criminal. The game warns that failing to escape or escalating the situation could jeopardize your freedom. I haven’t been arrested yet, but it’s on my to-do list! Stealing and pickpocketing are other aspects I haven’t fully explored.
Familiar Yet Fresh Mechanics
While the quests and story beats can be somewhat generic, the excellent voice acting breathes life into what might otherwise be mundane tasks. Rescuing a cow from bandits may not sound thrilling, but the farmer’s heartfelt plea made the task surprisingly engaging. This adds to the game’s realism and atmosphere, reinforcing that lived-in feeling.
Like Tears of the Kingdom, Crimson Desert allows you to climb almost any surface and use a glider to extend jumps and dives. This also applies to larger enemies, allowing you to scale colossal creatures for battle, much like in Dragon’s Dogma or Shadow of the Colossus.
The game engine’s physics and properties also encourage creativity. I lit an arrow on fire by holding it over a sconce and then used it to burn vines blocking a doorway. I appreciated being rewarded for my curiosity.
Performance and Visuals
I tested Crimson Desert on a PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, and 16GB of RAM at medium settings and 1440p resolution, achieving roughly 60fps. The frame rate occasionally dipped to 40fps during intense action sequences, and even 30fps at times. I opted to maintain the 1440p resolution rather than lowering it to 1080p, accepting the performance compromise.
Crimson Desert is visually stunning. Reactive foliage, moody and dynamic lighting, and intricate visual details make it a true showstopper. The way sunlight and moonlight reflect on surfaces, illuminating objects differently depending on your location, is particularly impressive. A forest at night is pitch black, while a moonlit stroll across a mountain is bathed in cool blue rays reflecting off the glittering snow. This attention to detail extends to towns and villages, making even humble stones on walls pop with detail.
A Landmark Action-RPG?
Crimson Desert has the potential to become a landmark action-RPG alongside titles like Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It’s an impressive buffet of gameplay ideas that manages to charm, impress, and inspire. While the early game presents a steep learning curve due to the unconventional controls, the experience becomes more intuitive with muscle memory. The combat freedom is almost overwhelming, but discovering new ways to defeat enemies is incredibly satisfying. The atmospheric detail and hyper-realistic interactions further enhance the game’s appeal. Crimson Desert has exceeded my expectations, and I eagerly anticipate spending many more hours exploring its world.
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