After spending an hour picking up new combat skills and running through a gauntlet of bosses in Pearl Abyss’ new open-world action game Crimson Desert, I’m utterly overwhelmed by its frenetic, brutal combat, yet somehow captivated by it. It’s like participating in an exhilarating dance filled with timed counters, air-stepping overhead strikes, and even some wrestling-style finishers to close things out – simply put, it’s damn good fun.
Based on my hands-on experience at The Game Awards, Crimson Desert is undoubtedly ambitious, wearing its Witcher 3, Dragon’s Dogma, and The Legend of Zelda influences on its sleeve. All of these various threads intertwine to create a game that’s setting a high bar for itself, especially in terms of its combat.
I remember Pearl Abyss highlighting that Crimson Desert’s gameplay is neither soulslike nor RPG in nature; instead, it’s more like a brawler with some fighting game influences. It’s certainly got my attention following my hour of being thrown into the deep end, but I still have some lingering questions about how the game will come together as a whole.
Despite being revealed several years ago, Crimson Desert’s story and scope are still somewhat unknown. What we do know is that you play as a mercenary named Kliff and you embark on an epic quest throughout the continent of Pywel, taking on sprawling excursions into different regions to fight powerful warlords while investigating the mysteries of the surrounding world.
Recent trailers have showcased delving into dungeons, riding on dragons, and even exploring floating structures in the sky, but my hands-on time focused primarily on boss fights from the main story, including the imposing Staglord and the sorcerer Hexe Marie.
Before the fights, I test out Kliff’s combat abilities in the tutorial, which tap into the traditional warrior archetype. Crimson Desert’s fights are a healthy mix between The Witcher 3 and Dragon’s Dogma, focusing on real-time action where you execute offensive and defensive abilities while managing your stamina. While it’s largely similar to what you’d find in other fantasy games, what really sells Crimson Desert is how well it presents its fights.
The sheer versatility and showiness of Kliff’s attacks help the combat sing. Along with the traditional sword combos, ranged attacks, and shield for blocking and bashing, Kliff has an array of magical and tactical abilities that you can easily thread into melee attacks. One of my favorite tricks is the aerial traversal, which you can activate by pressing the control sticks inward to have Kliff fly up into the air, where he can then fire a shot from his bow or perform a dive attack.
I faced off first against Staglord, a powerful berserker who uses his raw strength and powerful defensive skills to gain the upper hand. Given the slower nature of the fight, I assumed this would be a relatively tame first boss, but I found myself being tossed around the arena as I struggled to figure out the dodge and block timers. While vaguely soul-destroying, I eventually rallied and picked up his patterns.
I squared off against Hexe Marie next, and that’s where I really began to notice a pattern. As something of a spectacle fight, the battle tasks you with chasing after the boss in an enclosed arena, all while she summons minions to distract and keep you at bay. I enjoyed its spectacular presentation in the heat of the moment, but the boss battle felt too much like a prolonged chase rather than a full-bodied fight.
Getting thrown into the deep end with Crimson Desert initially left me with mixed feelings, but upon reflection, I like how over-the-top and bombastic its combat can feel. It’s exciting to bum-rush enemies and then bust out a swift-charged combo attack, with its gorgeous visuals creating memorable, exciting moments. I just wish it was a little easier to parse when things get truly hectic.
Pearl Abyss is going all-in on Crimson Desert as its next big thing after years of successful support for Black Desert, and my hands-on made it clear that the team is working to create a true spectacle. As much as I enjoyed tearing through bosses, I now want to see what else lies on the horizon of its stunning open world. Crimson Desert has clicked for me, and I’ll be first in line to get tossed around the arena next time it’s playable.
The Crimson Desert release date is expected to land in late 2025.