Crimson Desert HANDS-ON PREVIEW: A Little Refining Is Needed, But It Has Promise

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Anticipation for Crimson Desert has been building steadily since 2019, with players eagerly awaiting a glimpse of the game. Recently, TopMob got an opportunity to test the pre-release build at Gamescom 2025, and here are our initial impressions.

For the uninitiated, Crimson Desert is a forthcoming open-world action-adventure game set in the continent of Pywel. You’ll assume the character of Kliff, the head of the Greymanes, and traverse this stunning yet harsh environment. Your mission: protect Pywel from various threats.

Complicated Yet Exciting Combat

The Crimson Desert demo lasted approximately 50 minutes, making it one of the lengthiest previews at the gathering. Throughout this duration, participants were given a thorough walkthrough of both combat techniques and navigation, witnessed an intense battle scene, and had a chance to participate in a full-fledged boss fight.

From the very start, you’ll encounter numerous moves and techniques with just one weapon. You can create a variety of combos and unique abilities by utilizing different button sequences. Yet, this game isn’t simply about rapidly pressing buttons – doing so may help against minions, but when facing bosses, understanding your skillset is crucial for success.

During the initial demonstration, players encountered a single faction, composed of multiple enemy groups. Some were agile and dealt less severe damage in one go but inflicted more harm over prolonged periods. The other type was bulky and slower, but capable of delivering powerful strikes simultaneously.

The boss presents a unique challenge – they’re a formidable figure who could endanger your job if circumstances are unfavorable. It’s important to follow the established protocol, or else you might face difficult circumstances.

A Great Blend of Magic and Brute Force 

In this game, melee combat plays a significant role, but it’s not just about physical fights. Instead, various magical abilities are interwoven as well. During the demo version, you had an opportunity to work with three distinct types of elements: Fire, Ice, and Thunder. These can be employed to empower your weapons, enabling you to unleash some powerful attacks on your foes.

In addition to two distinct varieties of arrows, we also had them available for long-range attacks. One weapon could be enchanted with one of your selected elements, causing both damage and a status effect on opponents. The other arrow, however, would unleash a shower of flaming arrows from above, dealing damage to multiple enemies simultaneously.

It required me some adjustment to grasp all their assaults and skills initially, but as events unfolded, I found myself having an immense amount of enjoyable mayhem. I was swiftly cutting down one adversary while simultaneously stabbing another; I’m pretty sure I even executed a WWE-style maneuver at one point, knocking the enemy flat onto the ground.

A Visual Treat 

In the demonstration version, Crimson Desert’s graphics and performance were simply outstanding. Pearl Abyss transports players into a captivating fantasy realm teeming with various plants and animals. While the world appears vast, I could only traverse a small portion of it during my playtime.

In this expansive world, various methods are available for navigating, and the game provides multiple options for that purpose. You can certainly jump and run as you please, and there are numerous surfaces to scale. Additionally, the main character boasts a unique ability to float or glide, which comes in handy when covering long distances after falling from great heights.

In many fantasy-style games, you’d usually have a reliable mount at your disposal. However, in this case, the horse seemed quite awkward and sluggish in its movements, suggesting there might be some room for improvement. Often, running proved to be quicker when trying to reach a destination.

Final Thoughts

The game Crimson Desert boasts great promise and offers numerous appealing aspects, making it an ideal choice for gamers seeking a fresh fantasy experience. Its combat system is intricate and challenging, with boss fights that can be tough if you’re not familiar with the mechanics. However, it’s not exactly like Soulslike games; it demands some extra effort from casual players.

Although Crimson Desert’s open world didn’t offer much to discover, it remains uncertain about its overall development or whether it feels vibrant and inhabited. Nevertheless, if the developers dedicate equal care to the design of the world as they do to combat mechanics, then players can expect a satisfying gaming experience.

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2025-08-22 15:49