As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for open-world action-adventure games and a soft spot for titles that offer a more hardcore experience, I must say that Crimson Desert has caught my attention. Having dabbled in Dragon’s Dogma 2 and countless Soulslike games, I can see the similarities but also the unique twist Pearl Abyss is bringing to the table.
Initially unveiled in 2020, Crimson Desert was introduced as a standalone game within the realm of Black Desert Online. Although numerous images, previews, and updates have been shared since then, the specifics about this game have remained somewhat elusive. The story revolves around a mercenary character named Kliff, who grapples with a troubled past and a complex present. In essence, that’s the jist of it.
In terms of gameplay, Crimson Desert is shaping up to be an open-world action-adventure game that caters to players seeking a more challenging experience. From our hands-on session with its Gamescom 2024 demo, it’s evident that the game plays similarly to Dragon’s Dogma 2 but without the Pawn system, and traces of its MMO roots can still be felt.
Crimson Desert Combat Has Weight
As an enthusiast, I was fortunate enough to get a hands-on experience with the demo, guiding me through a tutorial that pitted me against a horde of barbarians, all masterfully directed by a formidable mini-boss/leader. Subsequently, I engaged in combat with two formidable bosses from Crimson Desert: the Reed Devil and the Stag Lord. It’s worth noting that each confrontation was unique, requiring me to adapt and hone my skills to overcome them.
The tutorial effectively demonstrated the fundamental gameplay elements, introducing us to them. Players can switch between light and heavy attack commands to execute combos of varying intensity. Additionally, players can parry or dodge incoming attacks. The basic combos are quite spectacular, and certain inputs may activate special moves like a swift, charging dash. In this tutorial battle, we gradually defeated enemies one after another, avoiding the mini-boss as it executed rolling assaults.
In close proximity, the fight felt intense and substantial, yet we found ourselves shifting positions excessively, preventing us from fully savoring it. Interestingly, that weight shifts based on actions taken by the player, such as engaging with mobs versus individual opponents, employing combos, and tackling bosses. For instance, movement might seem heavy except when actively in combat, and overall, dodging can feel clumsy, similar to a large roll in Soulslike games. However, it doesn’t always feel consistent, but when it works, it feels right.
Crimson Desert’s Stag Lord and Reed Devil Boss Fights
A good example of this is with the Stag Lord boss fight. Because it was a single target, we were able to execute more combos cleanly and remain engaged in the fight. It was trying, but it was consistent. It still had weight to the gameplay, but it wasn’t being dragged all over the map. This was a contest between two powerful beings, Kliff and the Stag Lord, and it realized that fantasy rather well.
Contrarily, our team encountered significant difficulties against the Reed Devil, who proved to be a swift, hit-and-run adversary. During the initial phase, we focused on attacking him from afar and closing the gap, but we’d often find ourselves running after him instead, dealing minimal damage before chasing again. The situation became more complex in the second phase, as we had to destroy several totems to weaken him, but he also grew more aggressive. In this round, we allowed him to approach us, but the heavy influence of Kliff and the gameplay mechanics transformed this boss battle into a unique experience compared to other encounters.
In the demo version of Crimson Desert, it was noticeable that the gameplay offered a unique experience each time, with a sense of familiarity derived from its MMO-style enemy design. It’s clear that there could be potential hidden within this game, despite the limited weapon and build options in the demo. Overall, Crimson Desert shows promise, albeit requiring some fine-tuning. As of now, there’s no confirmed release date, suggesting these improvements may already be underway. A more streamlined experience will undoubtedly make Crimson Desert an appealing addition to Pearl Abyss fans’ gaming library.
Read More
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- USD MYR PREDICTION
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- USD COP PREDICTION
- CKB PREDICTION. CKB cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- USD IDR PREDICTION
- TAO PREDICTION. TAO cryptocurrency
2024-08-30 18:43