With open-world games, bigger is usually better. And with 168 main quests, countless spin-off missions and a gargantuan map to explore, Crimson Desert is easily one of the biggest around.
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It starts off small though. The plucky Greymane clan are busy keeping the peace across the gorgeous, lush fantasy land of Pailune when their leader is ambushed and killed by the barbaric Black Bears group. There’s talk of a double cross but before the backstabber can be rooted out, the Greymanes’ camp is raided and the slaughter continues. This is where you, as the righteous warrior hero Kliff, step up to confront the Black Bears’ hulking leader Myurdin… before getting your throat slashed open in a particularly grisly cutscene.
Your death doesn’t mean game over though. A mysterious light soon brings our brave soldier back to life. Why? Kliff certainly doesn’t seem concerned with figuring it out as he scurries around the bustling medieval town of Hernand, merrily arm-wrestling local drunks, cleaning chimneys for bickering couples and rescuing wayward cats – so why should you? He’s just as indifferent when a mysterious talking dove tells him he’s responsible for bringing balance back to a world in imminent peril, and gifts him wings to soar through the sky. These jarring leaps happen time and time again across Crimson Desert’s story, which will take you at least 60 hours to complete.
That sprawling, jumpy narrative isn’t the only confusing thing about this absolutely huge game either. Influenced by the mythical expanse of Elden Ring, the freewheeling creativity of The Legend Of Zelda: The Breath Of The Wild and the magical, monster hunting of The Witcher, Crimson Desert is a greatest hits of ambitious titles.
But all those different elements are stacked haphazardly on top of one another, making the first few hours overwhelming and a little tedious. Kliff lumbers between in-game tutorials, learning the basics of combat, puzzle solving, precision jumping and his new mystical powers in low stakes challenges that feel like a slog. Uninspired dialogue, issues with performance and frustratingly dodgy controls take away from the game’s obvious visual majesty even further.
If you can make it through the first 10 hours though, you’ll be rewarded with an almighty amount of freedom. You’re able to slay towering beasties, tame cutesy farm animals, reunite with the Greymane survivors, take on a side hustle as a cowboy bounty hunter, rob local NPCs and save the universe from an all-consuming evil. You can spend 100 hours in Crimson Desert and not come close to uncovering all the different ways to play.
‘Crimson Desert’. Credit: Pearl Abyss
Whether you’re questing or killing, combat is a constant highlight. Deploying combos that bring together slashing blades and pro-wrestling moves to tear through hordes of bandits makes for enjoyable carnage. The cinematic boss fights are deliciously varied and Crimson Desert’s intricate skill tree encourages you to play to your strengths instead of forcing any sort of balance.
However, no matter which of Pailune’s many adventures you tackle, there’s little personality to be found. Kliff is a charmless bruiser who takes on this fabulous fantasy world with all the excitement of someone putting the bins out – and the supporting cast are just as bland to interact with.
There’s plenty of fun to be had flying through the skies on the back of a dragon or hijacking a cart full of supplies from an unsuspecting traveler before disappearing into the woods, but there’s no real cohesion to this bonkers game. Some players will revel in the chaos, others will find Crimson Desert painfully undercooked.
‘Crimson Desert’ is out now for Xbox, PlayStation and PC
VERDICT
There’s no denying that Crimson Desert is a massively ambitious game. Bringing together the most inventive parts of Breath Of The Wild, The Witcher, Elden Ring and a dozen more fantasy games means you can still be surprised after sinking hundreds of hours into exploring the beautiful, varied land of Pailune. However, trying to cram so many different mechanics into a game that also offers players total freedom means it often feels a bit hollow.
PROS
A monstrously massive open-world to explore
There’s total freedom to do things however you see fit
The combat is a constant thrill
CONS
The main story is underdeveloped with dull characters
You’ll need to spend hours learning the many different gameplay mechanics
Issues with performance and controls make an already-complicated game even more difficult
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