Crimson Desert was been barrelling towards release and the hype machine overflowing — now it’s finally here. I’ve been deeply exploring the sprawling world of Pywel for the past two weeks. But is it really is one to put it on your list? Here’s our rapid review.
READ MORE: QD’s Top 10 Tips For Surviving Crimson Desert
QD’s Speedrun Review
Up front, Crimson Desert is massive. This is a game you’ll spend dozens, if not hundreds, of hours in. The density and verticality of the world of Pywel are both stand-outs, giving you a huge sandbox to play in.
The story is mostly great, yet it’s a really slow-burn. It’s a medieval tale of revenge and camaraderie that unfolds over those tens of hours. Main protagonist, Kliff, must rebuild his band of wandering mercenaries.
I spent the first dozen hours wondering when things would really kick into gear. Thankfully, the world has more than enough to keep you entertained.
Combat is an absolute standout. It’s fast and fluid, you learn combos and dish out punishment with all the style of the world’s most violent dancer. When you come up to a boss, though, that’s when you really get to test your skills.
This is an action adventure game. You won’t be sifting through dialogue trees or creating a custom character; it’s Kliff’s story. He’s basically a gruff, Viking-esque Robin Hood, protecting the innocent and punishing the wicked at the end of his sword.
The game sadly isn’t the highly polished gem that it could be. There’s plenty of rough edges, clunky controls, weird translations and AI dumber than a box of rocks.
READ MORE: Crimson Desert: Hitting The Road — Our Top Tips
Things I love about Crimson Desert:
- Combat and experimentation.
- Wrestling moves are the best.
- Base-building and restoring the Greymanes is a really cool plot.
- Boss fights are excellent.
- Free-form exploration and the open world are very well-realised.
Things I don’t love about Crimson Desert:
- Controls can be very clunky, especially in puzzles.
- The story is slow, and a bit thin.
- Many systems can feel a mile wide, inch deep.
- AI is astonishingly stupid at times.
Is Crimson Desert worth your time?
If you like a sweeping fantasy story with factions, huge battles and plenty to do — yes. If you like your games polished, fingers crossed, a few patches might iron that out.
Crimson Desert is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It retails for about AUD $110.
Early access to Crimson Desert was provided by the publisher.
