Crimson Desert, one of the most anticipated gaming projects, is already generating significant buzz following initial impressions. Spanish YouTuber Revenant (with 700k subscribers) shared a review that was swiftly taken down, but crucial details were preserved by players.
According to the leaked review, Crimson Desert isn’t a typical combat RPG and doesn’t prioritize its narrative. While its story is considered better than Black Desert’s, it falls short of titles like The Witcher 3 and Kingdom Come. Instead, the game emphasizes epic moments and spectacular battles.
The combat system is hailed as the most impressive aspect, standing out among all open-world games. It’s likened to the mechanics of Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden, yet unfolds across a massive map. The system offers significant freedom, with character movements adapting based on enemy position, direction, and attack strength. For instance, a back-grapple can lead to a dynamic throw of the opponent.
The game also offers creative ways to interact with the environment. Players can use trees as catapults and even launch enemies into the air, proving particularly effective during encounters with larger creatures.
The game doesn’t hold the player’s hand and demands considerable patience. The initial eight hours are described as a learning period. While Crimson Desert isn’t a typical ‘Souls-like’ title, it shares a characteristic with FromSoftware games: mastering the combat rhythm and mechanics is essential for the gameplay to truly shine.
The game world also leaves a strong impression. Its locations boast incredible verticality, and the world design is likened to a blend of RDR2 with elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The project’s scale is immense; the reviewer spent 50 hours in the game and was still within the first region of the map.
Music and atmosphere are highlighted as key elements. The soundtrack is compared to The Witcher 3, described as beautiful, calm, and incredibly atmospheric. The reviewer also noted a superb sense of world scale, reminiscent of games like Shadow of the Colossus and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At night, the game is even more striking, with darkness being genuinely dense and realistic, akin to Dragon’s Dogma.
However, not everything is perfect. The reviewer points out several serious issues related to a lack of convenience. The inventory system is described as chaotic; quest items persist in the backpack even after completion. Item space is limited, and player camps lack a storage system, offering only a currency exchange bank.
The game world also presents some unusual quirks. After clearing an enemy camp, enemy bodies disappear, meaning players must leave at least one foe alive to safely collect loot.
According to the leak’s source, Crimson Desert might receive critic scores around 80-85%, primarily due to its challenging start and the absence of some quality-of-life features. However, if players embrace the learning curve and overlook these shortcomings, scores could be significantly higher, potentially reaching 90-95%.
The reviewer himself dubs the game an ‘uncut diamond’ and claims it’s his favorite open-world title, surpassing even Elden Ring, RDR2, or The Witcher 3.