'Crimson Desert', the most anticipated open-world video game dividing players and critics

The ambitious Crimson Desert is an open-world video game that has ended up becoming one of the most anticipated of the year, but also a source of discussion. During the preview campaign, Pearl Abyss's new title showed an endless list of mechanics and possibilities. This catapulted it to social media and made it one of the most talked-about games of the moment. With a giant proposal and impressive graphics, but also with an infinity of unrealistic promises, the debate was served.

What cannot be denied is that the South Korean studio's second game has been a commercial success. During the first day it sold two million units and, one week after its release, it already exceeds three million, according to data from the company itself. Now, with the title already available and in the hands of players worldwide, we can say that the game fulfills some of its promises, but it also has notable weaknesses that make it not a video game for everyone. We analyze what "Crimson Desert" proposes exactly, and we break down its strengths and weaknesses.

A change of course mid-development

Pearl Abyss's new project was originally conceived as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, like Black Desert Online (2014), the studio's debut. Midway through development, however, it shifted focus. With certain adjustments to the process, the proposal has ended up becoming a single-player action-adventure game within one of the largest open worlds ever seen. Even so, its original focus creates certain frictions in the final design, along with template changes and reorganization during a difficult development that has dragged on for almost eight years.

Regarding its universe, Crimson Desert has a medieval and fantastical setting, which at times surprises with the inclusion of other elements such as robots or jetpacks. Incongruities that resonate in other aspects of the game. The title also sets aside the typical elements of role-playing games and eliminates the possibility of creating a personalized avatar, while also featuring a protagonist with a proper name, Kliff.

The game fits into the genre known as sandbox (sandpit), a type of open world in which the player is free to do and undo with total freedom, without a defined path. As a reference, the inspiration for the Koreans has been iconic titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Red Dead Redemption 2.

An immense 'sandbox' that shines in exploration and combat

The continent of Pywell is enormous, the feeling that it is uncontainable is latent during exploration and motivates players looking for a world full of secrets to get lost in for hundreds of hours. The good use of the graphics engine developed by the same studio should also be highlighted, which emphasizes the beauty of the landscapes and makes the territory feel like a living and changing world. One of the other highlighted points of the game is its combat system, which has a wide range of possible skills and movements, conveys a pleasant and forceful sensation, and offers a great visual spectacle.

Regarding the mechanics, the game features a wide variety of actions, to such an extent that every day that passes, players discover something they didn't know could be done within the game. Catapulting with a tree, burning objects by reflecting light with the sword, riding a dragon... The game even includes dynamics for managing a camp, relationships and affinity with characters and pets, and even playable co-protagonists. Despite everything, some remain anecdotal or disconnected facts, as is also the case with copies of specific elements from other games. They are additions that from the new direction were considered essential, although perhaps they didn't make much sense within the project, but no one dared to refuse them.

Cumbersome controls and a disjointed story

The development went through critical moments in which the restructuring involved a management very reluctant to criticism and proposals, as confirmed by some current or former employees of the studio. In this stalemate, the game's plot also changed completely and, with little room for maneuver, it has become the rather weak story that "Crimson Desert" narrates. In fact, the desert that gives the title its name is never mentioned, and it did exist in the discarded plot. This also leaves a poorly developed protagonist with whom it is difficult to connect emotionally.

Another weak point of the game is its control system. The mapping (assignment) of buttons is very complex and unergonomic, which in the world of video games means it is difficult for players to adopt. For example, the fact that the button for jumping and interacting is the same, or that some habitual actions require a combination of three different buttons, distorts the fluidity of the game. Other players also point to poor use of the third-person camera or certain animations that do not look very good.

It should also be noted that, despite the visual performance being very good in general, it only stands out on computers with good components. The graphics are smoother, especially on consoles or when the hardware cannot handle good lighting. Even so, in general it does not reach the point where the game is unplayable. As a final detail, some users have detected the use of generative AI in some elements of the game, but the studio has claimed that these are forgotten resources from development that should have been replaced.

A future with room for improvement

Pearl Abyss has been paying attention to social media and has been quick to respond. They know that, despite the tortuous development, a somewhat disconnected design in certain elements, and a weak narrative, they have a good sandbox. The team, after celebrating the units sold in its first few days, has accepted some of the problems most criticized by the community and has confirmed that it will try to correct them as much as possible. In fact, it has already released a patch with substantial improvements when the game had not yet been on the market for a week.

Perhaps it's an obvious case where negative opinions about a game shouldn't be demonized, no matter how enthusiastic we may be. These can make its creators react and ensure that it ultimately becomes a better game for everyone – let's look at cases like Cyberpunk 2077–. Today, Crimson Desert is a good option for lovers of sandboxes, but it has glaring enough rough edges to make one wonder if it's worth playing now or waiting for it to be fully polished. Pearl Abyss's new game has arrived amidst a rather divided opinion, but if it continues to sail towards a favorable outcome, it could become one of the most spectacular open worlds to explore in the coming years.