Hype
CRIMSON DESERT
Bloody battlegrounds set the stage for a mythic quest
A snowy mountain boss known as White Horn unleashes a sequence of slam attacks that really help to amplify the anxiety during combat
Developer/publisher
Pearl Abyss
Format
PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Origin
South Korea
Release
TBA
Medieval cities litter the land of Pywel, and each new township offers Kliff a chance to rest – although not every face is friendly.
Swordplay is the backbone of Kliff’s monster-hunting escapades, with an emphasis on combo attacks.
The Reed Devil offers a formidable multistage boss battle laden with illusions that will catch you out at least on your first try.
Crimson Desert’s attention to visual detail applies to both its grotesque creatures and their battlegrounds, full of effects and flourishes
Within seconds of starting Crimson Desert, we’re thrust into a fiery battle and insulted by a chorus of roaring brutes in bear-head hats. As swirling embers fill the air and illuminate a grassy arena, a slick cutscene blurs into frenetic combat, but not before we’re led through a breakneck tutorial – a crash course in dodging, swordplay and a surprising Spartan kick. It’s a harsh first lesson, covering Pearl Abyss’s new vision for combat post-Black Desert Online. Yet, even with such a punishing first impression, we can’t help smiling as we’re pounded to death with bats, axes and good old-fashioned fists.