Final month I went hands-on with Crimson Desert to check out a few of its brutal boss battles. I left the demonstration impressed by its quick fight system and spectacular monster designs, however curious as to what the broader world and gameplay of Crimson Desert appears to be like like. What occurs between these epic clashes? Now, because of a 53 minute gameplay video from developer Pearl Abyss that’s accessible to observe right here on IGN completely, I’ve a a lot clearer image. If Crimson Desert’s fight is a mixture of God of Warfare and Dragon’s Dogma, then its wider gameplay is extra harking back to trendy Murderer’s Creed and different quest-driven open world adventures.
The gameplay video introduces us to Kliff, Crimson Desert’s protagonist who sports activities a gruff Scottish accent and a no-nonsense perspective. After a prologue establishes a bloody battle between the Greymanes and the marauding Black Bears, Kliff’s main objective is made clear: discover the continent of Pywel in the hunt for his surviving Greymane allies who’ve been scattered following the battle. Kliff additionally presumably needs revenge towards Myurdin, the demo’s first boss struggle, contemplating the Black Bear chief seemingly murdered him. Fairly how Kliff stays alive after having his physique stuffed with arrows and his throat slit is a thriller left for the complete sport.
The majority of this preview demonstration is about in Hernand, a medieval city populated by a enjoyable vary of fantasy races that wouldn’t look misplaced in any Tolkienesque fantasy story (look out for the giants and the antlered elf-like beings among the many crowds). Equally, Kliff’s interactions round its fantastically rendered streets are very a lot what you’d count on of a contemporary open world journey sport – there’s a horse you possibly can whistle for, NPCs to be spoken to (through cutscenes, there isn’t any dialogue choices right here) and hostile areas to infiltrate. That final one is the place Crimson Desert has just a little enjoyable, because the demo reveals Kliff becoming Hernandian Banquet Apparel with a purpose to stroll previous a citadel’s guards unnoticed, very like how one can put on disguises in video games like Hitman and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. I hope there are many alternatives to do that, and varied outcomes to your trickery; it might be enjoyable in case you may use disguises to open up new conversations in addition to acquire entry to forbidden zones.
Contained in the citadel, Kliff pilfers an ‘Abyss Artifact’, which is the place Crimson Desert will get just a little extra uncommon. The machine opens up a pixelated portal in a wall, and strolling by means of it transports Kliff to a digital-like realm (harking back to the Animus in Murderer’s Creed) that results in the Library of Windfall. There, an alchemist referred to as Alustin reveals that the Library is on the centre of all worlds and that there are beings who plan to convey “every part to nothingness”. Whereas I can’t say I’m impressed by Crimson Desert’s writing on this demo – this trade and others really feel cluttered and wrapped up in themselves – it does level to a a lot grander, extra legendary plot past Kliff’s hunt for his allies. That ambition of one thing bigger is made abundantly clear when Alustin’s ally, White Crow, provides Kliff the glider-like ‘Crow Wings’ skill, which permits him to leap off the Library’s floating island and reenact Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s title sequence. It’s just a little daring to make use of this motif – can Pearl Abyss actually craft one thing that lives as much as the broader that means of that iconic visible? – however even when it falls brief, the magnificent view and subsequent glide to earth is a thrill all the identical.
