![Crimson Desert Is Real, Complex, and Potentially Great Preview 1](https://images.pushsquare.com/48ea4c43663dd/crimson-desert-is-real-complex-and-potentially-great-preview-1.900x.jpg)
After various "too good to be true" showcases during livestreams in the past, we can now officially confirm that Crimson Desert is an actual, real video game. In a 60-minute session on the Gamescom showfloor, we pressed all the buttons on a PS5 controller connected to a PC and things happened on-screen — it's not smoke and mirrors; the promising footage showcased in years gone by really is the game Pearl Abyss is developing right now.
Or, rather, the combat portion is. The developer out of South Korea shipped a demo to Gamescom all about the fighting in Crimson Desert. There will be a huge open world connecting all the battles together, along with many other systems, features, and mechanics, but the studio has chosen to focus on enemy engagements for a German residence in Hall 6.
We don't think the final game will take this approach, but outside of an introductory cutscene and fight against standard enemies, we were then escorted in-game to a computerised, Animus-like environment where we could approach four portals containing different boss fights. They were the Staglord, Reed Devil, White Horn, and a big Queen Stoneback Crab.
![Crimson Desert Is Real, Complex, and Potentially Great Preview 2](https://images.pushsquare.com/f9e210913552c/crimson-desert-is-real-complex-and-potentially-great-preview-2.900x.jpg)
Almost immediately, it became clear we were not going to be able to fully wrap our heads around how combat works in the one-hour session. While you have a standard light and heavy attack, and a dodge and block, fights gain significant complexity from a raft of extra systems and moves you can perform using Devil May Cry-esque button combos. Where our PS5 controller rested before we picked it up for the session was a graphic plastered on the wall detailing just some of the extravagant attacks on offer. From spinning attacks and foot sweeps to magical abilities, it felt like we were only scratching the surface of what the full title will have to offer. Combos up to three or four button presses long were put on the external poster, revealing what we could look forward to once we've mastered the basics.
Frantic and fast-paced most of the boss battles were, as we hurriedly tried to learn the core controls and keep the main character Kliff alive long enough to get a sense of our foe's own moveset. That's a pretty tall order, especially given our nemesis' could never be considered a pushover. In the heat of the moment, combat feels a bit like Elden Ring meets Devil May Cry meets Dragon's Dogma 2. Two of the four boss fights had us clashing swords with enemies resembling something of a human, then the White Horn is like a gigantic polar bear with moose-like antlers. The Queen Stoneback Crab, meanwhile, didn't operate like the previous three foes, in that its life wasn't dictated by a traditional health bar. You instead need to destroy its three weak points and then perform a special attack the demo had not communicated to us to down it permanently. You reach those weak spots by scaling the monster's back, grabbing on for dear life when it tries to shake you off. A stamina bar dictates this, which also limits how often you can perform sword swipes.
![Crimson Desert Is Real, Complex, and Potentially Great Preview 3](https://images.pushsquare.com/4990b932289e1/crimson-desert-is-real-complex-and-potentially-great-preview-3.900x.jpg)
It's difficult to explain when we — to be perfectly honest — didn't really understand it ourselves, but a... let's call it a green leaf meter charged up as we attacked enemies, and then exhausting it allowed for the use of certain magical attacks. If you're thrown in at the deep end with very little help, this is the sort of coverage you're going to get — a green leaf meter!
When you encounter these boss fights in the full game, you'll have a much better grasp of how fights work than we did, so this shouldn't be a problem when you play it for yourselves. We're feeling positive about the entire thing, though, because the amount of depth we witnessed, prodded at, and accidentally activated occasionally teases a lot of combat depth overall. When you're thrown into the air, you can glide back down with a set of wings. There's a mechanic we accidentally activated sometimes that slows down time and lets you pinpoint specific parts of the body to shoot with a bow and arrow. We couldn't tell you how it's triggered, but it's definitely there!
![Crimson Desert Is Real, Complex, and Potentially Great Preview 4](https://images.pushsquare.com/4182fe40ec16e/crimson-desert-is-real-complex-and-potentially-great-preview-4.900x.jpg)
With the combat evidently in a good place, we just need to see how it fits into the rest of the game. Crimson Desert has demonstrated a lot of ambition in its pre-release trailers up until now, with a huge open world to explore and a lot of presumably optional mechanics and features to engage with. Fighting enemies is probably what you'll spend most of your time doing, so the fact it's shaping up nicely puts the Pearl Abyss product in an already promising position, but the downtime between those encounters can be just as important. We're now more excited than ever to see how everything comes together to form a cohesive experience, and figure out what on earth that green leaf meter in the HUD is. Now Black Myth: Wukong is a reality, there's proof these "too good to be true" titles of recent years can actually be fantastic games. There's a good chance Crimson Desert will follow in Game Science's footsteps.
![Crimson Desert Is Real, Complex, and Potentially Great Preview 5](https://images.pushsquare.com/e6951e5621e74/crimson-desert-is-real-complex-and-potentially-great-preview-5.900x.jpg)
Crimson Desert will release for PS5, though it lacks a confirmed release date at the time of writing. Are you excited by the game? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments 24
Looking forward to this one as long as they don't monetize it like they did with the black desert scheme
I always find it funny when people keep saying is this game real.or is that game real.eat theyre words😀.crimson desert is going to be a instant hit.word up son
It's like every game I've played in the last 4 years combined. It's so weird, but I'm intrigued how it turns out. It still feels like there's going to be a weird twist in the tale of this game's development or what it actually is. But it will probably be out before Pragmata, so that's a good thing 😁
I'd love it to be something that you can get really lost in, even if it is a bit janky or has weird foibles in places.
Wow, alot of these Chinese developed game I always presumed would become vaporware. Now time for Lost Souls Aside
I spent about 2 hours creating a character in Black Desert Online. Then I played the actual game for roughly 45 minutes and never played it again. Still, I’m willing to give this a try.
@Vivisapprentice These are Korean devs!
Looks familiar. Can't quiet put my finger on which PlayStation monster hit this looks like. Someone help me out.
@KundaliniRising333 I enjoyed my time with black desert but the micro transactions really did it in for me. Now that's a game that really has a problem.
So this game is promising? It's a shame you couldn't have said the same about wukong really instead of saying you have concerns? I'm genuinely trying to be constructive here.
@Northern_munkey agreed. Considering how long they milked the monetization in that it makes me wonder if they will try some sort of version of that again with this. I hope not though, as it looks like it could be fun!
I’m only interested if it has a robust fishing minigame. Preferably from horseback. I’ll accept hot air balloon racing instead. They were in the teaser I think.
@Northern_munkey Wukong was days from release without any PS5 footage and no review codes. People were right to be somewhat concerned. This game isn’t out for a long while, so it’s too early to raise any concerns about lack of PS5 footage. Plus they praised Wukong in their preview for it. You really need to let this go.
@Kiefer-Sutherland you see that ignore button? Feel free to swipe it at any time.
@Vivisapprentice Lost Souls Aside is Chinese but this game is made by a South Korean team. It's the same dev as Black Desert Online.
Really want to play this one. It gives a Devil May Cry vibe that is lacking in recent games! Love action games!!
As a rule of thumb, be it FF, DD or this game, there is something about the aesthetic in Eastern RPG developers that go for a Western look, that I really can’t vibe with no matter how hard I try.
Even down to the music, voice, script, plots etc.
Very excited! Dying for a release date at this point!
Definitely on my list, if they deliver even 60% of the original vision in trailers, this will be an incredible game!!
Im liking the impression i get from these preview gameplay videos.
Cannot wait for this one! Gameplay looks really deep and awesome, and the world looks rich. Seem to be a game you can really get lost in, like the witcher 3. Give us a release date already!
I'd like to see more, looks alright so far.
Hello there fellow gamers.
Crimson Desert has become one of my most anticipated and most wanted games, just like Judas, Death Stranding 2 and GTA6.
It still looks very ambitious, but if the devs can pull this of, then I acompletely agrre with my friend @playstation1995 and say that action adventure RPG fans will be very pleased.
Cheers everyone and happy gaming
@RaZieLDaNtE. Whats good playa.yeah crimson desert.phantom blade zero.and lost soul aside.are next up to be a instant hit from asian developers.and black myth wukong is a incredible video game.sony should buy game science.word up son
@playstation1995
What´s good my man! Yes indeed, both Phantom Blade Zero.and Lost Soul Aside are also in my radar.
As soon as a release date is confirmed, I´ll be getting them day one for sure.
Black myth Wukong is another I´m very interested in, once there is a physical copy of the game on PS5.
Asia is becoming BIG in the gaming market. It´s great to see more devs making creative games on console.
Cheers friend and Word Up Son
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