Crimson Desert review leaks ahead of release date, praising gameplay while raising concerns

The Crimson Desert review embargo ends on March 18th, but one YouTuber has already revealed his impressions. A popular Spanish broadcaster, Revenant, shared his detailed thoughts before deleting the video. However, Redditors recorded the breakdown, which applauded key gameplay elements. At the same time, some annoyances could limit the appeal of the Pearl Abyss title at launch (spoilers below).

Skippable cut-scenes again?

One of the main criticisms of Black Desert was a narrative that lacks cohesiveness. Revenant says the latest storyline is more compelling, even if it falls short of the standards set by RPGs like The Witcher 3. Regardless, players may find that the battles are the highlight of the open-world game.

According to Revenant, combat is complex and demands considerable effort to master. Still, competitors will appreciate how available moves change depending on how they approach an enemy. Animations are also varied, making grinding less monotonous.

In the lead-up to the Crimson Desert release date, Pearl Abyss boasted about its massive scale. Promising exploration similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, it appears those claims have merit. Revenant reports that after 50 gameplay hours, he has barely scratched the surface of its world.

Crimson Desert could benefit from post-launch tweaks

The leaked Crimson Desert review also highlights several shortcomings. Quality-of-life features are a concern for the YouTuber, with inventory management a source of frustration. Players will quickly become overburdened with items, and there are no storage options in camps.

The title may be intimidating for gamers looking for a more casual experience. Combat is nuanced, and the game requires large chunks of time to make progress. Despite calling it his “favorite open world game ever,” Revenant predicts a Metacritic score of 80 or 85.

One area the review did not focus much on is performance. Black Abyss faced scrutiny, particularly for a lack of footage on the PS5 or PS5 Pro. That said the newly listed PC system requirements seem reasonable. Tech site Digital Foundry was also provided console versions for a release date comparison.