Highlights
- The upcoming game Crimson Desert promises to set itself apart from current RPGs with its combat, open-world display, character models, and visual quality.
- Fans of RPGs will be hoping for an engaging narrative in Crimson Desert, as details revealed about the main character and the story suggest a focus on storytelling.
- The inclusion of story choices and multiple outcomes, similar to popular RPG titles like The Witcher 3, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate 3, will add replayability and unique experiences to Crimson Desert.
With Pearl Abyss sharing another look into the upcoming Crimson Desert, excitement among fans has risen to much higher levels. From its combat, open-world display, character models, and visual quality, it promises to set itself apart from current RPGs, potentially standing leaps and bounds above them.
While all that has been showcased so far for Pearl Abyss' new IP has been enough to leave fans in disbelief, fans maintain the hope that the final product won't be heavily changed. Alongside this, there are numerous elements that fellow RPG titles have executed successfully, and many will be hoping developers for Crimson Desert can do the same here.
5 Engaging Narrative
Given the plethora of RPG titles that maintain a heavy focus on their narratives, there is no doubt that fans will be hoping the same is applied here. With details revealed about its main character Macduff and his position as a leader in a group of mercenaries in a divided continent at war, Crimson Desert appears to be shifting major focus to its story, given its switch to a single-player experience, unlike Black Desert.
Despite a majority of trailers featuring gameplay, fans could be in line for an experience that sets a new bar within the RPG genre. A story that is said to be influenced by Macduff's past along with his allies, it looks as though the decision to switch from MMORPG to a single-player game may favor both developers and players.
4 Story Choices/Multiple Outcomes
Sticking with the narrative, during the game's initial reveal, it is suggested that player actions and interactions with allies may change how the narrative will unfold. Just as The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate 3 all maintain this same feature, dialogue choices will either change the game's ending or alter relationships with other characters, and Crimson Desert will certainly benefit from this inclusion.
For a title that promises to contain a plethora of regions, important characters, troubled backstories, and more, this implementation will help put the new IP in the same bracket as some of the most popular currently available. Not only will story choices and multiple outcomes help for an engaging journey that adheres to replayability, but it will also help keep each player's experience unique.
3 Romance
In light of Crimson Desert containing the aforementioned features of story and dialogue choices with other characters, it would be a great opportunity to include a layer of romance. While this may not make or break the experience for players, especially if the story does not warrant its inclusion, its implementation would further serve as an immersive factor for those who are fans of romance in RPGs.
This will be dependent on the characters that players will meet playing as Macduff, and most importantly whether players will even have dialogue options at their disposal. It is always possible to include romance in a scripted manner between characters in any narrative, but players will be hoping that there are options.
2 Reduced Fetch Quests
Since Crimson Desert will be separated from Pearl Abyss' previous title Black Desert, standing as a narrative-driven game, players will be hoping the fetch quests will be addressed. While its presence in Black Desert is understood by fans given its MMORPG nature, complaints in other RPG games such as the recent Final Fantasy 16 and its overabundance of fetch quests, have left players hoping upcoming titles will do away with this.
It is important to note that Crimson Desert will more than likely contain fetch quests, but developers must ensure that this does not come in abundance, and rather include side quests that are thought-provoking and engaging, similar to those present in The Witcher 3. This is a factor that can make or break an RPG title based on the feedback and response from fans, so this should stand as a high priority for Pearl Abyss.
1 Variety Of Combat Skills
Possibly the most appealing aspect of every showcase of Crimson Desert so far is its impressive stylish combat, which is very reminiscent of Capcom's Dragon's Dogma. Whether it's the use of swords, shields, daggers, or bows, it appears as though Pearl Abyss' title may cover most areas of combat in the aspect of weapons available to use. Speaking of Dragon's Dogma, its numerous vocations that come with their base and advanced skills, offered a great deal of variety for players, which fans suspect will be enhanced in its sequel.
While Pearl Abyss may not be taking direct inspiration from Capcom's RPG title, the similarities are clear, and it will be highly instrumental to Crimson Desert's potential success if developers are to include different classes and skills for players to choose from. Based on each gameplay trailer, players may be able to take control of Macduff's fellow mercenary allies, wielding different weapons and armor. This could hint at classes and playstyles changing only when players control other characters rather than players having the option to change them on the fly, but the pivotal factor is that developers should include numerous skills to unlock throughout the journey.
Crimson Desert is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.