CRIMSON DESERT

Bloody battlegrounds set the stage for a mythic quest

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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 blur 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.

Unlike its older MMORPG sibling, Crimson Desert is growing in a more focused direction. A single-player campaign centres on a gruff protagonist, Kliff, exploring the expansive land of Pywel along with his band of merry mercenaries. But Crimson Desert doesn't leave everything behind: as well as a slew of life-simulator systems such as cooking and crafting, Pearl Abyss has promised extracurricular activities such as hunting and animal taming at launch.