Despite Crimson Desert’s Improvements, One Key Feature Is Still Missing

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The improvements to Crimson Desert since it launched have been remarkable. Some see the constant updates as proof the game wasn’t finished, but I think it shows Pearl Abyss actively listening to players and adding or improving features based on their feedback. They couldn’t have predicted everything players would want or need before release, and it’s impressive how quickly they’ve fixed most of the game’s issues. While it’s unfair to expect every developer to reach this level – especially those with fewer resources – Pearl Abyss’s responsiveness could set a new standard for game development.

While the improvements Pearl Abyss has made to Crimson Desert are fantastic and greatly enhance an already amazing game, there’s still room for growth. The game has always been good, and the recent additions are a definite step forward. However, one key feature is still missing – something that would truly unlock the potential of an underused aspect of the game. Specifically, Kliff’s companions, Oongka and Damiane, need more to do. Currently, they feel unnecessary and underutilized.

Oongka & Damiane Are Pointless In Crimson Desert

Once you finish Chapter 2 of Crimson Desert, you unlock Damiane, one of Kliff’s companions. She’s a complete character in combat, with her own attacks, weapons, skills, and animations, and is often more enjoyable to play than Kliff. However, after spending about 80 hours with the game, I realized I hadn’t once chosen to play as her. She just followed along at her own speed, doing her own thing, and never participated in the main adventures I was experiencing as the game’s main character.

Damiane and Oongka, while fun to play in combat, are limited in what they can do in Crimson Desert. Damiane can only participate in a handful of her own quests, and players are prompted to switch to Kliff for most other missions, including the main storyline. Oongka faces the same restriction – he’s limited to a small set of unique quests. While not the biggest flaw in the game, the way these characters are integrated feels rushed and incomplete, suggesting they might have been added late in development.

Since all characters in the game use the same resources to improve their equipment and abilities, players naturally focus on Kliff. He’s who you’ll be playing as almost constantly, so it’s logical to prioritize upgrading his gear and skills over those of his companions, who feel somewhat unnecessary. The only reason to develop Damiane and Oongka might be if the developers, Pearl Abyss, add multiplayer in the future, allowing other players to control them. But without official confirmation of multiplayer, it’s hard to say that was their original intention.

Pearl Abyss Needs To Make Oongka & Damiane Matter In Crimson Desert

Pearl Abyss could easily keep Oongka and Damiane as they are without impacting the quality of Crimson Desert, but it would be a waste to make them feel unimportant and easily skipped. Right now, the only reason to play as them is to try out their different fighting styles, but even that’s not ideal because it slows down the main story. It would be better if both characters had access to most, if not all, of the side quests and had their own unique storylines to pursue.

Pearl Abyss has updated Damiane and Oongka with new abilities – Axiom Force and Force Palm – hoping to make them more helpful when exploring and solving puzzles. This suggests the developers recognize these characters currently feel underutilized. While further improvements are possible, significantly expanding their roles would likely require a lot more work than simply adding storage space to a player’s inventory.

Crimson Desert needs to clearly explain how to recruit Oongka and Damiane as companions. These characters can assist Kliff in battles, exploration, and even during sieges – similar to the pawn system in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Right now, this feature feels hidden; it’s fun to discover, but the game doesn’t offer enough guidance, making it unlikely players will find it on their own. I only learned about it through a post on the game’s subreddit, and that information is now hard to find.

The fact that you can summon Kliff’s companions shows Pearl Abyss put real effort into developing these side characters, giving them detailed skill trees and unique ways to fight. It would be disappointing if all that work went to waste and players forgot about Oongka and Damiane. I don’t want future fans to wonder who those characters even are when discussing Crimson Desert. Right now, though, they don’t offer much help with exploring or completing quests, so I can’t imagine using them for anything beyond the required story sections.

Do you believe Oongka and Damiane should be more prominent characters in Crimson Desert? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-17 22:11