Crimson Desert PS5 Re-Review – A Patchwork of Brilliance

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Hey everyone, especially those still wondering about checking out Pywel! I previously reviewed Crimson Desert and, while I gave it a strong 8 out of 10, I did mention some issues that were holding it back. A lot has improved since then, and quickly. While a few problems remain, so many have been fixed that it feels like a completely new game.

That’s why I wanted to share my thoughts. I’ve spent almost 120 hours playing this game, and it’s really come into its own since its initial release. It’s now a fantastic addition to the open-world fantasy action genre. I was already impressed with its potential when I first reviewed it, but it really needed some improvements. Thankfully, those issues have mostly been fixed. So, let’s talk about what’s different now.

“The majority of my time in Pywel has been in Balanced Mode, and it’s a visual treat.”

The game’s graphics on the standard PS5 weren’t ideal. To get a smooth 60 frames per second, I had to accept blurry textures and objects appearing suddenly. I usually don’t mind these trade-offs, but the game’s beautiful world deserved better. Performance also dipped noticeably during large battles with many enemies.

Those earlier issues with blurry textures are now fixed thanks to the added 4K option. While the game can still occasionally slow down during action-packed moments, disabling V-Sync helps. Overall, I recommend playing in Balanced mode with V-Sync off, adjusting the camera sensitivity, and enabling enhanced ray tracing for the best experience. Quality mode looks the best, but the lower framerate can negatively impact gameplay, making the Balanced settings a better choice.

I’ve spent most of my time playing Pywel in Balanced Mode, and it looks fantastic. The game’s draw distance has improved dramatically since launch, and I often find myself jumping from high places just to enjoy the view. It’s really addictive – it’s not just fun, but the scenery is absolutely stunning. I suggest experimenting with the settings to find what works best for you, but you’re sure to find a combination you’ll love.

The game no longer has noticeable visual glitches (except when running in Performance Mode), and previous issues like shimmering have been fixed. Reflections have also been greatly improved thanks to new ray tracing features. Overall, Crimson Desert now looks fantastic, even on a standard PS5. It looks even better on the PS5 Pro, offering excellent graphics and a smooth frame rate when played at 120Hz.

Crimson Desert looks fantastic now, even on a standard PlayStation 5.

Beyond the graphics, the game’s story feels fragmented and unfortunately, it’s unlikely to be fixed without significant effort. It remains one of the game’s biggest weaknesses. However, players who really delve into the lore – especially those dedicated to the Greymanes – might find more enjoyment. Reading the in-game journal entries can also provide helpful background information and connect the different parts of the story.

I really feel like Damiane and Oongka could have had bigger roles in the story, especially after spending so much time getting to know them in Pywel. Aside from how fun they are to play, which I’ll discuss later, I actually find them more engaging than Kliff. I always choose to play as Damiane whenever I have the option.

Regarding Damiane, I think her joining the Greymanes felt rushed and awkward. It would have been much more impactful if her induction had been handled with a bit more care, maybe through a formal ceremony, given how close-knit the Greymanes are. Instead, she disappeared for a long time and then reappeared for one mission, after which everyone suddenly treated her as one of them – it just didn’t feel believable.

Adding Oongka as a playable character feels a bit forced, though not as much as with Damiane. Both Oongka and Damiane could really use more weapons and equipment to be as powerful and versatile as Kliff, who has most of the best gear available in the game.

Even when I’m focused on other things – whether it’s a different game or just going about my day – I still find myself thinking about my gold stored at Hernand’s bank, or the goods my Greymanes are transporting.

Regarding equipment, I really think upgrading armor and weapons shouldn’t require Abyss Artifacts. Other materials are already difficult to find and offer enough of a challenge without also needing to grind for skill points. This issue specifically impacted my enjoyment of Damiane and Oongka’s abilities, as having to divide limited skill points between characters and their gear felt frustrating. Hopefully, future updates will address this.

Okay, so the story and characters still aren’t perfect, and they definitely hold the game back from being a truly flawless experience. But honestly, Pywel is still incredible, and that’s a huge part of why Crimson Desert is up there with the best open-world games ever made. Everything I loved about it at launch is still amazing, but the more I play, the more I discover. It’s seriously addictive – I’m completely obsessed with diving back into its world and figuring out all its systems.

Even when I’m not actively playing, my mind often wanders back to the game – I’m thinking about my resources at the bank or the goods my characters are trading. When I do start playing, I like to check on everything and set up some goals for myself before I begin any adventures.

Each time you play, whether it’s a quick check-in or a longer exploration, you’ll find engaging ways to interact with a detailed world that feels deeply connected to your story and makes everything feel cohesive.

When Crimson Desert works well, it offers a wealth of ways to become immersed in its world – it can actually be overwhelming trying to follow everything that’s happening.

The game’s economy is really well done and keeps me hooked. It starts with sending your Greymane companions on missions to gather resources for your camp. As you bring more Greymanes back to Howling Hill, you unlock new mission types, and some of these missions reward you with items you can sell for a good profit at Hernand’s Black Market.

As you earn money from completing quests and selling items, it gradually accumulates, and a quick visit to the bank connects you to a somewhat unstable, but generally sufficient, in-game economy. You might wonder why I bothered with legitimate funding for my adventures. I just couldn’t imagine my character resorting to stealing from the wealthy, and I wanted to play the game as intended. However, the option to earn money through less honorable means exists, which speaks to the depth and flexibility of the game’s design.

When everything works well, Crimson Desert offers a surprisingly deep and engaging experience, with so many interconnected systems that it can be overwhelming. You’re placed in the role of a Greymane, seeking a new purpose while also working to improve the lives of the people of Pywel. The game creates a truly immersive world, making you feel like you’re genuinely living a second life within it.

The recent updates make it much easier to use the menus, and managing your camp’s inventory and storage is now a lot smoother. The latest update is especially helpful because you can now store upgrade materials and cooking ingredients directly at your house in camp, so you don’t have to carry them around with you.

The recent improvements to sprinting and the new dodge mechanic have made combat much smoother and more effective. I can now reliably use dodging to gain an advantage in almost any fight, which wasn’t possible before.

Having more room for loot and armor, especially with the new Abyss Gear, lets you create diverse character builds to tackle any challenge. You’ll also earn more money and valuable Abyss Artifacts as you defeat enemies – it’s a great improvement overall. This trend of meaningful gameplay changes and visual enhancements has been consistent throughout these updates, making the game truly special.

I especially love the improved controls in the latest update, and being able to customize dodge rolls and dashes with separate inputs is a huge improvement. After some great adjustments to how sprinting works, dodging now feels smooth and lets me react quickly in fights, unlike before when it was awkward and difficult to use.

It used to be hard to predict whether I’d dodge attacks effectively or stay close enough to counter, but I’ve gotten used to the new controls. Along with improvements to how items are stored and managed, each update to Crimson Desert has significantly changed the game, making it very different from the version I originally reviewed.

Everyone’s been talking about how quickly this game has been improved and all the great changes the developers have made. I especially want to highlight the combat, which is incredibly satisfying and keeps me playing. The three characters you can play as are now more similar in some ways, making them feel balanced, but still each have their own unique fighting style.

Letting players customize the appearance of their armor with any cool set they’ve earned would simplify the game’s menus and allow for more creative character builds, appealing to players who enjoy expressing their style.

Kliff is a well-rounded character perfect for players who prefer a cautious approach, especially with the defensive shields available in the game. Damiane, on the other hand, is faster and more agile, fighting with a rapier. You can also equip her with a spear for a powerful two-handed style. She has five unique Abyss Gears that let you deal massive damage to groups of enemies, and her shield provides extra support by stunning opponents with powerful shots.

You can also fight with two rapiers, allowing you to equip six Abyss Gears. Plus, swapping between a spear and a rapier gives you incredible control in any battle, even against powerful enemies.

I absolutely love playing as Oongka! He’s all about brute force and those awesome Scatter Shots to keep opponents at bay. What I really enjoy is his grappling and hand-to-hand combat – it’s so satisfying. Plus, he’s my go-to character when I need to deal a ton of Elemental damage. I use his moves to unleash crazy fire, ice, and lightning attacks, and he just wipes out groups of enemies and even bosses with ease!

The music is so inspiring, it makes you want to charge headfirst into danger, and it works perfectly for all three characters – each one a member of the Greymane family.

Combining exploration, travel, and fighting, Crimson Desert feels like a vast playground full of surprises, and this is particularly true with its optional quests and activities.

Now, all the characters can handle puzzles just as well, making them all useful for exploring. However, some missions and locations are still only available with Kliff. Many players would appreciate more story content for Damiane and Oongka, but that doesn’t seem to be a priority right now. It’s good to see Damiane getting a new ability similar to the Focused Force Palm, though.

The way your equipment choices directly impact how challenging enemies are encourages exploration of the world of Pywel, even if you’re not focused on the main story, and that’s a positive design choice. Adding a way to customize the appearance of your armor would simplify the user interface, and make it easier to experiment with different builds while also appealing to players who enjoy expressing themselves through their character’s style.

Crimson Desert truly shines when you combine its world exploration, character movement, and battles. It creates a dynamic, open-world experience filled with constant surprises, particularly through its optional quests and activities. As I’ve mentioned before, the game’s compelling storylines and characters, especially those surrounding Hernand, are so engaging that you might even lose track of time and forget to explore the vast world around you, even though it’s readily available outside of the main story.

Supporting one of the local groups naturally brings you into contact with others, opening up new quests and challenges. You can also explore The Abyss, a place where you can enhance your attacks with powerful elemental abilities.

The puzzles now have a much better design, and it’s simpler to tell if you’re on the right track while trying to solve them.

The game features intricate, multi-layered puzzles that demand you use your intelligence and special Zxiom skills to reactivate complicated machines. I personally struggled with some puzzles because they required understanding specific mechanics, like the ‘Stab’ move, which I only figured out after a lot of trial and error. I’m quite determined to solve things on my own, and that’s added a lot of time to my playthrough. However, I appreciate the new approach to puzzle design – it’s now easier to tell if you’re on the right track.

As you uncover new things, they lead to even more discoveries, creating a huge web of possibilities. Every time you play, it feels like you’re experiencing a whole season of a captivating show. You probably already know there’s a ton to do and find, but it’s remarkable how seamlessly everything is integrated into the core of Pywel.

What makes Crimson Desert special is how all its different parts connect. You really don’t know what to expect next – an exciting quest, a tough battle against many enemies, or a peaceful journey gathering resources to upgrade your equipment. I even spent a while searching for a goose with a golden apple, but I wasn’t successful.

I’m really enjoying Crimson Desert, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite games. However, despite all its strengths, I haven’t called it a perfect game yet because it definitely has some flaws. The boss battles, for instance, highlight these issues, and I want to explain why.

If you’ve been stuck on missions where you have to move a wagon, I understand your frustration – and that’s not just because you’re with Yann!

Most of the game’s boss fights feature original designs, and they’re genuinely fun to play. The bosses have clear attacks and animations, making it possible to learn and counter them. However, the camera and lock-on system often hinder the experience, adding unnecessary difficulty to already challenging fights instead of helping players stay focused.

It’s frustrating that camera control issues persist, especially with the recent additions of re-engageable bosses and Hard Mode. Longer healing animations and tighter timing for dodging and parrying make it harder to keep track of everything happening in a fight. This is particularly noticeable with bosses who jump, teleport, and fly, and it’s something the developers really need to fix.

The game isn’t perfect, and sometimes the immersive experience falls apart. One issue is that the main characters never really speak – they offer bland responses or stay silent when you’d expect them to be engaging or supportive. This is especially noticeable because other characters in the game talk a lot, creating a strange disconnect. It makes you feel like an outsider, even though you’re working hard to help Pywel.

I understand if you’ve had to deal with those frustrating wagon missions, and not just because you’re stuck with Yann! While I know a lot of you would happily get rid of him, I actually like his character. He reminds me of someone we all know – that one relatable friend who can be a bit much, but you still connect with.

As a big fan, I’ve noticed one thing that really breaks the immersion: the wagons. After getting used to riding a horse or flying around, those wagon rides just feel… clunky and slow. It’s a bit of a drag to go back to them. Now, I know the developers are working on things, and hopefully they’ll improve it with updates. But right now, these little issues, especially the wagons, are noticeable enough to pull you out of the game world, and that’s a shame.

Crimson Desert is a welcome addition to the year’s best games, and the current version has significantly improved its reputation since its first release.

I still think Crimson Desert is worth checking out if you’re willing to invest the time and effort to learn it. It’s the type of game you can easily get hooked on and enjoy every day. If that sounds appealing, you’ll love it, and you’ll be joining a friendly community of players who are always eager to share advice and helpful information.

If you prefer games with a strong story that don’t demand a huge time commitment or a lot of effort, this game probably isn’t for you. However, you’ll likely still have fun while you’re playing it, even if you don’t stick with it for very long.

Crimson Desert is a solid game and a welcome addition to this year’s best releases. The current version is a significant improvement over the first, making a much better impression. While it doesn’t quite reach perfection, it’s very close, and I think it deserves another look.

This game was re-reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

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2026-04-28 18:39