They have done a very good job with the graphics even on the regular PS5 and also a very good job with the interaction with the environment and the realism, as well as with the sound, where even though I have put armor on Kliff's head, his voice comes out as if it's coming from deep inside. Also, very good customizations with a great variety. On the negative side, I didn't notice that many different combat moves (or maybe I'm not doing something right with the skills), but still, you can't call it poor and I enjoyed it up to a point. Nonexistent story, loses FPS during boss fights on the regular PS5 even though I have it set at 120 Hz, terrible and cumbersome controls, many unnecessary mechanics, and some missions were very annoying and difficult, and the puzzles as well. I couldn't have gotten through them without the help of YouTube, as the game didn't help at all to tell you what to do. It gets a bit boring and difficult every now and then, with new bosses and having to stock up on food at stores to get through, personally after Ludwig I set it to easy because I couldn't manage. Also, the controls in the menu settings are the worst. Anyway, honest 3 stars.

Unfortunately, the treasure turned out to be coal. When I first saw the trailer and some gameplay, I instantly felt the Witcher vibe, but it has nothing to do with it... Very mediocre story, very mediocre mechanics, and countless buttons without any real reason, and incredibly annoying puzzles. I was almost on YouTube every 20 minutes to look up the solution because the puzzles were truly completely dumb....

And the cherry on top, at least on the regular PS5, is the FPS. I find it unacceptable for a 2026 game to be released in such a state. Even though I started out eager to play and explore as much as I could, already from the first minute of the game, during a small fight with a few enemies, it started lagging and dropping frames to the point where it was barely playable. I adjusted the settings a bit but unfortunately, in every major battle of the game, the FPS was around 10-20...

A huge disappointment really, apart from the story and mechanics, the FPS drops finished it off. In the end, I only played the main story since I started it just to finish it. I was very upset because I intended to play it a lot...

If you are one of those who count pixels, frames, and details, Crimson Desert on PS5 will annoy you many times and you will find many technical weaknesses. I am referring to the Basic Playstation 5, its original version, and I am speaking now in May '26 as I am testing it. The truth is that even though I am not that type of person, I have never seen so many issues in a Playstation 5 game and I have played many, but this does not affect how much I like the game. You turn a blind eye, because the game is like a theme park, offering you thousands of activities and exploration without holding your hand. Sometimes it leaves you so free that it even skips telling you some basics about the controls, but not to an annoying degree. I haven't enjoyed carefree exploration like this since Elden Ring. Kudos to the team, it is recommended for people who have a lot of time though. If you are a casual player playing 30-60 minutes daily, it is not for you, it will take you a year to finish and see everything.

Seeing the comments, it seems like I'm probably playing a different game. So, let's go... the game is for a powerful PC or PS5 Pro; the regular PS5, even now after 5 patches they've released, still has washed-out graphics. It's the only game in my 37+ years of gaming where I've had to adjust the TV and the PS5 settings just to see if the image looks like a 2026 game and not 2015, and I'm talking about playing on a 55-inch screen with everything enabled—VRR, HDR, and so on. Now, if you're playing on a 15-year-old TV, okay, I get it.

So far, I have 130+ hours and I've found myself doing everything from farming to random side quests just to make the character stronger. The main story is completely pointless. A hallmark of RPGs is a story that captivates you—here, that's missing... the game is generally a time-waster's paradise, wandering around doing unrelated things... just to do them, and then uploading videos to YouTube about how to find this weapon or that armor, as if it changes anything...

The controls are sometimes tragic, especially in combat where the camera can get stuck in random spots. Also, they've overloaded it with a bunch of move combinations that I think are more for show than substance... in the end, after a point, you just stick to two or three and that's it.

Conclusion: Is this game worth 70+ euros right now? My answer is no. Maybe in a year they'll have fixed it up to 70%. I like how some people compare it to RDR2 and Witcher—not even close... and let's not forget some stupid bugs that completely ruin the experience.

Crimson Desert is one of Pearl Abyss's most ambitious titles (creators of Black Desert), which has transformed from an MMORPG into an epic single-player open-world action adventure. The game focuses on Kliff, a mercenary trying to survive on the blood-soaked continent of Pywel, offering an experience reminiscent of a mix between The Witcher 3 and Dragon's Dogma.

###The Positives###
1. Top-notch Graphics: Pearl Abyss's new graphics engine delivers some of the most impressive visual effects seen on the PS5, with incredible detail in the environment, lighting, and particle effects.
2. Deep Combat System: Combat is fast, violent, and highly technical. It combines classic swordplay, grappling, environmental interaction, and the ability to climb massive bosses.
3. Lively World: Pywel feels "dense." Cities are bustling with life, NPCs have their own schedules, and random encounters on the road make exploration feel organic.
4. Interactive Environment: Almost everything in the world is destructible or usable. You can use objects from the environment as weapons or start fires that spread realistically.

###What’s "New" in the Series?###
1. Mercenary System: You’re not a lone hero. You can recruit your own mercenaries, each with their own abilities, who help you in battles and survival.
2. Parkour & Freedom of Movement: Kliff can climb, jump, and move with a flexibility rarely seen in such "heavy" RPGs, strongly reminiscent of action-adventure titles.
3. Complex AI: Enemies aren’t just "targets." They cooperate, use tactics, and dynamically react to your moves, making every battle unique.
4. Air-to-Ground Gameplay: The ability to fly with mythical creatures or fall from great heights using special abilities adds a vertical dimension to exploration.

###Main Drawbacks###
1. High System Requirements: Due to the extreme quality of the graphics, the game may experience framerate drops in very intense scenes, even on the PS5, if the appropriate mode is not used.
2. Complex Controls: The many combos, grapples, and different abilities take time for the player to get used to, which can feel tiring at first.
3. Loot & Inventory Management: The item system can become chaotic, as you constantly gather materials for crafting, upgrades, and supplies for your team.
4. Steep Difficulty: Some Boss Battles require perfect timing and knowledge of the mechanics, which may discourage more casual players.