Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss just dropped the game’s second features overview. Learn more about the combat system and character progression here.
Crimson Desert Expounds on Combat and Progression with New Video
Dual Wielding and Bear Mounts Possible
Crimson Desert reveals more details about the action-adventure game in terms of its combat and progression mechanics. In the second part of a series of features overview—with the first one being about the characters and the open world of Pywel—developer Pearl Abyss unveiled a vast array of combat possibilities and upgrade progression for players to "learn what it means to fight like a Greymane." The nine-minute-long video is divided into two parts, titled "Fighting Like a Greymane" and "The Path to Progression."
The first portion delved into the expansive options for the skills and weapons wielded by the protagonist Kliff and the two other playable characters. Mounts expanded beyond the usual horses, with a massive, rideable bear shown in the video. Every weapon—across melee selections like swords and spears to long-range arms—carries distinct advantages. The video also exhibited the character wielding two blades, replacing the shield in one hand.
Characters are provided with elemental enhancements to abilities (such as fire and ice), fluid mobility flowing into attacks and counters, and attack chains stemming from weapon skills, enemy-grappling, and bare-handed hits. This allows players to craft their unique, personalized fighting styles, with freedom spanning not just offense and timed defense, but also mount- and environment-based play.
Meanwhile, the second part of the video explored how skill development works. Since Kliff and the Greymanes do not start out with their powerful abilities due to the Black Bears' ambush, they must undergo growth and transformation at the players' discretion. There are two ways to upgrade skills: Artifacts and observed in-world occurrences.
Akin to skill points, Artifacts are fragments of the Abyss acquired through quests, exploration, and defeating bosses. They are used to augment core stats, unlock new skills, and boost prior skills. Aside from Artifacts, characters can learn new skills from NPCs and enemies who were executing the actions.
Builds Up Hype for March 19
Social media buzzed with anticipating fans noting how impressive Crimson Desert is shaping up to be. A Reddit user remarked that the "game just gets better and better with every video." On YouTube, a user even commented that they are "more interested for this game's release than GTA 6." Several praises went to the game’s combat system, while some complimented specific mechanics, such as countering and dual-wielding.
Given the excitement surrounding its upcoming release, fans worry that Pearl Abyss may be overstating the actual game. Many are hoping that the developers will deliver on their promises—and successfully tick off the checkbox for performance standards, or what fans call the "final boss."
On January 29, the first Features Overview release received an equivalent outpouring of interest from fans. It unpacked what awaits players in Pywel's open world and offered more insight into the backstory of its protagonist, Kliff. Considering the underlying "scope, visuals, and combat," players commended the amount of care Pearl Abyss is giving to the project, which is now more than six years in the making.
Crimson Desert already went gold in January, marking the completion of its production two months ahead of launch. Initially slated for a 2021 release, the action-adventure game went through two delays and veered away from the MMO elements originally intended for it. It will now hit storefronts on March 19 as a single-player, narrative-focused title.
Crimson Desert will be available on March 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. For more information about the game, check out our article below.
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Features Overview #2: Combat and Progression | Crimson Desert
Features Overview #1: Kliff and the Open World of Pywel | Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert Preview 2: Combat and Progression.
