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Writing a review of a game is no easy task. And when a game is so large and rapidly changing that it becomes unrecognizable within a few months of launch, the matter becomes even more complicated. This is exactly what happened with Crimson Desert.
Now, there’s an honest statement from developer Pearl Abyss itself, and it’s in favor of the critics.
Image credit: Pearl Abyss
What did Pearl Abyss’ Europe CEO say?
In a statement to The Game Business, Pearl Abyss Europe CEOLybee ParkHe acknowledged that both sides of the review debate, especially the critics, had a point. He argued that the build reviewers got to play wasn’t an exact version of the game at launch, and they also had limited time.
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He also said that the true beauty of Crimson Desert lies in the small, hidden details scattered throughout the game’s world. He felt that the short review period didn’t give critics enough time to discover and appreciate these details.
What did PC Gamer think of itself?
Interestingly, PC Gamer also reviewed the game and gave it a score of 80. Their scoring system categorizes it as “a great game with moments of awesomeness and splashes of brilliance.” So, the review wasn’t very harsh.
Nevertheless, the team at PC Gamer says they agree that the game has changed significantly since launch. Reviewer Mollie Taylor complained about the lack of storage in her review. Just four days after release, a personal storage chest was added to the game. Players objected to its location, and it was relocated within a few days.
What changed in the game after launch?
Pearl Abyss has maintained such a rapid pace of updates that the game has become a new experience in many ways. The story, which was criticized as weak in reviews, has also reportedly seen significant improvements. The 2.0 update attempts to make the main character, Kliff, a more complete character with his own thoughts and opinions.
The list of things that have already been added or are coming soon is quite long:
- Build and decorate a house like The Sims (coming DLC)
- 133 new trading posts and a new demand-supply economy
- 20 new varieties of small animals
- a shotgun
- Pinball
- Birdwatching
- fish pond
And this is all on top of what was already there: camp management, mini-games, pet loyalty and collection systems, transmog, market manipulation and banking, cooking, fishing, collecting vehicles like horses, and bounties.
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Not everyone likes the same thing
Obviously, this huge amount of stuff won’t appeal to everyone. The PC Gamer team admits that the game is so densely packed with systems and activities that many people might be left wondering where to start. This problem was even more pronounced at launch.
But everyone’s tastes are different. Fraser Brown, the team’s online editor, really enjoys this game’s randomness. For those who want everything at once, this game could be heaven.
What next?
Another piece of news is that Crimson Desert has been so successful that a paid DLC is coming this year. Consequently, Pearl Abyss is now preparing to slow down its free updates. A writer for PC Gamer called this a good move, as the developer is now treading more cautiously.
Conclusion
This debate isn’t just about one game, but about the current gaming landscape. When games constantly change even after release, how reliable are launch-day reviews? Lybee Park’s statement honestly acknowledges this question, and that’s a good thing.
As the author joked, at this rate, Crimson Desert will be a completely different game in a year. Perhaps it’ll even include brewing, tailoring, or an RTS mode. If you abandoned the game at launch, now might be a good time to try it again.
What do you think? Should the review be revisited a few months after launch? Share your thoughts in the comments.
