00:00I am a little apprehensive that at least some of Crimson Desert's offerings will be stuff to do,
00:04rather than meaningful, interlinked opportunities.
00:07What is Crimson Desert as a whole?
00:09I know it's a vast open world with deep, fighting game-inspired combat that works
00:13better against bosses than it does against fodder.
00:15It's got spectacle-laden quests that take you from in-the-mud castle assaults,
00:19all the way up to aerial dogfights. And it's littered with good-time distractions,
00:23from fishing and bounties, to taming bears and buckling up in a battle mech.
00:27But I'm still waiting to discover the glue between all this that elevates an open world to new heights.
00:32Shadow of Mordor has the Nemesis system, which chains its enemies together into a
00:36foe-conquering big picture. Red Dead Redemption 2's systems are united by a pursuit of realism
00:42and authenticity that makes its campaign feel like a life lived, rather than a game played.
00:46And this year's Ghost of Yotai links every activity on its map to a new unlock on your skill tree,
00:52ensuring even little diversions are a growth opportunity.
00:55That's the stuff that's so far been missing from Crimson Desert's demonstrations,
00:59and the thing I hope will eventually be revealed when I get to play multiple consecutive hours,
01:03rather than a collection of isolated quests and bosses. Without it, I still think Crimson
01:07Desert stands a solid chance at being an overall good time. But with it, it could become something
01:13much more special.
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