Crimson Desert is great because it's a total mess, not in spite of it, and I hope Pearl Abyss doesn't change too much

Kliff looking serious.

Fraser Brown, Online Editor

(Image credit: Future)

Last week: I found a good excuse to wheel out our beloved Big Geralt image in my RPG column.

This week: Crimson Desert has taken over my life. No, please, don't send help. I'm having a lovely time.

A strange narrative regarding Crimson Desert started to sprout up after the reviews for Pearl Abyss's peculiar RPG first appeared—that it was somehow a disappointment. The very respectable 78 Metacritic score was held up as evidence of this, implying that a game is only great if it garners universal acclaim.