Crimson Desert's Moral Compass: Don't Expect to Be a Pure Villain

Oh, Crimson Desert! It’s one of those games that’s been on so many radars, promising this expansive, action-packed world from Pearl Abyss – the folks behind Black Desert Online. We’ve seen the stunning visuals, the intricate combat, and felt that undeniable tug of anticipation for what feels like a truly next-gen open-world RPG experience. Naturally, when a game of this scope comes along, our minds immediately drift to the kind of character we’ll craft, the choices we’ll make, and ultimately, the kind of story we’ll carve out for ourselves within its sprawling landscapes.

Now, here’s where a little bit of a reality check might be in order for those of us who, perhaps, harbored secret ambitions of becoming the ultimate antagonist. You know, the kind of player who enjoys truly leaning into the "evil" alignment, making life difficult for everyone, and generally being an absolute pest within the game world. Well, I’m afraid I have some news that might gently deflate those particular aspirations.

It seems Pearl Abyss isn't really designing Crimson Desert for a full-on, unadulterated villainous playthrough. In fact, if you were hoping to embark on a journey solely dedicated to being a purely selfish, destructive force – someone who, for lack of a better term, embraces the role of an "evil pest" – the developers themselves are openly questioning if that’s a path they'd recommend for an entire playthrough. And frankly, that's a pretty strong hint, isn't it?

This isn’t to say there won’t be moral dilemmas, tough choices, or opportunities to, shall we say, act less than perfectly virtuous. Most compelling RPGs thrive on that gray area, and I fully expect Crimson Desert to offer plenty of moments where your decisions carry real weight, potentially pushing you towards darker outcomes or morally ambiguous actions. But there’s a distinct difference between navigating a complex ethical landscape and simply being given free rein to be an unrepentant monster from start to finish.

Think about it: many modern RPGs, especially those with a strong narrative focus, often guide players towards a heroic or at least anti-heroic arc. While some classics or even indies might embrace full evil paths (I’m looking at you, Fable, or certain old-school CRPGs!), it’s a significant design choice. For Crimson Desert, it sounds like the world, the story, and perhaps even the underlying systems might just subtly – or not so subtly – discourage you from dedicating dozens of hours to being universally despised.

Why this approach, you might ask? It could be for several reasons. Perhaps the overarching narrative demands a protagonist with at least some redeemable qualities, or at least one whose motivations are more complex than simple malice. Maybe the developers want to ensure a certain emotional resonance with the world and its inhabitants, which becomes difficult if the player character is constantly undermining everything. Or, just perhaps, they want to focus on a different kind of freedom – the freedom within a more defined, albeit still broad, character archetype.

So, for those of us who had our evil master plans all sketched out, it might be time to recalibrate. Instead of plotting world domination through pure wickedness, perhaps we can look forward to exploring nuanced choices, complex characters, and a world where even seemingly good deeds might have unforeseen consequences. It’s not a complete loss of agency, by any means; it just means that Crimson Desert is likely going to ask us to be a different kind of hero, or at least a different kind of protagonist, than a purely malevolent one. And honestly? I’m still incredibly excited to see what kind of stories we can tell within its stunning confines.