Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast · Kinda Funny

Crimson Desert: Andy's Journey Begins! - Kinda Funny Gamescast Plays Sponsored by 5HE

·1 hr 1 min·5 clips

Andy Cortez claims Crimson Desert is the next Elden Ring plus Breath of the Wild combined.

Hosts Blessing Adeoye Jr. and Andy Cortez play the opening hour of the action RPG Crimson Desert, sponsored by 5-Hour Energy. Andy, who previously previewed the game at events, begins his long-awaited playthrough live. Blessing shares that he played about 17 hours for a potential review but ultimately stopped. Andy had been publicly enthusiastic about Crimson Desert after hands-on previews, praising its technical performance and physics simulations. Blessing initially cleared a Saturday to immerse himself in the game but texted colleague Greg Miller expressing disappointment, feeling he wanted to play other games instead. He cites mission design reminiscent of MMOs with basic fetch quests, like retrieving a goat, as a point of friction. Blessing hoped the game would prioritize world and systems over narrative, similar to his experience with *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*. He contrasts this with the intricate, character-driven story of *The Witcher 3*, which he was finishing concurrently. Andy appreciates the game's opening narrative presentation, which includes high-quality cutscenes and numerous NPC interactions. A surprising visual critique from Blessing is that firelight often appears overly orange and saturated on his monitor. He praises the combat's fun factor but notes a peculiar feedback issue where killing an enemy briefly turns the screen gray, which feels like taking damage. Multiple reviews describe standard enemies as easy "set dressing," with significant difficulty spikes occurring during boss fights. The hosts are impressed by the game's proprietary Blackspace Engine, which efficiently handles physics, wind effects, and ray tracing without licensed plugins. They discuss console performance expectations, noting potential concerns for the Xbox Series S. Andy demonstrates the game's climbing mechanics and a "blinding flash" ability activated by holding specific buttons. The conversation touches on broader debates comparing Crimson Desert to titles like *Elden Ring*, *Breath of the Wild*, *The Witcher 3*, and *Red Dead Redemption*. Blessing feels the game occupies an awkward middle ground, blending open-world exploration with linear mission design without excelling at either. Andy looks forward to engaging with more in-game systems, including a camp-building feature reminiscent of *Animal Crossing*. The tone is conversational and informal, featuring live gameplay reactions, sponsor reads, and direct audience interaction. The style is that of two knowledgeable friends sharing hands-on impressions and debating game design. Fans of deep technical discussions about game engines and real-time graphics will appreciate this episode. Listeners interested in critical, nuanced debates about open-world game design and genre comparisons will find value here. Those seeking a straightforward, spoiler-free review or narrative analysis might want to skip, as the focus is on early impressions and systemic critique.

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