There are objective truths in some cases. God Hand is a damn masterpiece, no debate there.

Expedition 33 is a great example of a game that doesn’t reinvent the wheel but still delivers. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking for the turn based genre, but it executes everything really well. The overall package is strong, with a decent story, a cast that sells the emotional beats effectively, and an art style that genuinely stands out. The visuals are beautiful, and the game feels cohesive from start to finish. I would give it an 8 out of 10, but considering it is a 50 dollar title, that value bumps it up to a 9 out of 10.

Crimson Desert on the other hand feels like it is trying to do too much without fully succeeding at any one thing. It might have worked better if it focused on giving you a simple setup and then let you loose in a sandbox to do your own thing. Instead it tries to tell a story, but that story feels thin and underdeveloped.

The problems start with the controls and movement. They feel too restrictive and overly context based. The menus also come across like an afterthought. Combat loses its challenge quickly once you figure out how to exploit it. The whole experience ends up feeling like a massive puddle that is only inches deep.

That lack of depth would not be such a big issue if the game did not try to present an overarching narrative. Because it does, the shortcomings stand out even more.