Seamless Looting

One of my biggest annoyances while reviewing Crimson Desert is having to pick up multiple items. Looking at each and then pressing the button every time was a fate worse than death, especially after huge skirmishes, but you don’t need to. Hold down the corresponding button – Square on PS5 – while walking around, and Kliff will automatically pick up the loot.

Seamless Rescue

Holding down the “loot” button isn’t the only function it serves, however. Ever wanted to quickly rescue any hostages, like those Pailunese refugees strewn about bandit camps? Instead of trying to untie them all separately, hold down Square and walk into them. This will seamlessly remove their restraints without even needing to glance at them, and can be done even while sprinting around.

Focus Flying

Focus serves many functions, from regenerating Spirit to activating abilities like Nature’s Snare for knocking back multiple enemies (even if you haven’t ensnared multiple projectiles). However, it can also play a part while gliding. Activate Focus immediately after entering the gliding animation, and you’ll find that Kliff kind of retains the same altitude throughout. It’s pretty useful right after using Force Palm to propel him upwards, and though using Aerial Roll will cause him to move faster while slowly descending, you can hit Unleash for this crazy burst of speed at any time.

The Importance of Grindstones and Anvils

Since recent patches made grindstones and anvils much easier to spot on the minimap, there’s no excuse not to use them. Liberation missions, boss fights, minor scraps where someone probably insulted your pet – it’s all fair game, because the weapon and defense buffs that they provide can be pretty absurd, even if they’re temporary.

Turning Slash to Destroy Archer Towers

Annoyed with the archers constantly raining arrows down when you just want to clear out a fort or quarry full of enemies? Don’t want to climb those ladders and toss them out? Just use Turning Slash. It’s very good at breaking these towers, bringing said archers down to the ground to finish them off (assuming they survive the fall) and ensuring others don’t get any bright ideas.

Save Duplicate Weapons

If you enter a new region and face multiple enemies with the same weapons, pick them all up. Sure, they may not be special on their own, but at the blacksmith, you can consume duplicates to refine one of them without needing additional resources. This particular strategy was great when the game felt too stingy, and refining every piece of gear became tedious. Recent changes alleviate both, but if you want to save those Refinement Tokens, then this is still a solid method. Note that the same process also applies to Abyss Gears and will become especially important when trying to obtain one of the best Cores in the game.

Vaulting With Banner Pikes

On the surface, banner pikes seem like more decorative spears and something you’ll sell post-skirmish. However, they can be used to pole vault. When equipped, double-tap jump, and Kliff will vault with it, getting some serious air. It’s more consistent than the actual double-jump and doesn’t even require any Spirit.

Force Palm for Mobility

Whenever you have to climb in the Abyss, especially after narrowly avoiding a fall, there may be times when Kliff can’t surmount a lip in the architecture. Instead of attempting to do so, thus costing more stamina, use Force Palm to push him back. You can then chain together two more to propel him upwards, and then glide over. This method also works for regular climbing if you need that extra boost upwards.

Memories of Abundance

Discovered near Howling Hill Camp, the Dragon’s Stone Chamber can seem fairly tedious, since it requires going to three separate locations to discern the correct orientations of each mural. And while it doesn’t hide a weapon as the Memory Fragment seemingly teased, it does provide something even better – Memories of Abundance. When consumed, it “unlocks knowledge of hidden places” in Hernand, which sounds exactly like what you think it does. Now you can traipse through the region, locating all the hidden goodies (and powerful loot).

Let There Be Light

Clearing out ground forces during the Sanctum cleansing quests for the witches is pretty easy. The only real annoyance is the magic wielders, who float around and out of range of your weapon strikes. Instead of shooting them with arrows to bring them down, use Blinding Flash and Focused Light instead. It will immediately burn them out of existence.

Infinite Arrows

One of the best builds in the game currently is to equip Infinite Arrow Cores to your bow, which grants a chance to not consume arrows, and then spam Explosive Arrows to absolutely wreck bosses. While each core on its own has a percentage chance, you can stack multiple to hit 100 percent and effectively never run out. The downside is that the best way to get these is by using Abyss Gear Fusion at the witches, with Tier 2s being the most desired result. Obviously, save-scumming is best if your luck isn’t great, but you should also beware of the Greater Infinite Arrows Core because it has a durability limit. Once broken, you need to farm it again, so stick to hitting 100 percent by rolling for other tiered Abyss Gears instead.

Fast Forward Through Conversations

While you can fast forward through cutscenes, there’s no option to do so during dialogue exchanges…at least, none that are seemingly intended. If you activate Focus by pressing L3 and R3 on the DualSense, the conversation speeds up significantly, letting you avoid a healthy amount of yapping. Again, this only applies to dialogue exchanges and could be patched, but it’s fantastic.

Hollow Visage

If you’re not in the mood to farm enemies to refine a basic weapon, why not go after one of the best early swords in the game? Hollow Visage can be obtained in Hernand to the west of Vellua. You’ll find an innocuous-looking waterfall, but use Stab to rush through it (which works with just about every other waterfall). You’ll find Dawn Cave and a chest containing the weapon, which comes equipped with three Abyss Gears – Critical Rate 1, Attack 1 and Attack Speed 1. Not a bad way to start and gain an advantage on the early bosses.

Refinement Information

Have you ever wandered back to the Blacksmith to continuously check which materials are required to refine gear further (or, like me, just hoped you had enough after exploring for hours)? Well, there’s a stupidly easier way to check. Go to the gear piece or weapon in your inventory and select Details. It reveals the weapon’s stats, skill (if applicable) and whatnot. However, if you check Refinement Information, it will display all the materials necessary to upgrade it, that too on a per-stage basis.

Cancel Freesword Missions Anywhere

We’ve all seen that notification about our Freeswords returning from a mission and then restarting it. If only we cared enough to return to camp and tell them not to, but there’s a much easier way, especially thanks to the new patch. Go to the Notifications tab in your Journal and select the pop-up about the mission’s completion/restarting. This will immediately examine the location where it’s taking place, and you can tab over to Missions. Select “Cancel Mission” and voila. While you could already do this anywhere before from the map, it’s much easier through the Notifications menu.

The ancient civilization that existed before Pywel, or perhaps parallel to it, seems to have been a society that challenged the intellect of its members to extreme degrees. Some of the game’s puzzles are consequently so convoluted that it feels like each one brings a different idea or concept to the table, and it’s up to us to adapt on the fly as the best Greymanes often do. That can feel like a refreshing departure from traditional open-world fare that’s largely more accessible, but it’s a double-edged sword thanks to the friction it causes. You’re never told what you need to do, and that showcases a bold approach in which the game assumes its players are smart enough to figure it out.

But has it been considered if they’re patient enough? The Greymanes are a volatile bunch, after all, and as the ones helping them along, so are we. Join us as we take a look at how this one’s puzzles challenge existing traditions, and its players as a result.

Trembling With Frustration

Let’s begin with an example of how Crimson Desert can have you staring at your screen blankly until you realize the solution was right in front of you all along. Exploring a set of ancient ruins in the Trembling Woods led us to a puzzle in which three rotating pillars controlled sections of a mural on the wall. We managed to get two sections in place fairly quickly, but the third pillar was missing its handle. We looked high and low for it, a tedious process that took the better part of an hour, only to find that shining our lantern on the pillar itself showed us that we needed to stab the pillar with our sword and move it along.

That’s just one example of the game giving you the tools you need to finish the job, but stoutly refusing to nudge you along to a solution it knows you’re going to stumble upon eventually. Does it add to the immersion of it all? Hell yeah. But does it tack on a layer of difficulty for players who might not have the luxury of time to ponder on potential courses of action? Unfortunately, yes again. Many of the game’s puzzles are hard, not because they involve thinking out of the box, but because they actually encourage shaking off assumptions that other games have trained in us in over the years. Allow us to explain.

Missing Pieces

We have another instance of hilarity at our expense for you. We came across a certain Sanctum, an important-looking place that housed a ton of very hostile members of a cult who lined up to die at our hands (we did position ourselves pretty well in that fight, though). With the sanctum now liberated, we explored it with elation, finding a remnant of the Abyss that sure looked like it was meant to power something up. We carefully maneuvered it through the ruins, a tedious process that we didn’t know we could avoid at the time. We found the device it was meant to slot into, but nothing would force it to stay in place. We’re quite annoyed that we’d forgotten about the Force Palm ability at that point.

But then, we found that we hadn’t even met the person we were supposed to do this for, a certain Witch who would reveal herself to us only in Chapter 3. We were yet to get there, and that was another hour that was a lot of fun, but ultimately pointless. While the ruins in the woods had us thinking we were missing an important piece, this one had us thinking that we had everything we needed until the rug was pulled out from under us by the revelation that we were missing a whole chunk of content.

Another puzzle, another revelation that the game’s puzzles were not just challenging, but needed to be considered within the context of the faction that sent us their way. But then the game goes and gives you everything you need in other instances before making you realize that you’re the problem, and we mean that literally this time.

Demanding Attention

Our next stop is the Scholastone Institute, a place that immediately grabbed our attention when we visited it in the story, complete with our very own uniform. Of course, we were quite enthusiastic to be humble students and dutifully took on a quest to help find out who stole a forbidden book from our fellow scholars. Well, long story short, we lost another chunk of time since we weren’t paying attention to the second mission of a side chain, only to come up short when our teachers questioned us about what we’d just learned.

We quickly found that the whodunit we were investigating stopped being a puzzle and more of an attention test, as the previous quest had us interrogating potential suspects, a process whose lines of dialogue we unfortunately didn’t pay attention to fully as we were marveling at the beauty of the institute’s elaborate architecture. If you haven’t been there, know that it can get quite tempting to let your mind wander, but do pay attention in Crimson Desert class!

While the institute’s brightest minds were also gracious enough to afford us another chance to get things right, this one was such a surprise, as it challenged an entirely different set of skills than the other puzzles we’ve talked about. This one didn’t have us figuring out complex machinery, choosing an objective that you might even consider trivial. But it turned out to be a test that forced us to adopt an entirely different way of thinking. We’ve been keeping our phones away when we play Crimson Desert thanks to it.

Perhaps that was the point? Well, we’re diving into why that’s the case next.

Ambition Versus Accessibility

Were we frustrated at discovering the different ways that each of these puzzles, along with so many more, pulled the wool over our eyes? Definitely. But do we think that it’s a refreshing change of pace from other open worlds in which puzzles generally devolve into missions where you just recover a missing item or two, or perhaps turn a few knobs to get past them? Also yes.

The fact that these puzzles are linked so closely to the Abyss, whose artifacts you need to use if you’re going to get your skill set and gear ramped up enough to deal with the incredible bosses and battles you face, makes them all the more risky, but in a good way. They aren’t obstacles to your progress but are rather stepping stones to getting better with the many systems, skills, and mechanics that the game hides away in order to give you the pleasure of finding them for the first time. And let’s not forget that they also often reward us with a fast-travel point and maybe even some cool loot!

The game’s ambitions blend well with its unpredictability to craft experiences that stay with you even as you move on to umpteen other distractions as you make your way through Pywel. It gives its players a world that’s layered beyond sticking things with the pointy end of your preferred weapon. But that strength can also be a weakness.

Don’t get us wrong, we love a good puzzle. But there is a certain awkwardness to interacting with important items, with the game’s controls often refusing to cooperate with us as we try to piece together a solution that it hides away so darn well. That many complaints about the game’s movements come from the way they interfere with puzzle solving is a showcase of how players might be willing to flex their mental muscles, but come away with their patience tested instead. That isn’t a great combo in our book.

The lack of communication with its players as far as its puzzles are concerned is another sore spot. Yes, it makes solving tough puzzles all the more satisfying, but the price of that satisfaction is a lot of frustration and wondering if you’re even prepared to solve this one or if you should return to the main campaign for a while. Or perhaps move on to building up the Greymane camp, only to return to the puzzle a long time after that, if you come back at all. There are other ways of picking up Abyss Artifacts, after all.

But has Crimson Desert managed to strike a balance that can be quite, er, puzzling, to achieve?

Trains Of Thought

The answer is more nuanced than you might imagine. Crimson Desert’s puzzles aren’t rocket science for the most part, and the fact that we’ve been managing just fine on our own as we enjoy them all is a testament to that. But that has come with a learning curve involving slowing down and paying attention to even the tiniest details. It’s involved accepting that sometimes, what seems to be obvious is another cleverly hidden red herring meant to throw you off the scent of the solution that’s right there for the taking.

It’s honestly a pleasure to get past all of that and actually come up with creative solutions, but the process is maddening enough to tempt us to reach for our phones and just look up solutions. But is that really a bad thing? We pieced together all of the steps for Elden Ring’s Goldmask ending after all, and that one was straight up insane on a first playthrough. Think about it that way, and it’s easy to see that Crimson Desert has dared to go against the grain.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Distinct Rubber-Hose Animation is More Than Aesthetic

First impressions aren’t everything, but even cursory glances at Mouse: P.I. For Hire are arguably more memorable than countless other shooters. Drawn by hand, Mouse: P.I. For Hire adopts a 1930s rubber hose animation style – so called for the noodly limbs typifying its movement – but its contrasting black-and-whites aren’t just for aesthetic value. No, rubber hose’s inherent charm introduces a disarming undertone which studio Fumi Games capitalise on, bringing unsettling surrealness which you feel in the explosive actions of a gun-toting rodent.

A Film-Noir Inspired Detective Story

Characterised by moral ambiguity, corrupt underworlds, and moody undertones, Mouse: P.I. For Hire’s film-noir inspiration runs deeper than its vintage palette. First and foremost, this is a detective story; as rodent P.I. Jack Pepper, you’ll navigate the unscrupulous city of Mouseberg, where a simple missing persons case untangles a web of lies, kidnapping, and murder. Jack’s a grizzled, former war hero with no qualms gunning down gangland leaders and police lieutenants alike. But – as is typical of noir anti-heroes – is his mission ill-fated? Explore the seedy streets and you’ll see just how deep the mouse’s burrow goes.

20+ Action-Packed Levels Across a City Playground

Mouseberg’s reported twenty-plus levels are varied. Across your investigations, you’ll be visiting film studios and opera buildings, plus poisonous swamps and underground sewers. Likewise, recently revealed footage shows a three-stage boss fight against a robotic mouse who dwells inside a secret laboratory. There’s density here too; much like real mice who like to hide in dark, secluded areas, you’ll be wise to check every nook and cranny for any lurking danger.

Mechanically Similar to Popular Shooters

With its fast paced, run-and-gun action, Mouse: P.I. For Hire looks poised to carve out a distinct place for itself in the FPS space. While its frenetic gunplay and fluid movement are immediate standouts, the game’s hardboiled narrative suggests it is aiming for more than just satisfying action. Rather than relying solely on momentum and combat, Mouse appears to frame those mechanics as one part of a broader experience, with its storytelling playing a much more central role.

A Suite of Movement Abilities

And, speaking of movement, Jack Pepper enters the fray with a spring in his step – sliding, dashing, and double-jumping are in his moveset, as is wall-running and pipe crawling. Fumi Games are instilling a very on the move ethos, expanding on it with a broad suite of manoeuvres typical of the “Boomer Shooter” sub-genre. And yet, you’ll want to use all of Jack’s mobility options; see, he’s not an armoured Master Chief, he’s just a regular mouse with a gun. Only a few hits, the devs insist, is all it takes to down him.

Missions Offer Multiple Approaches

A key aspect of the game’s design is its non-linear, sometimes maze-like level structure, encouraging players to explore environments thoroughly rather than simply moving from one encounter to the next. Whilst it’s unclear at this stage how labyrinthine Mouseberg’s levels actually are, what we do know is you’ll have some agency in how Jack completes his missions. Take an early opera house infiltration as an example: Jack can sneak in undetected, or he can sway the corruptible denizens of the city to aid his mission; greasing the palms of the opera house staff for secret access, for instance.

Weapons are Cartoonish Twists on Period-Correct Firearms

In addition to his fists, Jack comes packing with up to eleven weapons in his arsenal. We’ll get onto the more creative firearms next, because the mainstays deserve a moment in the spotlight too, not least for their humorous reload animations. The Micer is a one-handed revolver, the Boomstick a pump-action shotgun, and the James Gun the mobster classic Tommy, with ammo that stops enemies in their tracks. The Kiss Kiss is a double-barrelled shotgun that fires explosive shells, while each gun comes equipped with an alt-fire mode: burst-shot for the Micer, hold-charge mechanism for the Boomstick, and so on. But, a special highlight is indeed the firearms’ cartoonish reloading: the James Gun’s drum, for instance, appears comically glued in place, with Jack yanking it loose with the suction of sink plunger.

Other Weapons are More Experimental

Alongside “conventional” weaponry (conventional used in the loosest way) are some bizzaro firearms straight out of the Looney Tunes playbook. A de-varnishing chemical weapon rapid-fires paint stripper that melts your enemy’s skin and flesh. The Loose Cannon is indeed a cannon, presumably sheared loose from a pirate ship; plus, there’s a freeze ray, fire-damaging chainsaws, and a science-infused attitude adjuster complete with a brain in a jar co-pilot.

Weapons Can Be Upgraded

Injecting some light RPG mechanics is Mouse: P.I. For Hire’s weapon upgrading system. Located in the game’s hub area, in Tammy’s workshop are workbenches where you can augment Jack’s firearms with specific power-ups. Details on what these upgrades entail are relatively light at the moment, although additional firing modes, alongside some experimental progressions, have been hinted by the developers.

Momentary Power-Ups Add Yet More Zaniness to Combat

Eating spinach will temporarily boost Jack’s punching power, much like Popeye; drinking coffee activates finger guns that quicken firerates, kinda like Cuphead. Cheese acts as a health boost, while chili peppers bring fire damage bonuses.

Jack’s Mousetail is a Multi-Purpose Tool

Not quite a Swiss army knife, but Jack’s tail has numerous versatile uses for traversal and gameplay explorations. At times, it’s a lockpick effective at breaking him into sealed-off areas. At others, it’s a grappling hook which can navigate him to otherwise unreachable places. It’s also, amusingly enough, capable of rapid rotation like the whir of a helicopter’s blade, spinning to get Jack airborne for one of the game’s most creative traversal options.

Hazards Dot the Environment

A crucial element underpinning the game’s “always be moving” action is the abundance of environmental hazards which you can utilise against Jack’s assailants, or your enemies will use them against you. Explosive barrels feature, alongside freezing areas, fire, and more flesh-dissolving turpentine. Surroundings are there to be crumbled too. With fistfuls of dynamite, you can level walls and floors, gaining an edge by remodelling the environment through chaos.

Original Big Band Soundtrack Underscores the Vibe

What is 1930s noir fiction without a big band soundtrack? This period in history is known as the “Swing Era” for a reason, so it’s fitting that Mouse: P.I. For Hire comes loaded with a suitably original big band score. The jazz cements the aesthetic, of course, but you can level up the music by authentically degrading it; in the game’s audio settings, there are filters which rewire the sound to replicate early wax cylinder recordings or vintage shellac vinyl.

Release Date, Length, and Price

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is set for release April 16, and it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game has been price at 29.99 USD and will be 12 to 20 hours long. Likewise, there are no pre-order bonuses or special editions currently available. Of course, should this change we’ll let you know.

PC Requirements

To meet the minimum system requirements to play Mouse: P.I. For Hire, you’ll need an Intel Core i5 9600 or Ryzen 3600 processor, GeForce 1050ti, Radeon RX 580, or Intel Xe Graphics, and 16 GB RAM. Recommended specs, however, list the same CPU as the minimum, yet with higher calibre GPUs: GeForce 3060, Radeon 6600, or Intel Arc B570. 16GB RAM is still recommended, as is 8GB VRAM. Filesize is relatively paltry at 20GB.

A Vehicular Combat, Street Brawling Hybrid

The core of Samson’s gameplay experience is a hybrid of high-octane vehicular combat and brutal, hand-to-hand fist-fighting. Yes, these are two disparate mechanics, perhaps, but each share a need for muscle, speed, and technique, so we expect you’ll be tackling both sides of Samson’s work with equal parts stubbornness, perseverance, and gusto. Developer pedigree matters – Just Cause and Mad Max are two titles known for their chaotic sandbox energy and tactile combat systems, and their DNA bruises knuckles and crumples bumpers throughout.

Brawler Combat is Built on Momentum

Samson’s hand-to-hand fights aren’t glamorous. They’re primal and pragmatic, leaning on momentum and situational awareness. Look – brawling here has consequences: damage is visual, effort is extolled, and impact carries weight. You’ll be slamming enemies into walls, using nearby objects as weapons, and adapting to the environment mid-fight. An adrenaline meter adds more intensity, rewarding aggressive play with heightened damage once the gauge is full.

Weapons are Temporary

In addition to his fists, Samson can grab whatever detritus lies scattered around the scuffle to use as a weapon. Pipes, bats, blades, a wrench, whatever he can get his hands on in the moment. Most can be retained for a while, even stowed in the trunk of his car, but they’re not intended as long-term sidearms. No, to survive Tyndalston’s many skirmishes, you’ll need to master Samson’s brute-force fisticuffs, and learn to utilise what’s around you to stay alive.

Vehicles are Also Weapons

On the vehicular side, driving in Samson is designed to feel just as deliberate as street brawling. The game’s cars feel physical, responsive, and impactful, with different vehicles feeling distinct from one another. This makes some more ideal for destruction, others perhaps for getaways. Throughout the campaign, you’ll experience high speed chases full of satisfying collisions, handbrake turns, and side-slams, all enhanced by nitro speed boosts (which can be charged by knocking down sandwich boards, of all things). This is definitely more spectacle than simulation, mirroring the approach that made Mad Max’s car combat so memorable.

Skill Trees Shape Your Playstyle

Samson’s skill trees unify strength in brawling and weaponised driving alike, with over twenty-five upgrades to shape your style across four fighting categories: Tactics, which govern health, Aggression your power, Instinct is your adrenaline, and Cunning which refers to your finesse. XP is earned through completing missions and, of course, pummeling bad guys.

A Story Driven By Debt

Peel back the brashness, and Samson tells a surprisingly emotional story. Samson’s a classic antihero who, after a failed heist, has fallen into crushing debt with the wrong people. These dangerous figures keep Samson pegged, using his sister as leverage until he’s paid them every single penny that he owes. Clawing his way out entails taking on daily jobs, but there’s a constant sense of pressure as the debt spirals alongside Samson’s morals.

Mission Variety Will Be Key

Samson’s mission structure spans a wide range of activities: extortion jobs, getaway drives, targeted hits, surveillance, high-speed chases, and good old-fashioned beatdowns. The big question is whether this variety will hold up over the game’s purported ten-hour campaign. On the surface it’s diverse enough to sustain interest, but the game’s tighter, semi-linear design implies objectives which evolve along with the narrative. Samson’s success, it seems, may hinge on how engaging its missions prove to be.

Action Point System Enforces Tension

Rather than letting you tackle everything freely, Samson introduces an Action Point system that forces prioritisation. With your daily actions restricted due to a limited number of Action Points, you’re forced to pick and choose your missions strategically. You’ve a daily quota to earn, which may take the decision away from you. Either way, there’s one crucial bit of info you need to know: once your points are spent, there’s no second chance. Whether success or failure, you must live with the outcome.

Tyndalston Offers More Than a Backdrop

Samson’s fictional city plays an important role in shaping both gameplay and tone. It’s the greyscale proving ground for your nefarious deeds, of course, but there’s also plenty of opportunity for unscripted interactions, especially with the town’s denizens. NPCs won’t like being bumped into, whilst other pedestrians will tend to the injured. Like we’ve alluded to with Samson’s other systems, Tyndalston reacts with consequence. Likewise, a place with spirited citizens that look out for each other cements your status as an outsider.

Law Enforcement Reacts to Your Actions

And on that note, your nefarious dealings don’t go unnoticed by the city’s police force either. Law enforcement will react to your behaviour, with their response escalating based on your actions. If you steal a parked car, for instance, they’ll pursue you. The more you try to shake them off, the more effort they’ll put into catching you. In these moments, your knowledge of Tyndalston’s layout will prove crucial, as will knowing when to disengage entirely.

Tyndalston Isn’t a Traditional Open World

Despite its scale, Samson’s city isn’t a full sandbox. In developer Liquid Swords’ words, Tyndalston sits somewhere between fully open, and curated, semi-linear design. You’re free to explore, and there certainly are “open zone” neighbourhoods with areas to discover, but the world’s design is focused. This, purportedly, is Samson’s quiet strength, where tighter design brings pace and purpose rather than aimless wandering.

Vehicles Require Maintenance

Samson’s cars won’t be disposable, but vital tools on which progression hangs. As such, you’ll need to maintain the structural health of your vehicle by fixing upgrades that’ll bring improved performance, durability, and combat effectiveness. While preview coverage suggests this system may be somewhat limited in scope, it still adds a layer of investment. Your car becomes an extension of your playstyle, not just a means of getting from one objective to the next.

Mission Details

Samson: Tenleston Story seems built around the idea that every day in its world is a negotiation with pressure. Instead of treating missions as isolated content drops, the game ties story chapters, side jobs, and exploration into a single survival rhythm where making money is just as important as uncovering what happens next. Much of the tension comes from the fact that progress is fragile, because the more cash you carry, the more exposed you are to losing it before you make it home safe. That gives even routine activities a layer of danger, turning each decision into a risk between short-term gain and long-term stability. More than a straightforward crime action game, it feels like a system-driven urban grind where momentum, caution, and risk management are constantly at war.

PC Brings Strong Technical Settings

On the technical side, Samson looks to be well equipped with raytracing and DLSS 4.5 confirmed for PC users. The game is certainly good looking, with visual fidelity and performance optimisation clearly a priority for the developer. With Liquid Swords operating in the AA sphere, the community has been outspoken in their concern surrounding performance, but the studio has specifically addressed this via an FAQ published to the game’s website. Here, they say that optimisation has been a focus from the very start, and that they’ve leaned on their experience with open world games to ensure Samson performs as smoothly as the visuals promise.

Release Date, Platforms, and Price

Samson: A Tyndalston Story is set to release April 8th, and it’s coming to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Consoles aren’t ruled out, but it likely depends how well the game sells on Windows machinery first. Pricewise, you’re looking at $24.99, which feels about right for a game of this scale.

PC Requirements

To run Samson with minimum PC specs, you’ll need an Intel Core i5-10505 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU and Nvidia 1070 GTX or AMD Radeon RX 5600 GPU. Recommended hardware includes a GeForce RTX 3060Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU and Intel i5-11400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600 XT processor. 16GB RAM, an SSD hard drive, and 15GB storage base is also required.

Aside from cool weapons, complete storylines, and exciting new places to discover, Crimson Desert’s excellent open world also has a few mechanics that remain obscure unless you actually attempt to pull them off. If you’re worried that you’ve missed out on a few useful ones, we’re here to sort you out.

Let’s dive right into some of the things you might not have discovered during your time in Pywel.

1. Armor For Your Pets

You probably already found that you can amass a collection of loyal companions who accompany you on your travels and even pick up loot on the battlefield, leaving you free to tear through enemy ranks. But did you know you can get them dressed up for the occasion?

To do that, you’re going to want to prioritize the Shai missions and gain access to Pororin Village by obtaining a relic from a very interesting NPC. Once there, look for a shop that sells hats, armor, and some adorable outfits for your furry friends! There’s another one in Demeniss if that’s more convenient, and it’s located in the southeast corner of the city.

2. Make Fast Travel Even Faster

The game’s loading scenes can be frustrating. Whether you’re booting it up or fast-travelling between spawn points, you often have to sit through flashy transition animations that are basically just fancy loading screens. Strangely enough, the game doesn’t actually seem to need all that time to load in new areas. In fact, if you stand on a fast travel point and teleport directly to another one, the transition is almost instantaneous, meaning you’ll be zipping between locations far faster than the game initially suggests. It’s an impressive workaround, and it also gives hope that these awkward animations could eventually be patched out in the future.

3. Use Axiom Force For Some Insane Moves

See an area you’d like to explore that’s closed off by a pesky spiked fence? Finding a path around it is so yesterday, as you can simply use Axiom Force on a nearby tree to launch yourself high into the air and scale obstacles with style. Simply attach to a tree, pull back as hard as you can, and release to launch yourself into a spinning ball before you spread your wings and glide right into enemy camps or new areas.

Pair that up with a body slam or any other moves to give yourself an edge at the start of a battle. Considering the sheer number of enemies that can come at you, that’s an advantage you want to abuse as much as you can.

4. The Axiom Swing

If there aren’t any trees around, you can use Axiom Force to latch on to a nearby surface and swing to build up momentum before you detach and launch yourself into the air, and then drown in a nearby lake or sea. That’s a nifty way to gain access to hard-to-reach areas and is also a great way to start off a combat encounter with a distinct advantage. And, for some odd reason, so satisfying.

5. Call In Backup

Damiane and Oongka are not just characters you switch to from time to time, but can be valuable as backup in intense fights. Just pull up the character switching menu and hit the summon button to have them meet you at a nearby assembly point. Do note that this is not seamless, and it requires a loading page to pop up, but from then on, the character you summoned is going to follow you around, and they even come with their own mounts.

Don’t worry if you get too far ahead of them, as they merely teleport to your location after a while. Just be careful not to let them take too many hits in a fight, as reviving them is a slow process, and your enemies aren’t going to be waiting around for you to get them back on their feet.

6. Make Mining Easier

Are you as tired of chipping away at ore deposits with a pickaxe and drill as we are? Well, Axiom Force and Force Push are going to solve that problem. Simply latch on to the ore deposit you want to mine and hit the Force Push input to collect valuable resources with ease. Know that you’ll need the Force Current move unlocked to do this, but considering how useful that one is in various other situations, we’d call it a win-win.

It also frees up valuable inventory slots as you can leave your pickaxes behind!

7. Take In The View

Every warrior needs a breather from time to time, and we’d argue that the fights Kliff gets into need some real rest and relaxation. Well, Crimson Desert lets him take things easy for a while and just admire Pywel’s beauty from high up above. Just approach a cliff and tap your analog stick to have him sit down and enjoy the sights for as long as you please!

8. Efficient Bounty Hunting

While we found it odd that Kliff chooses to sling a bounty over his shoulder instead of his horse when he has them tied up and ready to face justice, we decided to just roll with it. But we then found out that a second bounty is indeed laid out on the back of his horse, allowing you to take in two of them at once.

Considering that they’re an efficient way to quickly rack up some coin, this one’s going to save you a lot of time.

9. Steal Gold Bars From Nobles

Remember the pickpocket mechanic from Assassin’s Creed? It’s here in Crimson Desert, and it’s a great way to make tons of money fairly quickly. All you need to do is find places that nobles frequent, and simply bump into them to bring up the pickpocket prompt. You can check which ones are carrying something to steal using your lantern by shining it on them and looking for a yellow glow around their hip.

Do know that you’re going to need a mask equipped before you begin your stealing spree, and that you want to run as soon as you complete the theft, as a red circle pops up, marking the area in which your victims look for you. While there’s no guarantee that the noble you’re stealing from is carrying a gold bar, they’re still your best bet to find one with a bit of luck and patience.

10. Heed The Game’s Warnings

We always like to see how open-world titles restrict your attempts to go beyond the boundaries of their maps, and Crimson Desert has a rather nasty surprise for you if you decide to ignore its warnings to turn around. Kliff’s going to find himself a new home in a giant whale’s belly if you go too far out of Pywel’s purview. But that’s probably not necessary considering just how much the world has to offer you, right?

11. Hoods And Visors Can Be Toggled

If your outfit comes with a hood or a visor, you can pull up the armor menu and tap the prompt to either pull up your hood or open/close your visor. That’s a useful addition for you fashion-conscious Greymanes out there, and a showcase of how the developers have paid attention to as many details as they could when making this ambitious title.

12. Your Sword Is Not Just For Killing

You can use your Sword to locate Abyss Nexus and Cressets using the Blinding Flash from anywhere in the world. It’s best to get to a solid vantage point before you do that, as the blue glows that show you where they are can be easy to miss from the ground.

Aside from that, you can also use Blinding Flash for some quick cooking in a pinch. Simply drop your stuff on the ground and focus sunlight on them using your Sword, just as you would do with those pesky vines.

13. Don’t Wait For Your Horse

We spent way too long whistling for our horse and then waiting for it to saunter up to us before we mounted up. Instead, whistle and begin jogging in the direction you want to go to have your horse trot up to Kliff before he mounts it in one smooth motion. That’s a great way to start a long trek to a faraway point of interest that has caught your fancy, and it’s stylish to boot.

14. Save Money On Healing Supplies For Your Horse

Your Force Palm isn’t just a way to send your foes flying, but is also a way to heal your horse if it takes damage in a fight. Just charge up the move and give your horse a good tap. You’re going to see all its injuries vanish as if they never existed, and your coin purse is going to have more than a few extra coppers as you don’t have to buy supplies for that purpose anymore.

15. Sneak Around In Style

Aside from pickpocketing, Kliff also has some more moves that might be familiar to some popular stealth games. He can hide in haystacks, in trees, and even under carts! Moreover, you can look for dark edges on your screen to ensure that your foes can’t see you, a boon in areas where you’re trying to go unnoticed.

And that’s about it for our list of hidden mechanics and things in Crimson Desert. We hope that they’re as helpful to you as they were to us! All that remains now is to visit Pywel and try them all out for yourself!

Samson: A Tyndalston Story

Growing up is never easy, yet there’s a bittersweet feeling in returning to your childhood town, older and wiser. Not for Samson, though. His goal in Tyndalston is to pay off a debt that increases each day. Time is money, literally – you have limited hours to choose different jobs, whether it’s a getaway driver for a bank job or tuning up some local thugs. With a combat system that’s more about fighting dirty and vehicular mayhem that would make Mad Max proud, Samson promises a lot for its $25 price when it launches on April 8th.

DarkSwitch

Think Against the Storm, but expanding vertically – that somewhat explains Cyber Temple’s DarkSwitch. With a giant tree as your base and a malevolent fog slowly creeping in, you need to build, construct defenses and sometimes venture into the unknown to survive. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Akira Yamaoka is composing the soundtrack, probably hearing the word “fog” and asking nothing more. But with a full-fledged story mode that promises over 20 hours of thrills, DarkSwitch could end up a dark horse when it launches on April 9th.

Replaced

AI trapped in a human’s body, an alternative United States under the thrall of megacorporations, post-nuclear panic – all of this and more await in Replaced, Sad Cat Studios’ long-in-development cinematic platformer, which launches on April 14th. It also features stunning 2.5D graphics and a Free Flow combat system akin to Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise. Over its eight-hour runtime (11 to 12 if you stay and smell what’s left of the roses), there’s a harrowing, unpredictable experience with more than its fair share of bleak commentary on the world as we know it.

Starfield (PS5) and Terran Armada

Bethesda’s new – and not at all controversial – IP is finally coming to PS5 on April 7th alongside the latest story DLC, Terran Armada. At $49.99 for the base game ($10 for the new DLC), it’s the best time for PlayStation players to explore the Settled Systems, especially with the Free Lanes update. Besides expanding on space travel, it introduces new companions, outpost improvements, new points of interest, more upgrade systems, and more. Meanwhile, Terran Armada promises a more interesting story, its own exclusive Incursions, new ships, and even an HK-47-style companion in Delta.

Regions of Ruin: Runegate

As intriguing as the pixel art style and sheer number of systems could be, I never expected 2018’s Regions of Ruin to get a sequel. Runegate is out on April 14th and follows pretty much the same premise – venturing out into a ruined world, helping your Dwarven brethren, obtaining resources, and ultimately, establishing a place to call home. With more varied locations, sleeker visuals and much more to do, it promises to be the definitive Regions of Ruin experience.

Road to Vostok (Early Access)

If you can’t wait for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s first story DLC to hit this Summer, Road to Vostok may tide you over. Entering early access on April 7th, it tasks players with exploring the post-apocalyptic areas between Finland and Russia, ultimately culminating in Vostok. You’ll need to loot supplies and build a formidable arsenal, dealing with changing seasons, rough weather, bandits, and even the military, with death in Vostok causing you to lose everything. It’s a ways off from full release, but those looking for another challenging survival FPS may find it worthwhile.

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred

Vessel of Hatred was a steaming hot pile of whatever, but Lord of Hatred, Diablo 4’s next expansion, looks more promising. Available on April 28th, it sees the world in peril once more because Mephisto. You’ll likely be the one to lay the smackdown on him after venturing to Skovos, a scintillating new region full of new points of interest and plenty of demons to scour. Two new classes, the Paladin and Warlock, bring even more unique playstyles and build variety than before, while Blizzard is reworking the Skill Tree, bringing back the Horadric Cube, and more. Maybe this will be the release that finally elevates Diablo 4 to the next level. We can only hope.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

What if you combine the rubber-hose animation of Cuphead with boomer-shooter-like gameplay? You get MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, a hard-boiled noir adventure focused on Jack Prepper, as he investigates a missing persons case and ends up discovering more than he bargained for. The slick hand-drawn animation is undoubtedly the appeal, as it brings Mouseburg to life in astonishing detail. Of course, this is a shooter as well, with weapons ranging from the grounded – pistols, shotguns, machine guns – to the wacky like freeze rays, corrosive turpentine and more. It’s out on April 16th and promises 12 to 20 hours of gameplay for $30.

Pragmata

Moon’s haunted, but instead of ghosts, there are homicidal robots out to get you. Launching on April 17th, Pragmata isn’t a Resident Evil-style survival horror – it’s the journey of Hugh, investigating a lunar base after lost contact and becoming swept up in the robot uprising. Together with the android Diana, he seeks a way out, providing the firepower while she hacks through an enemy’s defenses. The twist is that you have to do both simultaneously, creating a mix of puzzle-solving and tense shooting. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, and after the demo, we only want more.

Saros

Death is only the first step in Housemarque’s latest, and protagonist Arjun Devraj has miles to go before he can sleep. Investigating Carcosa for any sign of previous Soltari expeditions, he and his crew are caught up in the Eclipse, which twists the planet’s surface, culminating in the sun’s death. And yet, death won’t let them escape. Cue close encounters with tentacled monstrosities, discovering new weapons and clues that could help. And while Saros leans much further into rogue-lite progression than Returnal, it’s also expanded on the bullet dodging with a new shield that lets you absorb some damage and send it back with a vengeance. Saros arrives on April 30th, and even if you haven’t played its predecessor, it’s looking like another killer PS5 exclusive.

Invincible VS

Seemingly addressing the lack of 3v3 fighters, Quarter Up’s take on the brutal superhero epic packs 18 playable characters – including favorites such as Invincible, Omni-Man, BattleBeast, and of course, Conquest. And if the prospect of different classes, active and counter tags, and rollback netcode for online play doesn’t interest you, there’s a story mode to experience every bloody skirmish. It’s available on April 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Spark in the Dark (Early Access)

As typical of a dungeon crawler as Stellar Fish’s latest title appears, there’s an inherent charm and grittiness to Spark in the Dark. Maybe it’s the isometric perspective or more methodical pacing, coupled with how inherently dark the endless Dungeon appears (which makes it all the more scary when monsters show up). It’s available on April 7th via early access and only includes the initial tiers of the Dungeon, but we’re keen on plundering its depths.

MotoGP 26

Credit where it’s due to Milestone, as this will be its third consecutive racing game in three months. MotoGP 26 is all about the thrill of competitive bike racing at the highest level, although you can opt between Arcade and Pro Experiences to determine the difficulty. With an in-depth career mode, cross-play between all platforms (Nintendo not included, sadly), and new disciplines like Minibikes, Flat Tracks, Production Bikes, and more, this could be the series’ most feature-packed entry yet.

WILL: Follow the Light

Cropping up more than once during Steam Next Fest and impressing with its visuals, WILL: Follow the Light is a hard-hitting adventure focused on a seemingly simple goal: Returning home. It’s far from easy, however, as Will must brave islands, mountains and even the sea to reach his hometown and save his son. Puzzles and environmental storytelling abound, but it’s all about the atmosphere and how deep you’ll go to learn the truth. WILL: Follow the Light launches on April 28th for PC.

Kiln

Listen, I’m not saying this is exactly what I expected from Double Fine, which has delivered some of the finest platforms to date. But Kiln is…curious in a way that fits the developer’s profile. After all, what other multiplayer title invites you to become a pot, finely sculpted by your hands and scuttling off into an arena for some ceramic destruction? The fact that a pot’s design influences its playstyle is even more intriguing. Whether it figuratively blows up or not, Kiln is out on April 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

However, the newest patch goes far above and beyond, not only addressing a number of my complaints but also creating a smoother game. Let’s jump into some of the most noteworthy, starting with one of the biggest grievances among players: Mounts.

Mount and Blade

Before release, Crimson Desert teased us with a variety of mounts, including a dire wolf, bear, and whatnot. One believed they would function a lot like the horse – find it, tame it (or steal it from an enemy), and then it’s yours to wield as you see fit. That wasn’t the case, and fans rightfully complained, but the developer has answered in short order.

Three Legendary animals (out of two dozen) that you can slay in Pywel – the White Bear, Silver Fang Wolf and Snowwhite Deer – can now become permanent mounts. Pre-patch, that would have been it, but you can take their materials to a witch and obtain sigils to summon them as mounts whenever you like. The same goes for the Rock Tusk Warthog and Icicle Edge Alpine Ibex – two mounts obtained from boss fights. You’ll even receive the materials needed for any Legendary Animals slain pre-patch via the Extra Rewards List, so all you need to do is visit the witch for crafting the sigil and voila.

Say what you will about their speed, especially compared to the horse, but there’s something about wandering through towns on a frigging bear that feeds into the ridiculous power fantasy all the more. And while all of this doesn’t address one of my biggest complaints – namely the dragon mount usage time and cooldown – it gives me hope that the developers are aware of it, and working towards a solution.

Movement Gains

I didn’t personally find any issue with mashing the sprint button like in Grand Theft Auto to get around, but providing an option to hold it down wouldn’t hurt. That’s exactly what the new update does. Instead of tapping multiple times to sprint, and then several more times continuously for an increased burst in speed, you simply hold it once to start running. Tapping it once, on foot or horseback, will grant that increased burst of speed. You still need to press the button occasionally to renew the burst, but otherwise, after holding the button to sprint, you can release it. It’s seamless and feels far better overall.

Then there’s gliding, which always felt annoying outside of the Abyss due to the stamina consumption. Lo and behold, it now requires less stamina than before, and you can now use certain equipment while airborne. The Aerial Stab bug that allowed for infinite flying has been patched, but there is a nice compromise – on top of improving the animation of the attack, each successive use consumes more stamina. You can still sort of fly around to an extent if you have the stamina. Oh, and did I mention that the stamina requirements for Aerial Maneuver and Aerial Swing have been reduced?

Reducing Friction

As nice as it is to learn all the nuances of the game’s many systems, sometimes the friction could be overbearing. This was especially the case when upgrading new loot – the amount of resources required discouraged you from trying new things, even more so when they were for Damiane and Oongka. To address this, we have Refinement Tokens. Awarded from select main and faction quests (awarded retroactively if you’ve already completed them), these can be used to upgrade equipment to Tier 4 without using any additional resources. You’ll still need to mine and whatnot for going beyond that (which has also become easier, more on that shortly). Now you can immediately try any new gear without feeling like it’s a massive drop in damage or defense, especially in the early to mid-game.

While mining can still be a drag, the Mining Knuckledrill has been changed so that it will auto-collect ores obtained from drilling. The same goes for the Demenissian Chainsaw with trees. Chests with “various materials” can also be discovered throughout Pywel, and any inventory bags obtained after maxing out your overall slots (which is 240) will now instead grant crafting resources.

UI Polishing

The developer promised improvements with its UI, and quite frankly, I’m shocked at just how many it stuffed with this update. First off, any new quests will now be clearly earmarked in your Journal, making them easier to distinguish. The Notifications menu now holds up to 2,000 of them, and displays progress on challenges and quests alongside details on rewards. Anvils and keys are helpfully indicated on the minimap, which can now have a North direction affixed to the top for better orienting oneself while exploring. Even cooking and crafting menus of the same type will be showcased as a single group rather than spread out. And no more having to constantly select “Use All” when opening pouches. It’s now the default, making it that much quicker to rip open for that sweet, sweet 50 Copper.

Visual Improvements

Another unexpected addition for those on consoles: Fixed 4K Output, which sets the game resolution to 4K, whether your monitor supports it or not. When used in Performance Mode on the base PS5, FSR is applied for upscaling. For PC players, hair, fur, and clothing, among other translucent materials, have improved rendering when FSR-RR or DLSS-RR is applied. In fact, DLSS-RR now offers improved visual quality overall, with bugs like waterfall animations suddenly stopping having been resolved. If that wasn’t enough, low-resolution environments sport improved quality and rendering stability when you’re using upscaling. This is in addition to various stability and performance improvements alongside reduced loading times when respawning or venturing between Abyss Traces.

The Little Things

Then you have all the small things that have been added based on player feedback. Remember how awkward it was to reach the storage chest in Howling Hill Camp? It’s now been moved to your tent, making it easier to access. Instead of having to constantly confirm which ingredients you want to use for a recipe, there’s a “Make Now” function for quicker cooking. All items can be stored at once; locked doors now have a button to confirm if you want to use a key to open them; and yes, those AI-generated assets that were “accidentally” left in have been replaced. When upgrading stats, you’ll actually see how much the next level increases Spirit, Health and Stamina by.

Heck, even things like bosses and enemies no longer ganging up on you immediately after reviving, double-clicking to use items, and crimes no longer reducing your Contribution in the event of no witnesses are great changes. Should these have all been present on day one? Sure, but the fact that they’re here now is a big win.

And that’s seemingly reflected in the player numbers, with the Steam concurrent peaking at 276,261 yesterday. There’s still much work to be done and grievances to resolve, but suffice to say that Crimson Desert is on the right track with these updates. Here’s to seeing how much more it can improve in the coming months.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Story

Touted as Housemarque’s “most story-focused game” yet, Saros is about Soltari enforcer Arjun Devraj (played by Rahul Kohli) and the crew of Echelon IV. They’ve been sent to Carcosa because of the resource Lucenite. Things take a turn for the worse, however, and the entire crew is now stranded on the planet, as it constantly reshapes, with seemingly no way to escape.

Carcosa

So what’s going on? The Eclipse, or rather, a solar eclipse where the sun “dies” and everything on Carcosa is twisted beyond repair. While Arjun is looking for a way out – and what happened to the previous Echelon crews – he also needs to deal with the demands of Soltari, his employer, and the mysterious civilization that seemingly existed way before. There are also hints that his own sanity is being affected with each run, as he stumbles further into the mystery of the Eclipse.

Characters

He won’t be alone throughout this journey, though. His commander, Sheridan Bouchard, rescues him from a crazed crew member, even if she’s unsure whether he can be trusted. Others have yet to be detailed, but don’t think for a second they’re always going to remain calm. As narrative designer William Shaughnessy explains, “The more the characters learn, the more the sense of dread grows. The friction within the crew increases, and each handles that in different ways.” To that end, you can expect way more cinematic cutscenes, although it’s possible to skip many of the interactions back at The Passage for the sake of diving back into Carcosa.

Spiritual Successor to Returnal

A cycle of death and rebirth, a mysterious shapeshifting planet where players must rush through biomes to discover answers – this may all sound a bit familiar to some players. That’s because Saros is a spiritual successor to Returnal, Housemarque’s last major title. How exactly their stories may connect (if at all) remains to be seen, but it even features Jane Perry, who played Selene, as Bouchard. Surely that’s not a coincidence.

Unreal Engine 5 and “Tentacle Tech”

Saros is developed on Unreal Engine 5, which shouldn’t come across as too surprising – Returnal was developed on Unreal Engine 4, after all. Stick with what you know and all that, but Housemarque is making some pretty notable improvements, including rigid-body particle simulation for bullets, enhanced environmental destruction and so on. It’s signature (and creepily named) “tentacle technology,” allowing for more “realism and unpredictability” courtesy of “hand-made animation with procedural systems.”

Rogue-Lite Gameplay and Returnal’s Influence

While it’s a “spiritual successor” to Returnal, Saros includes all of the essentials. Holding down L2 partially to activate alt-fire mode? Check. Accumulating Adrenaline by not taking damage and accumulating buffs like increased melee damage? Also check. Red shields that can only be destroyed with melee strikes? You know it. The story, characters, and setting are completely different, but it carries the same delightfully difficult gameplay loop.

Permanent Progression

So what sets it apart? It’s much more like a rogue-lite now. By accumulating Lucenite and interacting with the Soltari’s Primary in The Passage, you can now unlock permanent upgrades to improve Arjun’s stats, including Resilience (aka health), Command (or shields) and Drive (which affects Lucenite Gains). These go a long way to not only ensuring that Arjun survives through multiple excursions but that he’s becoming stronger with each run.

Carcosan Modifiers

Far be it from Primary to just let you walk into the world of Carcosa without any gimmicks, however. Before embarking on a run, you can select modifiers to change things up. Protections provide advantages, like easier perfect reloads, increased damage to hostiles, and so on, while Trials go the other way. Balance is the key here, but don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to up the difficulty, such as…

Second Chance

The other biggest change to the core gameplay is the new Second Chance perk. It’s unlocked fairly early on through Primary and gives Arjun the chance to return from death. No, not at the beginning of the cycle but immediately after taking a lethal hit, healing up most of his health in the process and clearing out any Corruption (which we’ll get into). It’s a game-changer in many ways, but if you’re seeking a greater challenge, there’s a Trial to turn it off.

The Eclipse

Far from a cycle that will annihilate Arjun at any chance it gets, the Eclipse is also risk/reward incarnate. By triggering it during a run, the world is completely changed. Think much more red hues, twisted audio, and just the overall impression that Carcosa is on the brink. Enemies become crazed, gaining new attacks, but you’ll also gain more Lucenite to invest in further upgrades. Also, tentacles. Many, many more tentacles.

Corrupted Weapons and Artifacts

Then there are the Corrupted weapons and artifacts. These offer unique benefits but with certain trade-offs – like a Corrupted Power Spike artifact that increases Command and adds to Power while reducing Drive. You also gain Pressure, which decreases damage if you’re low on health. Another option is increased Resilience for increased max health, but you’ll lose Lucenite whenever taking a hit.

Soltari Shield and Power Weapons

If you’ve played Returnal, you’re probably wondering what “shields” are. Arjun is equipped with a Soltari Shield, and it’s more than just defensive – it can absorb blue projectiles and fuel his Power Weapon. We’ve seen one thus far, Prominence, which deals explosive damage in a radius and scales on Power. So instead of constantly dodging projectiles, there are several that you would absorb instead for the sake of sending that energy back to an enemy. Be careful, though – it doesn’t last forever.

Corrupted Projectiles

Of course, this is a shoot ’em up, and such benefits don’t always come easy. During an Eclipse, enemies will shoot yellow projectiles that inflict Corruption. You can’t absorb these, and Corruption will reduce your max health. What you can do, however, is clear it by using a Power Weapon. So while that health won’t be immediately regained, at least you can heal it back up.

Runs in 4K/60 FPS on PS5

While a more detailed analysis is necessary, Saros runs at 4K/60 FPS on a base PS5. The footage thus far showed a satisfyingly consistent frame rate, even with dozens of effects and projectiles on screen at once. Housemarque has yet to detail PS5 Pro enhancements, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see it up the ante even further.

DualSense Features

The responsiveness of the adaptive triggers returns, providing a satisfying sound when alternate-fire mode is ready. You’ll feel it when Arjun dashes in a particular direction or when absorbing projectiles with the Soltari Shield, and much like with Returnal, loading times are near-instant thanks to the SSD. And then there’s the 3D Audio support, which is apparently recommended for experiencing the true dread of the Eclipse.

Silent Hill Townfall

Silent Hill has made a grand comeback as of late, and Townfall takes the iconic franchise in a more experimental direction – focusing heavily on psychological storytelling and building atmospheric tension. Early teasers suggest a strongly narrative-driven experience that leans into surreal horror and several plot twists, and that will be coupled with thrilling exploration and mind-bending puzzles – and it’s definitely one of the hottest games of the near future.

Standard and Premium Editions

Remember when PlayStation allegedly eyed Bethesda to secure PS5 exclusivity status for Starfield? Remember how big a “get” it was for Microsoft? It feels almost surreal to see it coming to PS5, but that’s not all. The Standard Edition will retail for $49.99, reflecting its recent price drop on Xbox and PC. The Premium Edition costs $69.99 and not only includes the new Terran Armada DLC but also the first expansion, Shattered Space. You also get 1,000 Creation Credits, the Constellation Skin Pack, and a digital artbook and soundtrack.

DualSense Support

Starfield fully supports the PS5’s DualSense, from different adaptive trigger resistances depending on the weapon to the light bar reflecting your current health. You can even listen to non-local ship comms and audio logs through the speaker. The touchpad is also host to many functions, from swapping between first and third person to scanning your surroundings, which feels more seamless.

Graphics Modes on PS5 Pro

Much like other first-party titles published by Xbox Game Studios, Starfield supports PS5 Pro with two modes: Performance (60 FPS with “improved visuals” per the PlayStation Blog) and Quality (4K/30 FPS). But what about 40 FPS or even an uncapped frame rate, which the Xbox Series X version received in a post-launch update? And will they be available on the regular PS5? Time will tell.

Terran Armada Lore and Enemy Types

Thanks to Bethesda’s deep dive, we learned a bit more about the Terran Armada and why they are the way they are. As it turns out, they were previously part of the United Colonies and Freestar Collective, but when the Colony War broke out, they chose to abandon the Settled Systems rather than participate. Now they’re back and seemingly out to cause mayhem. Finding out their true motivations is ultimately what drives the plot of the DLC, which will apparently have “consequences that ripple throughout the galaxy,” per Bethesda.

If the Terran Armada thinks of itself as Earth’s “true” children, then one has to ask: Why all the robots? That’s probably one of the mysteries that the player must solve (not that there aren’t humans to deal with as well). But you’ll battle quite a few different tiers of robot foes, from the rank and file soldiers to lieutenants with some variants thrown in. It feels like Bethesda is keeping some of those other types close to its chest, so expect the unexpected.

Incursions

Which also ties into the new Incursion system. These appear throughout the Settled Systems, with some mandated by the story and others made optional, offering extensive loot. Depending on the size and scale of the incursion, you’ll have multiple objectives, like rescuing hostages, setting a refinery to melt down, and shutting down the Terran robots. Be careful, though, since they have jammers which can prevent grav jumps, meaning only Cruise Mode is viable for escape.

Delta

Model G and Muria are companions for base game players, but Terran Armada owners get something even better: Delta. He’s a robot from the Terran Armada that’s been “reprogrammed.” By whom and why? Unknown. However, designer Emil Pagliarulo described him as “not evil, but he’s definitely not good.” Your average KOTOR fan is probably getting flashbacks to HK-47, and you have to wonder how Vasco will get along with him.

Anchor Point Station

A new era for the game demands a pivotal new location where players can discover quests, and Anchor Point Station is it. You’ll have to find it (which won’t be too hard), and upon landing, there are several new characters and quests to discover. How deep the rabbit hole goes remains to be seen, but it does tie together with Free Lanes.

Interdiction Events

Since you can travel between planets in a star system courtesy of Cruise Mode, there are various discoveries and anomalies to be had. And while you could just put the ship on autopilot and craft, chat with crew members, optimize systems with recently discovered X-Tech, and so on, something may suddenly pull you out of Cruise Mode. Known as interdiction events, these may result in the ship being attacked, “or worse,” per Bethesda, and you’ll need to respond accordingly.

New MGP Weapons

New threats mean new corpses to loot new weapons, including the MGP Ballistic Rifle. Unlike the guns circulating in the Settled Systems, these are described as “more contemporary” and “less sci-fi.” Ballistic and energy weapons abound, and you can modify them to your liking. Based on what we’ve seen so far, they have a satisfying kick with each shot while packing a significant punch.

New Rank 4 Legendary Perks

With X-Tech, players can now freely customize Legendary weapons with their desired perks, but the real fun begins at Rank 4. It packs several new perks that can completely revamp a weapon. Thanks to the deep dive, we’ve learned about a few more options, including Reckless, which reduces the magazine size to 1 and cuts your health in half but increases weapon damage by 500 percent, making it a fantastic option for snipers. There’s also Barbaric, where attacks and movement speed become faster and each successful hit increases damage dealt, which is pretty much built for melee weapons. Even the suits get some nifty perks, like Enigmatic, which creates holograms in combat to bamboozle enemies, thus drawing aggro away from you.

Reworked Perks

Some of the older, less ideal perks are also getting changed. Take Space-Adept, for example. In its current form, it increases damage by 30 percent in space but decreases it by 15 percent planetside. For Free Lanes, the downside has been removed entirely, so as long as you’re in space, you get a huge boost.

New Weapon Skins

Crafting benches can have more of an identity thanks to faction-specific skins, and that extends to weapons as well. Bethesda has added “quite a few” new options to the mix, including the Crimson Fleet, Gilded, and so on. However, the existing Constellation and Neon skins also now support a greater range of weapons, extending customization even further.

All-In-One Outpost Module

As cool as shared-outpost storage and a Milliewhale pet can be, sometimes you just want to throw down a base on a desolate planet. A short stopover before going on your way. That’s where the new Elevated Cabin comes into play, serving as an all-in-one, fully furnished module with all the essentials. And you can still customize it as you see fit, moving or replacing the furniture entirely.

New Terran Armada Ship Parts

We’ve already gone over the new ship modules and how they enable functions like cloaking or an EMP. Of course, you’ll also find new Terran Armada ships that can be commandeered to your liking, but schematics of their parts also drop. This means you can outfit your own vessel with a “big new cockpit” and a double-decker habitable area. So if you want to bring a more tactical feel while traveling starside, it’s something else to get invested in.

Why It’s Not Starfield 2.0

Rumors have been claiming that this isn’t a “Starfield 2.0.” Todd Howard has been saying the same before the update’s reveal, and now lead creative producer Tim Lamb has reiterated the fact, once more. During a roundtable Q&A (via WccfTech), the latter said he would “push back” against the notion. “There’s a narrative baked into what that label would mean. We looked at a number of systems where we had interest or had heard things from the community, and we tried to level up a number of them.

“Free Lanes is huge, and getting it to work with all of the existing content we shipped at launch was significant. But I wouldn’t call it 2.0. A number of systems have been made incrementally better. We’ve added a ton of content. It’s the best version of Starfield.” To that end, Bethesda still has “things” that it wants to pursue in the future and teased how there’s a “lot more in the lore.” Regardless, if you’ve never played Starfield, then Free Lanes and Terran Armada would be the best time to jump in.