Crimson Moon Reviews
Crimson Moon is what happens when you combine Soulslikes, Roguelikes, and tie it together with good music. A good time for action fans.
At the end of the day, Crimson Moon doesn’t need to reinvent the Soulslike genre to be worth your time. It knows exactly what it wants to be, a quick, loot-heavy romp you can tackle solo or with a friend, and it does that well enough to earn a spot in your rotation. The camera hiccups and a few control quirks keep it from being a home run, but for $20, it’s an easy recommendation. Sometimes a game doesn’t have to blow you away to be worth playing, and Crimson Moon proves that.
While its less-than-stellar features can be a game-breaker for some, Crimson Moon is an engaging, unique game that offers several great features.
Crimson Moon has a very short honeymoon period before the repetition sets in, and it becomes clear that there isn’t much content or randomization to be found in the game. The great armor designs are definitely something to note, but even that is unfortunately soured by the lack of a transmog system, forcing you to choose between either looking or performing your best. Its biggest draw at the moment is its straightforward co-op gameplay in a souls-like style, something the genre desperately lacks, but it’s difficult to find the drive to keep going on runs when the map and enemy variety, as well as the slow meta-progression system, don’t provide many incentives. Hopefully Crimson Moon finds more ways to keep the player engaged in the future, but in its current state, it feels somewhat incomplete.
Overall, Crimson Moon is a solid, highly accessible action game that succeeds by focusing on fast-paced, "run-the-gauntlet" combat, deep gear customization, visceral executions, and a standout symphonic metal soundtrack. While its weak narrative, repetitive side quests, and limited execution animations prevent it from reaching greater heights, it remains a thoroughly enjoyable experience if you go in with managed expectations.