Black Desert

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. PlayStation Universe
    Aug 30, 2019
    75
    Black Desert does a lot right but a lot of it is hard to experience with little to no tutorial and technical issues that never really let up. It's clear that the current generation of console just isn't quite up to handling a game of this magnitude, but even so Black Desert provides an epic and frequently beautiful MMORPG experience.
  2. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Aug 30, 2019
    60
    There are neat bits and pieces here, but it all feels messy and undercooked.
  3. COGconnected
    Aug 29, 2019
    60
    Ultimately, Black Desert on PS4 is very user-friendly, and looks fantastic when running at a premium performance level. But while Black Desert’s aesthetic prowess and customizable sandbox experience is an achievement in the world of MMOs, it’s not a game that offers enough enticement in the minute-to-minute gameplay — or even in the grander, month-to-month scope of things — to leave me thirsty for more.
  5. Push Square
    Aug 27, 2019
    60
    Black Desert is rougher than a badger's behind, and the simple combat won't blow anyone's skirt up, but the game does have upsides. The world is fleshed out and fun to explore, the side activities are more amusing than the campaign, and the character creation is superb. This is the sort of game that will undoubtedly appeal to a small subset of people who are more than happy to accept the uglier technical issues as the admission price to a well realised world full of things to do.
  6. Cubed3
    Nov 18, 2019
    50
    Black Desert successfully ticks all the requisite boxes expected from an MMORPG, but it doesn't really push the envelope forward in any meaningful way. While there are a number of jarring performance issues that tarnish the overall experience, it can still deliver an enjoyable, if slightly hollow, time-filler when consumed in small doses. However Pearl Abyss has failed to sidestep the common concerns that tend to plague the genre as a whole. It just feels like a lot of needless, repetitive busy time, designed to prolong user engagement and drive micro-transactions which ultimately, leads to an unavoidable feeling of ennui.

User Reviews

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User Score
3.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 58
  3. Negative: 39 out of 58
  1. HayvenMoses
    Sep 15, 2019
    4
    Im so tired of buying games that are such a mess,how do these companies get away with releasing a game this buggy? This game is nothing likeIm so tired of buying games that are such a mess,how do these companies get away with releasing a game this buggy? This game is nothing like they show it to be,it has so many issues,the frame rates are terrible,the pop ins are just as bad.The only thing thats good about it is its massive and has tons of missions and things to do,if I could only enjoy it with all the issues. I can only hope the new systems will be able to handle games like this,but as for now this games a wait.… Full Review »
  2. Teela
    Sep 4, 2019
    4
    First few hours i was like YAY! this is great, but now i'm so confused.
    It tries to be like alternative life simulator, but that turn against    First few hours i was like YAY! this is great, but now i'm so confused.
    It tries to be like alternative life simulator, but that turn against itself. There is so much stuff that I’m overwhelmed. The game does not explain anything.
    1. Example: i have a dog, but I don’t know what to feed him or where to buy it???
    2. Example: I tried to buy a bow for myself at the market. Bought it even twice and payed it twice, but never received anything.
    Good thing is that I didn’t pay more than 20 euros for this.    … Full Review »
  3. kor5000
    Aug 22, 2019
    1
    Beautiful graphics, interesting combat... but otherwise, an absolute buggy mess. NPC's glitch out and are stuck in the walls, they pathBeautiful graphics, interesting combat... but otherwise, an absolute buggy mess. NPC's glitch out and are stuck in the walls, they path through walls. The grammar is awful and typos abound. I understand the game was not initially released in English, but at least run it against a spellchecker! I truly do not understand how a company could make such a beautiful game, graphics wise, and then utterly ruin it with bugs and glitches. This is the only PS4 game I ever actually requested a refund for because it was so disappointing. I've played a lot of MMORPGs over the years... this takes the cake as the most unpolished.… Full Review »
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