80 hours in, experiencing an enjoyment "plateau".
I have a 2nd shift job, so I usually stay up late with my partner, and sleep well into the morning. Yesterday, I woke myself up at 8 am in hopes of spending a few hours playing Crimson Desert before I had to get ready for work. I fired up the game and began wandering through the woods of Pailune, meandering in the direction of a quest marker, fought off some Mistwatch Hunters (or whatever they're called), completed one small quest objective... and in less than a half hour after starting the game, I found myself thinking "eh, I'd rather be sleeping." and I quit and went back to bed for another hour and a half.
Up til now, I've been very into the game. I survived the first 20 hours of underwhelming introductory quests because I knew it would get better eventually, and it did. I pushed through most of the camp expansions and I've gotten well into what SHOULD be the real meat of the game, and believe me, I've enjoyed my time thus far. But I'm starting to feel one thing more frequently than I would like: fatigue. I should be getting more invested as I go, seeing as I've survived the learning curve and gotten somewhat deep into the story... and yet, I feel like I've hit an enjoyment plateau. I've cleared enough enemy camps, fought enough bosses, and completed enough side quests to feel like I know exactly what to expect from the game, and because of that, I'm rapidly losing interest.
And this is in spite of the incredibly impressive open world (of which I haven't explored more than a third of the entire map), the varied combat system, and all the other mechanics that exist. I've completed most of the Hernand quests and I'm starting to work on Pailune. I've gotten into chapter 7 or 8, I think. After the initial siege that drives the Black Bears out of Pailune (the city).
I assumed that wanting to see the whole map would be enough motivation to push me through the game, because I've barely been to Demeniss and haven't set foot in Delysia or the Crimson Desert yet. Despite that, I find myself feeling like the game has no more surprises for me at this point, and it's just gonna be another 100 hours of clearing generic strongholds of generic enemies with slightly varied outfits, completing mediocre quests for nondescript NPC's, and all punctuated by the occasional semi-entertaining boss fight.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing this to trash the game. I've had fun with it thus far, and the game is very competent in the content it provides, but it's beginning to feel like just that: content. Not singular gameplay experiences and unforgettable moments... just content. The same basic quest structure with various new coats of paint. In short, I'm tired of fighting nothing but basic human cannon fodder enemies. IMO, the game needs more non-human mobs, monsters, beasts and/or supernatural beings. Minibosses. More one on one fights with singularly powerful enemies, rather than just groups of soldiers and bandits to cut through. Does that exist in the late game? Do I have anything in store that will change the way I'm feeling right now? Because I reeeally want to continue enjoying the game, and I'm not sure if the game is truly out of ideas, or if I'm just becoming jaded, or perhaps I'm experiencing a "lull" in the narrative and things are going to get exciting again before long.
Has anyone else experienced this mid-game "slump" that I'm feeling? Tell me it gets better, please. Because I don't want to give up on this game, more than 80 hours into it.