Review – The First Berserker: Khazan

Launched by Nexon, it is an ambitious attempt to expand the Dungeon Fighter online universe while fits in the increasingly crowded market by genre titles. Following steps previously treaded by Code Vein, it is a title that stands out for its stylized look and is accompanied by the expected visceral combat.

Developed by Neiple, the game takes us 800 years before the original MMO events, released in 2016, to explore the origin of Khazan, the legendary general who became the first Berserker. Although promising an epic and challenging experience, developers have made choices that can leave that bittersweet taste because of the initial difficulty or uninteresting history over the more than 40 hours.

Chosen by the sword

I arrived now and know nothing about this universe. All good! Nexon was concerned with enabling an environment with information necessary for you to enjoy the release of The First Berserker: Khazan through a narrative that develops a dark journey of revenge and redemption. After being unfairly accused of betrayal and suffering brutal torture, Khazan is saved by Blade Phantom, a supernatural entity that grants him devastating powers in exchange for his humanity. The plot unfolds on the continent of Arad, a scenario full of mysteries and dangers, while following the protagonist’s transformation into a legendary figure.

Although the premise is intriguing, the story of the game is lost amidst the attempt to emulate what could be a God of War with elements of the series created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, sinning for the lack of depth and uncomprising, with characters that cannot fully captivate the player. In the end, just like the many layers in Dark Souls, the excessive focus on combat ends up leaving the plot on a secondary role and available only to those who want to discover it. The result of this? Waste, for example, how the narrative develops the relationship between Khazan and Blade Phantom.

However, it is in the combat system that the game really shines. Inspired by classics like Nioh and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, The First Berserker: Khazan offers a fluid experience with levels dissolved at levels. Stamina management plays a central role for both the player and enemies, creating opportunities for brutal attacks called “brutal attacks”, with blows not only causes great damage, but also regenerating the protagonist’s stamina, encouraging an aggressive and calculated style. Khazan can also switch between three main weapons: double swords, spear and long sword, having specific skills trees that allow the player to further customization for the style of play. After all, the fighting require different approaches to fast and focused actions, accuracy and range, and heavy blows with devastating attacks.

The Souls Like style standard is present in the neopla game, carrying the mechanics to invoke NPCs, as well as games that served as a reference for this game, as well as the bonfires and maps divided into small worlds accessed through a central hub. The equipment set also follows the same logic and the way you invest your dedication to fighting ends up following the same rational: you know an enemy for the first time, learn your movement, tests your attack approach and repeats it until you can. As if that were not enough, even the unevenness between these bosses turns out to be quite apparent, after spending a lot of time in a single place or enemy and reaching a level of power or knowledge ahead of the next challenge. Almost like a very well choreographed dance, the developers have not hidden at any time that this is a game very close than from FROMSOFTWARE and Team Ninja have.

After all this, combat is still as the heart of experience, bringing focus on dodging, parry and stamina management, central characteristics of this genre. Exhaust mechanics, which occurs when the stamina bar is fully consumed, creates strategic moments for both the player and enemies. This approach encourages a style of play that rewards precision and patience, allowing more experienced players to explore the nuances of systems. In addition, the game introduces enemies that require accurate attacks to be defeated, adding an extra layer of complexity to combat.

A good addition to the genre

Visually, The First Berserker: Khazan impresses with his Cel-Shaded style that mixes realistic textures with an anime-inspired aesthetic, enabling the artistic direction and the world of Arad a unique charm by combining vibrant environments with shades and reflecting the protagonist’s brutal journey well. The soundtrack also deserves prominence by complementing the epic tone of the experience. Compositions are intense during bosses and melancholy battles in exploitable areas, although they are not particularly memorable or innovative.

The phase design follows a linear structure with checkpoints called “Blade Nexus”, in an almost primitive format of the genre, demonstrating some lack of innovation in Level Design, which may seem repetitive after a few hours. The game also does not save players of extreme difficulty, with challenging bosses and require mastery of combat mechanics, as well as accurate reading standards. However, the initial difficulty of difficulty can end up driving away the most inexperienced or curious players because it is excessively punitive, even before they can appreciate what the developers propose for the game.

Although the game does not bring radical innovations to the genre, The First Berserker: Khazan is a brutal journey that requires dedication, as is expected of a legitimate Soulslike -style representative. It was clear the attempt of developers to follow a fashion of a well -established genre while seeking to favor accessible experience, albeit with a lot of learning. The combat combination, customization of the protagonist’s combat style, and the design of a world full of paths that lead to the last boss make the title stand out as a memorable addition to the Soulslike collection.

For those players seeking intense and rewarding combat, it is certainly worth playing, but for those who expect a more balanced experience between gameplay and history can end up frustrated.