The First Berserker: Khazan is a brutal Soulslike game that pushes players to their limits. Developed by South Korean studio Neople, the game shines on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It mixes old-school anime aesthetics with unique elements that keep it from feeling like a knockoff.
You play as Khazan, an exiled general possessed by a phantom. He sets out to investigate the imbalance between the worlds of the living and the dead. The story serves as a cool backdrop for the game’s engaging action.
Combat is crunchy and impactful. Numerous unlockable abilities allow for chaining attacks and moving swiftly. Fights revolve around stamina, with a unique twist.
A perfectly timed block depletes your enemy’s stamina while refilling your own. The game rewards aggressive play and risk-taking. Players can choose between three weapon styles: dual wield, greatsword, and lance.
Each has unique attack patterns and skill trees. Unlocked abilities use skill charges to execute powerful combos, adding strategy to battles. The game uses an overworld map for mission selection, avoiding sprawling open worlds.
Light exploration and straightforward environments contribute to the old-school energy. An easy mode is available for those who find the Soulslike difficulty daunting. The game includes a Phantom System, allowing you to summon dead warriors for buffs.
Khazan can also transform once a battle gauge is filled. The anime aesthetics and solid gameplay have kept me engaged so far. The First Berserker: Khazan is a classic revenge tale.
Khazan meets various characters as he ventures forth, but they don’t contribute much to the story. The hub area, The Crevice, is visually interesting but lacks exploration and flavor. Khazan has three types of weaponry: greatsword, spear, and dual blades.
Each weapon is unique and offers transformative move sets.
Khazan’s demanding and intense gameplay
Skill trees enhance Khazan’s effectiveness in battle.
Swapping between weapons is a hassle, so I’ve dedicated myself to the dual blades. The game’s structure is similar to other Soulslikes. Levels involve slaying enemies, surviving with limited healing items, and using spoils to level up.
It doesn’t add anything new, but it recreates the loop well. Boss fights are tooth-and-nail and represent substantial roadblocks. I struggled with early bosses, trying different strategies and builds.
Grinding and tanky builds didn’t help much. Learning each boss’s moves and tells is extra important. Some bosses burned upwards of five hours of my time.
These enemies tested my patience, but after overcoming the initial barrier and adapting my plan of attack, I became much more successful. The First Berserker: Khazan is a Soulslike that surpasses expectations with its relentless combat flow and stunning style. It serves as an origin story for Khazan, a once-glorious warrior banished into exile.
Guided by bloodlust and revenge, Khazan marches forward with the dark entity that resides within him. The game leans more closely to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice than your typical Soulslike. Duels consist of whittling your opponent’s stamina bar down until exhaustion, opening them up for an execution-style attack.
Khazan’s three unique weapons offer distinct styles of combat with dedicated skill trees. The execution is what really matters, and The First Berserker: Khazan nails it. Between its tight, responsive controls and flashy, polished presentation, combat feels overwhelmingly rewarding.
A generous window for parrying and dodging gives you enough wiggle room to survive, but mastering the timing helps give you the upper hand. There’s no large, interconnected world in the game. Each area is divided into separate stages on a larger map, all accessed from a singular hub world.
Exploration is encouraged, as you’ll often find recipes for new armor sets or crystals to upgrade your stats. Ultimately, The First Berserker: Khazan impresses on multiple fronts. While it may not have the most inspired atmosphere and world design, the fluidity of combat, the variety of weapon styles, and the stunning visuals make for an engaging and brutal experience.
It’s a perfect fit for fans of Soulslike games looking for something fresh yet familiar.
Photo by; Dominik Sostmann on Unsplash
