Review of “The First Berserker: Khazan”

After spending hours diving into The First Berserker: Khazan, I find myself completely worn out. My hands feel like lead, and my brain is barely functioning after being pushed to its limits by this intense game. It’s a gaming beast that demands near-perfect execution in its toughest battles. In a way, this extension of Neople’s Dungeon & Fighter universe felt like boot camp, tearing me down only to rebuild me as a formidable fighter ready to tackle its otherworldly horrors. Despite facing what seemed like insurmountable hurdles for hours, I somehow relished the challenge, as each fight took me right to the edge of my skills.

The story of The First Berserker: Khazan is a classic revenge saga. Khazan, once a renowned general, finds himself betrayed and branded a traitor by his empire. After suffering critical injuries during his capture, he’s resurrected and possessed by a chorus of warrior spirits urging him to follow their malevolent agenda. This spectral companion, known as the Blade Phantom, has its own arcane ambitions, while Khazan is driven by vengeance against his betrayers. Initially, this premise intertwines medieval political intrigue with dark forces seeping into the land, but the narrative soon falls flat and doesn’t delve any deeper.

Khazan’s vengeful journey unfolds through a series of missions rather than an open-world format, with intermissions at the Crevice — a sparse hub that’s visually intriguing but otherwise lacking in activity. This floating stone sanctuary, with its enigmatic broken staircases and distant platforms, mainly serves as a place to manage inventory before heading into the next mission. The interactions with villagers, supernatural advisors, and former allies add a touch of continuity to the narrative, but they’re largely superficial. The Crevice is more about the mechanics of picking up side quests or upgrading equipment than developing the game’s lore.

Khazan boasts an array of deadly tools — although mastering them took me quite a while. An introductory mission presents the game’s three primary weapon classes: the powerful yet sluggish greatsword, the swift but stamina-draining spear, and the dual blades that unleash a flurry of attacks. Each weapon offers a unique style, allowing for a range of combat tactics from defensive to fiercely aggressive.

The weapons are further augmented through an intricate skill tree that enhances Khazan’s combat prowess. You can tweak basic attacks, stamina usage, and even unlock new Spirit Point-consuming abilities. By the end of the 85-hour campaign, my Khazan’s playstyle had evolved dramatically, a result of countless adjustments and experiments. There are endless options to tailor Khazan’s abilities, making it enjoyable to discover the best combination to survive challenging battles.

The flexibility to switch between weapons is present, but swapping often demands a complete tactical shift due to their distinct abilities. Unlike Dark Souls, where weapons offer basic light and heavy attack variations, Khazan’s arsenal permits up to six specialized Spirit attacks with extensive skill tree customization. This complexity turned me toward favoring the dual blades, a choice I refined after each intense encounter. While reallocating skill points is technically feasible, the convoluted process made experimenting with different sets on the fly less appealing.

As you embark on Khazan’s missions, you’ll find familiar Soulslike territory. Whether navigating a desolate village, a crumbling castle, or a treacherous swamp, you’ll face relentless enemies, strategizing with limited healing items, and collecting spoils to level up at Blade Nexus points. Though the design sticks to well-trodden paths, it executes the cycle effectively, creating smartly interconnected levels with thoughtful shortcut integrations. However, the exploration aspect feels shallow, lacking secret areas or unexpected bosses that could have spiced up the primary levels.

Each mission culminates in a grueling boss fight — massive roadblocks that demand innovative strategies to conquer. For example, the end boss of Mission 2, a ferocious entity similar to Khazan himself, overwhelmed me with swift melee strikes. After multiple failed attempts, I had to rethink my approach entirely. Another challenging boss early on was a goat demon with fiery attacks, presenting a daunting showdown that prompted equipment and strategy adjustments.

Boss fights are punishingly tough, and early experiences can burn hours with minimal progress. While minor foes impart some lessons on boss tactics, the learning curve remains steep. Unlike other challenging games, where overpowered gear or excessive grinding provide relief, The First Berserker keeps you engaged in the struggle. Grinding for upgrades like Lacrima (the game’s version of souls) doesn’t simplify every challenge but forming new strategies through repeated encounters eventually makes progress feasible. These battles, despite their initial frustration, became my favorite parts of the game — their complexity and defiance honed my combat skills over time.

Two significant quality-of-life features supported my perseverance through this brutal journey. Firstly, each boss attempt accrues Lacrima based on damage dealt, aiding incremental upgrades for future efforts. Secondly, skill points operate independently from level progression, earned through combat experience rather than Lacrima exchanges. This allows unlocking new moves or enhancing existing talents, crucial for navigating stubborn obstacles.

As I advanced, equipping Khazan with superior gear became vital. Weapons, armor, and accessories offer various attribute enhancements, like fire resistance or stamina boosts, fundamentally supporting combat strategies. The strongest gear comes in sets, providing both aesthetic upgrades and bonuses encouraging specific playstyles. For instance, the Beastslayer set boosts specific attacks and damage output, though these enhancements, while significant, don’t drastically alter gameplay.

Additional post-mission side quests, centered in The Crevice or tied to mission bosses, offer opportunities for further strengthening and storytelling. These quests reimagine previous areas with new enemies and boss variants, offering gear crafting materials and additional narrative context absent from the main story. They help flesh out Khazan’s world, connecting players deeper into its elements.

Completing the game unlocked New Game+, introducing entirely new weapon classes with elemental attributes. While this brings a fresh twist, I wish some of these dynamic gear options had been available from the start, encouraging more drastic strategic pivots during the initial playthrough.

Ultimately, The First Berserker: Khazan is a grueling yet rewarding game that demands patience and resilience. Its challenging boss battles and strategic depth can lead to moments of genuine satisfaction and mastery that few games deliver.