As a seasoned RPG enthusiast who’s journeyed through countless worlds, I must say that “The First Berserker: Khazan” has truly caught my eye at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. With its intriguing balance of weighty animations and responsive controls, it’s a dance I can’t wait to twirl to again!
Regardless of how you choose to classify them, “Hardcore Action RPGs” have quickly blossomed into a truly international genre – and Nexon and Neople’s The First Berserker: Khazan is just the latest in a long line of them that have released in the past few years. We’ve known about it for a while, but we had our chance to finally go hands-on with the game during this year’s Tokyo Game Show – and we’re pretty happy with what we got to play.
After just a short time using the controller, I’m already eager for another opportunity to get my hands on it again; The First Berserker manages an impressive balance between heavy animations that are still responsive, and Khazan moves smoothly. Players can employ both light and heavy attacks, with heavy attacks allowing Khazan to build up power for more damage against both defense and health. However, shielded enemies can easily deflect lighter attacks, so players must work on breaking their guard first before they can effectively use the faster light attack combination.
Besides common skills that seasoned gamers of this genre might recognize, there are additional capabilities worth noting: Stealthily approaching an adversary to inflict heavy damage with a stealth attack is one such skill. Catching an enemy off guard enables a swift plunge attack to eliminate them quickly. Drawing inspiration from Sekiro, every opponent possesses a stamina gauge; deplete their Stamina either by inflicting damage or perfectly blocking attacks, and you can unleash a particularly potent strike when they’re vulnerable. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to monitor this transformation personally, in an interview with the development team, it was revealed that one of the primary goals during production was to depict Khazan’s progressive growth throughout the game, including the unlocking of abilities that significantly boost his agility. Initially, the game appears to be faster-paced than its peers, but according to what we’ve heard, combat should become increasingly intricate as you progress deeper into the game.
Beyond the gameplay, perhaps the first thing that stands out with The First Berserker: Khazan is its presentation. We had the chance to play it on a PC, running the game at 4K and high framerates – and it was absolutely gorgeous, with a frankly shocking number of details, like the blood dripping off of Khazan and staining itself in the snow beneath him in the opening moments of the game. It’s not just the fidelity, though, the game’s artstyle isn’t afraid to be overwhelming at points. The game’s equivalent to bonfires – shattered, Eldritch swords – bathe the game in a crimson light when interacted with. Normally I’d expect something like that to be an eyesore, but I found it was handled tastefully enough to fit the mood. Not just realistic or overly stylized, Khazan offers a very striking visual identity that feels very easy to fall in love with. The ethereal nature of whatever the hell was up with that orb in the sky leaves one with a ton of questions – one I’m sure I could find an answer to if I opted to dig into it, but I’m content with waiting for my next chance to dig into Khazan, instead.
Although I’m not a fan of DNF, I must admit there are several aspects that have me quite intrigued. The foundation of the story is captivating, as stories about righteous revenge always hold an allure, especially when they include transformations along the journey. Additionally, the inclusion of journals scattered throughout the level I played provides a unique perspective, revealing the enemy’s thoughts and making them more than just generic adversaries in the game world. Whether these elements will develop further remains to be seen, but it’s a promising start compared to some other games I’ve played. Furthermore, the fact that we only sampled one weapon type suggests there are more to discover, adding an extra layer of excitement as I look forward to seeing how well-rounded the gameplay becomes. For instance, while I can praise Khazan’s moveset, trying out a single weapon type hints at the variety of fighting styles that await us in the full game.
In simpler terms, although Khazan is based on an existing IP, it offers much more than just a tale set within the same universe. The developers have made clear efforts in crafting Khazan, from his moves and animations to the storyline, aiming to create a game that appeals to everyone, regardless of their background with DNF. This dedication is evident and impressive, even at this early stage in development. What’s more, Khazan already feels like a well-rounded RPG, which bodes extremely well for the game’s potential final version.
As a gaming enthusiast, whether you’re diving into DNF for the first time or revisiting it as a seasoned fan, The First Berserker: Khazan seems like a game that deserves a closer look. Keep your eyes peeled for our comprehensive review as we gear up for its 2025 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam). In the coming days, you’ll find our exclusive interview with the development team right here, so stay tuned!
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2024-09-28 10:25