The First Berserker: Khazan review

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Back in 2014 when Lords of the Fallen dropped, it was intriguing to witness another dev stepping up to emulate From Software’s Souls-inspired gameplay. Fast forward a few years, and the genre is booming, even Star Wars got into the act. Yet, another big-budget soulslike title doesn’t seem unique or groundbreaking anymore. So what does The First Berserker: Khazan offer that sets it apart? What original twist or exotic setting makes this soulslike game stand out? Frankly, I can’t spot one. To put it bluntly, it seems to be a blend of ideas from Nioh, with a dash of Sekiro’s parrying mechanic on top.

Khazan offers nothing new, but it might just be the most enjoyable soulslike game I’ve played in years.

As General Khazan, a revered war hero falsely accused of treason by a cowardly monarch, you find yourself in a desperate situation after your arm tendons are brutally cut. In a moment of despair, you strike a deal with a towering figure known as the Blade Phantom, who bestows upon you the ability to defy death. With this newfound power, you embark on a mission to bring justice to those who betrayed you and clear your name.

Indeed, it’s not quite Shakespearean. The narrative, unfortunately, is one of the game’s less compelling aspects, offering a generic tale of revenge where you eliminate various flat, stereotypical villains and supporting characters. To add to the disappointment, most of the plot is presented through narrated slide shows. Admittedly, the writers appear to be constrained by the fact that this is essentially a prequel (in spirit) to Dungeon Fighter Online, a popular free-to-play beat ’em up from the same developers. However, it’s hard to see even dedicated fans of that original game becoming deeply engaged with

The primary missions involve battling various opponents and mini-bosses, illuminating bonfires, and discovering shortcuts as you progress. Afterward, you’ll face off against a boss. Sadly, this adventure, much like Khazan, is marred by the fact that the experience leading up to these battles seems more like an obligatory step. They attempt to add variety through puzzles, but for the most part, your journey consists of moving from one place to another and eliminating everything in your path.

Over time, the repetitiveness of encountering similar enemies becomes increasingly monotonous. Initially, battling lizardmen was an exciting novelty, but by the fourth main mission when they served as the primary antagonists, I found myself growing weary of defeating them repeatedly. It’s not just the types of adversaries that become tiresome; it’s also the predictable layout of levels that makes the entire experience feel mundane. I grew tired of frequent occurrences where the game would present a large mini-boss, followed by a group of archers, and consider that a battle.




As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel that even when I dive deeper into the side missions, they often seem to rehash elements from the main storyline. While some maps are creatively repurposed, introducing intriguing puzzles or previously inaccessible paths, it’s rare for these missions to introduce fresh enemy types. In fact, every side mission I encountered ended with a familiar boss, who seemed to be nothing more than a reskinned version of those I fought during the main story. One quest even tried to justify this by claiming the final boss was the twin brother of my previous adversary. Khazan, I’m not blind – I can see you slapped a helmet on the last boss model and called it a day.

Though bosses may reoccur more frequently than desired, they compensate for it in a crucial aspect: they are formidable adversaries. Not only do they unleash unavoidable strikes, but they also possess complex combo sequences, sometimes as long as ten attacks. Additionally, they utilize audio cues to signal grabs, and their attacks can inflict negative status effects even when blocked. Moreover, some of their moves cover vast areas within the arena. The yetis and demons summoned by Khazan are relentless in their assaults. Even hardcore fans of the genre might argue that I’m understating the challenge here, but the truth is, this soulslike could very well be one of the toughest I’ve played, primarily due to its formidable boss battles.

In essence, despite its apparent aggressiveness, Khazan maintains a sense of fairness by equipping you with an abundance of defensive resources. Although it may seem restrictive at first, with just three weapons – the Dual Wield, the Greatsword, and the Spear – it mirrors the style found in Nioh more closely. Each weapon type has its own skill tree, offering unique special moves, movement choices, and boosts, ensuring they each play differently. I found that even focusing primarily on the Dual Wield throughout my gameplay didn’t lead to monotony due to the steady advancement of the skill tree.

The key lies in mastering the use of these blades. You’ve got four strategies to fend off adversaries: dodge, block, parry, and employ the counterattack technique to deflect unavoidable attacks. However, by executing a well-timed dodge or block at the right moment, you can trigger special versions known as “brink” variants. These will aid in restoring your stamina or redirecting damage back towards your opponent.

Such encounters lead to intense, fulfilling battles that I haven’t experienced since Sekiro. The thrill comes from flawlessly mirroring the beast’s 30-second combo or skillfully parrying a massive monster and draining half of its stamina bar. There are no easy shortcuts or loopholes; instead, you need to focus intently and execute a flawless strategy each time. It’s challenging, but there’s an indescribable sense of accomplishment when you outwit a precisely timed and lethally rhythmic game reminiscent of Dance Dance Revolution.

Despite the genre’s appeal to me, I can overlook many flaws in Khazan due to its intense battles. However, I cannot ignore that the game has numerous weaknesses beyond those epic fights. If it were a more compact adventure (completing which takes approximately 80 hours), some of the issues I’ve pointed out might not appear as significant. Instead, it leaves me in a state of ambivalence. I find myself mourning its repetitive and often redundant campaign while simultaneously praising its immersive, detailed combat sequences. There are challenging boss fight rewards hidden within Khazan for fans of soulslike games, but it’s unfortunate that you have to sift through piles of dull levels and hordes of monotonous enemies to get to them.

This review is based on a review build provided by the publisher.

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2025-03-24 18:27