Soulslike games occur in many flavors . Some emphasize parrying enemy attack likeSekiro : tincture Die doubly , while others completely rely on dodging them , likeBlack Myth : Wukong . When I playedThe First Berserker : Khazan , I was look forrard to see where its mechanism pass within the Soulslike spectrum . It turns out that it ’s squarely in the middle .
Up until a boss battle against a giant bipedal ox , I was sidestep every individual attack . I in conclusion see the value in dodging instead of evade when its flaming weapon inflict poker chip damage even though my parry timing was perfect . That genus Bos battle taught me that I could n’t solely rely on block and I need to employ every tool in my outfit to hold up .
The First Berserker : Khazanhas some of the most balanced defensive and offensive combat scheme I ’ve experienced in aSoulslike plot , as well as some rich progress . However , some frustrating boss mechanic , braindead AI , and nonplus mission structure guard it back from pass its full potentiality .
Standing out from the pack
The First Berserker : Khazanis a Soulslike RPG spin - off of Dungeon and Fighter , a side - scrolling pulse - em ’ up franchise . It conform to a disgraced general named Khazan who is incorrectly accused of being a double-dealer . He constitute a pact with an entity call off the Blade Phantom , who cede him supernatural powers to get retaliation on those who wronged him . The game play like a prequel to the Dungeon and Fighter serial , as it narrate the ancestry of the Khazan Syndrome , an complaint pass down to Berserkers that make increased lastingness at the cost of mental debasement .
While its story is n’t the most original , it ’s much more ordered than your typical Soulslike game . Unlike games likeElden Ring , which is filled with sibylline traditional knowledge , TheFirst Berserker ’s story is relatively easy to come after as Khazan continuously recruits new allies to his revenge pursuance .
The First Berserkerutilizes an anime aesthetic that ’s most interchangeable to Bandai Namco ’s own Soulslike , Code Vein , but with much more cel - shading . Its tone is edgy and brooding , but the saturated colors counterpoint nicely and pop in the character models and surround , making it stand out compared to the plethora of Soulslike games with dull and muted coloration palette .
Many inspirations
The armed combat feel like it drive inspiration from a variety of contemporaries in its subgenre , especiallySekiro . Khazan can parry enemy attacks to reduce their stamina and break their posture . He can also dodge incoming attack like inBlack Myth : Wukongand timing them perfectly lets Khazan impose speedy counterattacks . This makesThe First Berserker ’s combat feel like the dependable of both creation , but that comes with a major downside .
foreman and enemies are very aggressive like inBloodborneandLies of atomic number 15 , often attacking in chains with multiple hits . Stamina does n’t recover fast enough to keep up with these constant hits , though . I often felt that my posture kept getting broken . Sekirodidn’t have a stamina taproom for duck , which is what made its sidestep mechanic feel fair . Even with stat upgrade that boosted Khazan ’s toughness convalescence rate , it did n’t palpate like it was enough to defy constant onslaught of attack .
Even though I was constantly getting my fanny kicked , at least I was draw a smidge of procession each time .
Thankfully , there ’s some tractableness with Khazan ’s skill tree . Of his three available weapons , the dual wield sword and axe , the greatsword , and the spear , I felt that the shaft fit my playstyle the good with its long reaching and wide attack range . I was able to put science points into specific spear techniques as well as upgrade my countermove to give myself even more defensive alternative . attainment points can be turn back and reinvested at no extra toll , which adds to the system ’s versatility .
One standout feature thatThe First Berserkerhas is that it gives players Lacrima ( this game ’s version of experience points ) upon pall in a boss conflict . Like in many other Soulslike games , I pass hour trying to kill certain bosses , but made no advance . calculate on how close I was to overcome the boss , I bring in more Lacrima . It ’s almost a mini roguelite system : Even though I was perpetually get my backside kicked , at least I was make a smidge of progress each fourth dimension .
Khazan can call on an ally for help during boss engagement , and it work likewise toLies of P. By fighting copies of himself found at random fleck in levels , Khazan can earn a consumable called a Shard of Advocacy to summon allies . Allies inflicting additional damage or being distractions is helpful , but the AI is n’t very helpful . In one particular fight , I fought a boss that could create areas of fire that constantly drained HP . My ally simply would n’t move out of the fire , leading to its early dying . Another hirer had an attack that would suck up me in , but could be easily avoided by running or dodging backwards . My friend never did that and die at that power point of the battle every single time .
Tying the power to cite friend to a consumable is frustrating , especially when adjudicate to grow for them . Sometimes it does n’t experience worth it considering how easily allies can snuff it . I feel like I ’d be better off fighting the boss alone most of the time .
Growing pains
While the fight is mixed , The First Berserker ’s level design is top snick , satisfy with accessible shortcuts to make getting to honcho easier . turn down drawbridges , ascertain cay to locked door , and activating elevator all felt vastly satisfying after push my way through hordes of monsters .
Whenever Khazan run to a unexampled level , he starts a commission . instrumentalist progress through the levels and dungeons as common , unlocking save points along the means like any normal Soulslike game . However , Khazan ca n’t warp between any of them . That is n’t inherently a job , but it ’s compounded with one incredibly baffling mission social organisation conclusion : If you require to go to a new degree , the full progress of the current level is reset .
While the save tip unlocked will still be available , every individual door and puzzle needs to be done again . This stifles turn back and geographic expedition . There was one special horizontal surface and save point that I found that was everlasting for farm Shards of Advocacy . However , once I depart the floor to do a side missionary work in another level , I was unable to promptly get at that same country again and would have to go through the total dungeon once more just to do so . Farming for the consumable was plaguy enough , but get to redo the donjon to reach that same period was even worse .
Equipment like weapons and armour are dropped by enemies or launch in chests , andThe First Berserker ’s loot system is one of the most manageable I ’ve play in late store . It does n’t overtake players with fresh drop every five seconds like other Soulslike games , such asNioh , do , and there are plenty of ways of using old equipment you do n’t wear any longer . you may simply sell them for amber , or dismantle it to earn some Lacrima to go towards increasing Khazan ’s stats . Additionally , old equipment can be consumed to change the attributes of other equipment or increase their grade . The summons is fantastically flowing and I never feel like my old equipment was going to waste .
The First Berserker : Khazanreally tested my solitaire , even more so than other Soulslike games . It almost made me want to snap my restrainer in half at time . But as elusive as its foreman were , its systems are easy to compass . Even with some confutative design choice in the mission bodily structure and issues with the manner stamina is wield , the game ’s whippy scrap made me want to see the journeying through . Khazan may be the first Berserker , but I was n’t far behind myself ; I must have caught Khazan Syndrome the way I was lose my idea play this plot .
The First Berserker : Khazanwas tested on Xbox Series X.
