An explosive first step into the souls-like arena, The First Berserker: Khazan combines deep combat and engaging storytelling.
Neople rarely comes up in discussions about Souls-like games. Known for live-service titles and the long-running Dungeon Fighter Online franchise, their entry into the genre with The First Berserker: Khazan is a surprising but intriguing move.
While other spin-offs, such as DNF Duel, have not made much of a mark, The First Berserker: Khazan, the DFO universe, enters the action-adventure genre with a game that is surprisingly impressive for its maiden outing. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it clearly establishes itself as a worthwhile entry with fierce combat, meaningful growth, and a protagonist-driven narrative—something uncommon in Soulslike titles.
In The First Berserker: Khazan, you control Khazan, the powerful general of the Pelos Empire. Khazan, a hero who helped destroy the berserk dragon Hisar alongside his best friend Osma, has his life turned upside down when the emperor, envious of his growing fame, accuses him of treason.
Tortured and exiled to the frigid highlands of Mount Heimach, Khazan’s adventure may have finished there, but fate intervenes when an avalanche awakens the Blade Phantom, a mysterious being that tries to merge with Khazan’s body. Khazan strikes an agreement with the Phantom, gaining fresh power as he sets out to seek revenge against his traitors.
Although the story in The First Berserker: Khazan has many surprising turns and memorable scenes, especially with Khazan and the Blade Phantom, character development is lacking. Their interplay could have been better developed since their contrasting personalities create interesting possibilities that are not completely realized. Often disappearing into the background after a few quick encounters, the supporting characters also get too little focus.
That said, the game does a remarkable job of establishing an immersive environment, moving you to a continent inhabited by magicians, dragons, and fantastical creatures. The incorporation of a relationship path will allow a more complete exploration of character interactions for those who enjoy the open world and mythology.
The First Berserker: Khazan‘s gameplay is quite remarkable. The game balances severe, rewarding combat with a progression system that allows for amazing customization by combining elements from Souls-like games and titles like Nioh.
The game truly shines in its combat due to its fluid animations, effective hit-stop systems, and a well-paced rhythm that makes every strike appear strong. Every weapon has its distinct feel and provides a variety of playstyles that let you change your method of combat, whether you use twin blades, a Greatsword, or Khazan’s spear.
Although combat is quick and violent, it requires patience and skill, especially when dealing with bosses. You will need both of these qualities. For the purpose of surviving the more difficult fights, it is vital to learn how to dodge, parry, and understand the attack patterns of your opponents. Combat now has “burst counter” moves, which were derived from Nioh. If you are able to carry out these activities with precision, you will be rewarded with an increased level of satisfaction from the task.
The First Berserker: Khazan’s customization is also a significant feature; Khazan has a global tree that is shared by all weapons, and each weapon has its own comprehensive skill tree. There is a greater strategic component to the fighting system because of the abilities of spirit power.
The more you progress through the game, the more skills and powers you will earn, and this allows you to experiment with a variety of different builds, playstyles, and strategies. Additionally, gears are of great significance because they contain random features and set bonuses that give additional benefits. While the gear system is less intricate than in some other ARPGs, it still allows for a lot of customization, especially when combined with Phantom upgrades, which provide passive boosts to your character.
Fighting in The First Berserker: Khazan is quick, harsh, and gratifying. Unlike other Souls games, which emphasize a careful “I go, you go” attitude, Khazan prefers a more forceful, reaction-based approach. Khazan wields three distinct weapon types—greatswords, spears, and dual blades—each with its own skill tree and playstyle.
All three are crucial: dodging, protecting, and countering. Good dodges save stamina, and well-timed defenses lower harm. Finding openings calls for a close analysis of enemy movesets since their assaults are relentless. The game also features a stamina-breaking system whereby reducing an enemy’s stamina meter allows them to launch deadly counterattacks.
The First Berserker: Khazan‘s highlight is its boss fights, which include some of the genre’s best opponent design. With fast, fair signals that make every fight seem exciting, these battles call for accuracy. Early boss Viper is particularly remarkable as a major skill test, maybe modified for the game’s level. Later, bosses don’t seem as tough, which helps to offset the difficulty curve.
Combat now has “burst counter” moves, which were derived from Nioh. If you are able to carry out these activities with precision, you will be rewarded with an increased level of satisfaction from the task. Though the game doesn’t go into details and explain it at first, which might lead some players to be unhappy, a summoning function lets Khazan call Phantom soldiers to help him in boss fights. Once understood, it is a helpful tool for controlling more challenging battles without ignoring their importance.
The game’s equivalent of souls serves as a means of improving Khazan’s abilities. You can improve Khazan’s powers and equipment with Laca, which is obtained by completing objectives and defeating enemies. However, the game’s design sort of forces you to grind, which seems rather a fulfilling component of this game’s loop. The game also has to offer collecting relics, including Soul Stones and Jarlings, that provide ongoing improvements and send you back to previous locations.
Visually, The First Berserker: Khazan is notable for the colorful settings and people it portrays. The level design becomes more complex as you progress through the game, including verticality, hiding spots, and secret passageways that enhance the joy of discovering every area.
Though The First Berserker: Khazan’s level design starts somewhat linearly, it gets more complicated as you advance. Every area has a unique look, which helps to keep the visual attractiveness and interest of the game. From massive temples packed with traps to spider-infested tunnels, these locations vary.
The game’s art direction brings the Dungeon Fighter Online world to life in a way that is both familiar and creative. The game’s realistic settings reflect the gloomy and grim tone of the narrative, while the overall visuals provide a pleasing experience that helps to enhance the whole play.
The sound design is yet another amazing feature. It is also impressive how well the English voice acting is done, which gives Khazan’s image more legitimacy. In warfare, sound cues are essential because they alert people to attacks from their adversaries and enable them to respond in a split second. Even though it is not very distinctive, the audio contributes to the intensity of the combat and exploration, enhancing the overall experience without being overpowering.
The First Berserker: Khazan is a fascinating souls-like that stands out for its unique protagonist, precise fighting mechanics, and overwhelmingly rewarding difficulty. Although the story and open-world mechanics could be better, the moment-to-moment gameplay is among the finest in the category.
The First Berserker: Khazan’s mission-based framework, varied level design, and exceptional boss battles make it a must-play for action game lovers, regardless of their knowledge of the Dungeon Fighter Online cosmos.
