The First Berserker: Khazan is an intriguing title for Dungeon and Fighter followers because it shines a lightweight on one of many extra mysterious characters in Dungeon Fighter On-line, that’s, Khazan himself. Although technically a prequel, it’s additionally an alternate retelling of the story (as evidenced by a number of occurrences that aren’t at present canon in DFO). Nevertheless, most of you might be most likely desperate to expertise his journey after taking part in the demo and being pleasantly stunned by the fight and aesthetic. And that’s utterly truthful – simply be warned that the remainder of the sport doesn’t rise a lot past that stage.
The story of Khazan begins post-betrayal. After defeating the Berserk Dragon, Hismar, and being hailed as a hero by the Pell Los Empire, he’s all of a sudden tortured by the Emperor and exiled. In the meantime, Ozma, his greatest buddy and closest ally, has already been executed. So, for all justifiable causes, Khazan desires revenge. In his incapacitated state, the mysterious Blade Phantom ambushes his convoy in Heinmach Move and possesses Khazan.
“Other than a reminder right here and there that he’ll take revenge on the Emperor, there isn’t a lot introspection or character improvement. We get some flashbacks to the warfare in opposition to the Berserk Dragon, however for probably the most half, I’ve so little info on Khazan as an individual…”
By just a few twists and turns, the duo in the end type a pact – Khazan will borrow the Phantom’s energy to take out the Emperor and his betrayers whereas the Phantom has a automobile to finish duties for his grasp, Charon. There’s seemingly extra to the Phantom than meets the attention whereas Khazan should additionally cope with different troubling developments all through the Empire.
I wrote a number of months again about how revenge paired with anger presents a singular introspection into a personality’s psyche. Khazan was brutally tortured with the tendons in his limbs severed in spite of everything, and his greatest buddy, and closest ally, was murdered. That’s some deep-seated and long-term trauma there, one which warrants nearer inspection and will make for compelling drama. Moreover, there’s loads of distinction to supply in opposition to Khazan’s present actions of brutally slaughtering residents of the Empire that he as soon as swore to guard.
However there’s little or no of that. Other than a reminder right here and there that he’ll take revenge on the Emperor, there isn’t a lot introspection or character improvement. We get some flashbacks to the warfare in opposition to the Berserk Dragon, however for probably the most half, I’ve so little info on Khazan as an individual – aside from he doesn’t like being betrayed – that it’s weird. Wasn’t the entire concept of the title to flesh him out extra as a personality? As an alternative, this feels extra like Epic Medieval Fantasy Quest The Recreation Starring Khazan From the Dungeon and Fighter collection.
It additionally doesn’t assist that his revenge tour meanders after the primary few missions, devolving into introducing different characters who additionally don’t develop a lot. There are perfunctory twists and turns, some pretty telegraphed and others that gained’t be in the least stunning to DFO gamers. Although it considerably ties collectively all these disparate instructions right into a cohesive objective and finale, it’s nowhere close to assembly the expectations of Khazan slicing a bloody swathe on the trail of vengeance.
The voice solid, particularly Ben Starr, does their damndest to lend some gravitas and weight to those eventualities. You’d assume Starr could be good for this sort of character, particularly after taking part in Clive from Ultimate Fantasy 16, however his vary feels oddly restricted and diminished, and that makes me care about Khazan even much less. The closely marketed “rage” seems interminably, but it surely’s not one thing that’s actually inherently constructed upon in Khazan’s character.
“Perhaps it’s as a result of a number of missions happen in dank caves with muted shade palettes that don’t depart a lot to the creativeness. Perhaps the places I used to be trying ahead to didn’t meet expectations as a result of story set-up.”
Contemplating the fantasy setting and intonations, the solid’s skill to attract you in is enough. Even the bit gamers whose horrified voices echo their grisly fates when absorbing Lacrima are value noting. If solely the remainder of the plot helped maintain the participant engaged. Whereas among the dialogue is suitable – nothing significantly particular or memorable – some traces prompted a double-take at how terribly written they had been, and no quantity of unimaginable voice-acting fixes that.
On some stage, I blame the general structure of the story. As soon as your base, The Crevice, is launched, you enterprise out and full missions. Upon returning, maybe you’ll work together with the slowly rising pool of characters and repeat. With little memorable traits or room to develop, their actual purpose to exist is to supply non-compulsory missions to Khazan or grow to be distributors. You can hassle choosing totally different dialogue selections and listening to them out, however they hardly ever provide something attention-grabbing, a lot much less facilitate any significant dialogue, by no means thoughts fueling some development for Khazan.
From a gameplay perspective, the mission design – and even how new areas open up – is similar to Nioh 1 and 2. Enter right into a mission, possibly converse with one of many nothing characters who gave you the fetch quest, and transfer on. Each Nioh titles had the benefit of being set throughout a real-life historic interval in Japan. Even when the transition between plot factors wasn’t all the time clean, you can level to totally different historic figures, their habits and involvement, and floor your self within the circumstances.
The fantasy setting of Khazan makes it way more difficult, particularly for many who know nothing about Dungeon and Fighter. Heck, even followers gained’t have a lot to go on in addition to recognizing the names of locations and numerous enemy sorts.
Developer Neople does insert some notes and letters that try to supply extra context on what’s occurring on some ranges, explaining away the corpses and/or vile experiments, but it surely’s not sufficient. Perhaps it’s as a result of a number of missions happen in dank caves with muted shade palettes that don’t depart a lot to the creativeness. Perhaps the places I used to be trying ahead to didn’t meet expectations as a result of story set-up. Perhaps it’s simply the underwhelming environmental story-telling that reinforces the simple mission-based construction.
“This brings us to maybe probably the most optimistic side of the expertise – fight. The First Berserker is a Souls-like, leaning extra in the direction of Nioh (and the sequel’s Burst Counters), and as such, you unlock skills and chain them along with Talent Factors.”
In any other case, the extent layouts are high-quality. Between flattening ladders for shortcuts, deactivating obstacles with switches and ascending to the highest for an elevator that leads again to a Blade Nexus (the de facto bonfire), it’s nothing structurally totally different from what you’ve seen in different titles. Is that lone enemy within the room actually alone, or is there one other enemy on both facet of the door that may assault as quickly as I enter? Traditional Souls-like stuff, but additionally extremely cliche.
Nevertheless, the pacing feels proper, and Neople does put some first rate spins in locations, frivolously taking part in with verticality and environmental hazards. Ranges begin fairly linear early on however provide extra alternate paths and non-compulsory issues, like Soulstone Cores or Elite Enemies that present extra XP and equipment. If solely the facet missions had been extra attention-grabbing or different when it comes to targets. They’ll additionally really feel quick – I might have most well-liked fewer if it meant extra memorable duties and tales.
Repetition units across the early to halfway level of the story, particularly when the identical enemy sorts are reused. Get able to battle the identical Dragonkind, bandits, skeletons, troopers, and spiders for a wholesome chunk with the occasional Yeti, although issues start to clean up from the late sport onwards. That’s when some actually out-of-field monstrosities begin showing with new ways and movesets.
This brings us to maybe probably the most optimistic side of the expertise – fight. The First Berserker is a Souls-like, leaning extra in the direction of Nioh (and the sequel’s Burst Counters), and as such, you unlock skills and chain them along with Talent Factors. There’s additionally a Sekiro-like bent targeted on parrying and breaking by means of poise (aka Fortitude) to exhaust enemies and executives for Brutal Assaults. The core distinction is that you simply don’t have an inexhaustible provide of stamina for sprinting and attacking, neither is there a Ki Burst to regenerate no matter you’ve spent on attacking.
The result’s a push and pull between the extra conventional Souls-like facets and the elements that wish to embrace the unga-bunga. It’s as intriguing as it’s extreme as a result of the reward for correctly parrying assaults is that you simply gained’t lose that valuable stamina wanted for attacking. It’s a system the place merely blocking feels insufficient, however this smoothens previous the preliminary phases. When you begin gaining some ranges, discovering larger tiers of substances, unlocking passives, and mastering your weapon of selection, Khazan’s fight begins to settle right into a groove that retains difficult you.
“The loot additionally isn’t too thrilling, offering stat will increase more often than not. Set bonuses will be one thing to construct in the direction of, although they’re as soon as once more stat bonuses, with solely a handful providing actually distinctive skills.”
For instance, you finally need to cope with punishing standing assaults that maintain constructing no matter these fancy parrying expertise. That’s when dodging begins to shine, particularly when unlocking passives like Moonlight Stance, which offers injury within the route you Brink Dodge. Transitioning between assaults and expertise, assuming you may have the Spirit Factors, additionally feels good. Even Phantom Kind, which is totally terrible once you first get it, comes into its personal, regardless that it forces some totally different considering past “Rage Mode.”
It’s a disgrace, then, that you simply’re pressured to deal with a single weapon as a consequence of how stat scaling works. Initially, resetting your stats is troublesome as a result of the required merchandise doesn’t drop, and also you gained’t unlock the recipe to craft it till a lot later within the sport. Whereas every weapon presents its share of nuance and ways, sticking with a single kind for thus lengthy inevitably provides to the repetition.
Fortunately, The First Berserker doesn’t skimp on its fundamental boss fights. The showdown with Viper, which begins as a chic dance, transitions right into a brutal second part with an awesome air, particularly when issues go darkish, and solely the glow of its eyes hints at oncoming assaults. Then there’s Maluca, barely above your common Elite bandit earlier than busting out the nitoryu and Judgment Reduce Finish for an SSStylish show of harm. Positive, some bosses can really feel barely over-kitted, however even the scant few who really feel comparable of their total technique have numerous nuances.
Not each boss battle is ideal – there’s one that appears merely unimaginable but is totally bungled by the focusing on, and the sheer variety of threats with seize assaults is undeniably irritating. I additionally was disenchanted after preventing my first Phantom – a spin on the stellar Blade Phantom battle – and never equally going through the others, as an alternative discovering gadgets to unlock them. Then once more, I haven’t found all of them, so maybe different killer encounters await, however the facet missions in any other case provide common foes become bosses.
The First Berserker can also be primarily a loot-driven sport. You’ll obtain tons of loot, making crafting really feel pointless for a good portion of the sport since one thing higher-level or larger rarity will doubtless drop shortly after. The loot additionally isn’t too thrilling, offering stat will increase more often than not. Set bonuses will be one thing to construct in the direction of, although they’re as soon as once more stat bonuses, with solely a handful providing actually distinctive skills. Ultimately, your playstyle is set by the weapon kind and expertise past anything, making the loot really feel two-dimensional.
“I wouldn’t contemplate it anyplace close to the style’s greatest, however Neople delivers an honest motion RPG higher than a number of of its nearest rivals. Some could also be left wanting extra whereas others dig in prefer it’s Souls-like consolation meals earlier than ultimately shifting on.”
As for the presentation, I fairly like how Neople has dealt with the anime stylings of Khazan, which look smooth however have this grunginess. The muted colours and lighting in some environments make it troublesome to admire all the main points, and there’s positively some visible overload in locations.
However, it’s a robust stability between macabre and smooth, and the animations are extraordinarily clear, save for a little bit of jerkiness when Khazan has to the first step foot down from a slope. The music can also be pretty underrated – at occasions, it feels just like the orchestrals make up for the dearth of weight within the narrative, including to the darkish fantasy environment within the course of.
Regardless of a number of of my misgivings with The First Berserker: Khazan, it isn’t a foul sport and Souls-like motion RPG followers, particularly these skilled with the Nioh collection, will discover a wholesome quantity of content material. Past its fight, a number of of the boss fights, and the presentation, it feels missing in a soul – formulaic in lots of locations, repetitive in others, and downright disappointing with the general plot and Khazan’s characterization (particularly because it’s a “What if” state of affairs to the established Dungeon and Fighter canon).
I wouldn’t contemplate it anyplace close to the style’s greatest, however Neople delivers an honest motion RPG higher than a number of of its nearest rivals. Some could also be left wanting extra whereas others dig in prefer it’s Souls-like consolation meals earlier than ultimately shifting on.
This sport was reviewed on PlayStation 5.
