Exploring the game: "The First Berserker: Khazan" - a soulslike that wants to become something more

The First Berserker: Khazan is a game that doesn't ask if you're ready. It simply enters your gaming life with an axe and immediately hints that it will be painful, dark and epic. It's classic soulslike, but with a dash of hack 'n' slash. That is, one step wrong and you're already down, but with the ability to quickly and nicely dispose of enemies if you know where to hit. The game was officially released today, but if you're one of those who picked up the Deluxe Edition, you could play it from 24 March. These three days gave fans a head start on walkthroughs, spoilers, and guides.

Fast forward

• The plot and lore of The First Berserker: Khazan - revenge, ghosts, and a bit of MMO in a fantasy wrapper
• Combat mechanics in The First Berserker: Khazan
• Graphics, style and sound in The First Berserker: Khazan - to war with the orchestra
• What makes The First Berserker: Khazan differs from other games of the genre
• What critics say about The First Berserker: Khazan
• What players think about The First Berserker: Khazan
• Who should buy The First Berserker: Khazan

Khazan is out now for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Everything is for new hardware, because the game looks brutal not only in combat but also in graphics. PS4 and Xbox One were also mentioned somewhere, but these seem to be phantoms from the era of pre-release leaks - the developers are betting on the current generation. This means that we are waiting for scale, meat, and at least a few bosses that will make you ask yourself: "Why am I doing this?"

And the answer is simple: because it's a thrill. Painful, addictive and honest. As it should be in a good soulslike.

For those who want to know more: what is the soulslike genre?

Soulslike is a genre that is a school of survival in the gaming world. The name comes from the Dark Souls series by FromSoftware, which set the canon: difficult, painful, without instructions. The main features are high complexity, a combat system with an emphasis on timing (punch, block, roll), loss of resources after death, checkpoints in the form of "fires", and epic bosses that cannot be killed by accident - only by studying their every move. Soulslike is a game that doesn't spare, but it doesn't cheat either. If you die, it's your own fault. There is no place for beginners, because even at the easy level, it's like a blender. The player must be patient, attentive, and ready to learn from every mistake. It's like a samurai combat simulator in a fantasy world. And if you survive, you deserve it.

The plot and lore of The First Berserker: Khazan - revenge, ghosts, and a bit of MMO in a fantasy wrapper

The plot of The First Berserker: Khazan tries to combine a "legendary epic" and a "man with an axe who was framed". The protagonist is Khazan, a former top general of the Pell Los Empire, who was accused of treason, tortured, exiled to the snowy mountains and essentially erased from history. But that world did not wait for peace - Hazan survives, makes a deal with the mysterious ghostly spirit Blade Phantom and sets out to take revenge on everyone who "banned" him.

And if you think you've heard this story before, you're not wrong. But there is a nuance.

The game is a prequel to the popular MMORPG Dungeon Fighter Online and takes place 800 years before its events. So Hazan is not just a guy with pretensions, but the first berserker in the DNF universe. And, by the way, he is the one who gave rise to the Hazan Syndrome, a condition that turns people into rabid warriors with a trail of destruction and no inhibiting mechanisms.

On his way to revenge, the hero meets a whole palette of NPCs: the shaman Quimuk, the alchemist Oksana, the Blade Phantom, who is more than just a voice in his head. All of them add a bit of lore, a bit of function, but not always charisma. Here's a video about Blade Phantom:

And that's where the problem comes in. Despite the pathos and background, Hazan himself is a block of ice with eyes. Reviewers repeatedly mention that the character is "flat", "unemotional" and "makes you care more about the animation of his sword than about him".

The plot? A straight line of revenge, with no intricacies. It works like an engine, but it doesn't hurt. Lore is deeper than it seems, especially for DNF fans, but the narrative itself is not the game's strongest point.

Battle mechanics in The First Berserker: Khazan

The First Berserker: Khazan is not about "click fast and win". It's about cold calculation, timely retreat, and the ability to die with dignity. The combat system is centred on three actions: punch, dodge, and block, and they all eat up stamina (endurance). You can't run around like in slashers - every move has a price. If you stand still, you regain your strength. If you run like a fool, you lie there like a corpse.

Illustration: Nexon

Protection? Yes. A conventional block can take a punch, but it sucks up stamina like coffee in the office in the morning. If you do everything perfectly, you get Brink Guard, the "perfect block" that looks like a martial meditation from the world of Sekiro. Or duck - less expensive, but risky. Have you got it? It's beautiful. Didn't make it? The screen of death.

Weapons to choose from:

• Dual wield - fast, mobile, for those who play on reflexes.
• Greatsword - hard, slow, but if you hit, you lose half a boss.
• Spear - distance control, breaking the enemy's stance and strategic advantage.

Pumping is fat. Each type of weapon has its own skill tree with new attacks, moves, and buffs. There are Spirit Skills - skill attacks that do not depend on stamina, but use up "spirit" when you want to do something serious. If you want to rebuild your character, you can reset your skill at any time. Experiment as much as you want.

There are plenty of stats too: Vitality, Endurance, Strength, Willpower, Proficiency. Everything is in the best traditions of the "mathematics of pain". There are also Phantom skills (spirits that give bonuses) and Kazan Memories, passives that constantly pump up your damage.

And yes, bosses are a separate religion here. Each one is a multi-phase hell with new attacks, mechanics, and the desire to turn off the game after the third attempt. But victory is like catharsis. Like a well-brewed coffee after a sleepless night.

The game is structured in missions, with a hub called The Crevice. The structure seems to be linear, but with branches and shortcuts. Fans of Nioh or Dark Souls will immediately feel a familiar aftertaste.

And for those who are already in a panic, there is Easy Mode. But don't be fooled: "easy" here is still "Khazan", just with a lower chance of breaking the controller. Once you choose, there is no turning back. And not all players are happy with this.

Graphics, style and sound in The First Berserker: Khazan - to war with the orchestra

Illustration: Nexon

Khazan looks like an anime that has spent too much time in the gym. The game uses 3D cel-shading, the same style that makes characters look like they have come to life from a cartoon series, but not in a cheap way. But in a "yes, I look stylish, even when I lose half my hp per hit" way.

The graphics are based on the Unreal Engine, so the character models are detailed, the effects are eye-popping (in a good way), and the environments are like when you are painted hell in watercolour. However, it's not without its drawbacks: some locations look dull, as if the artist was lazy at the end of the day. And although the overall style holds up, the palette sometimes lets you down - as if they muted the colours but forgot to turn on the atmosphere.

But the sound is love. All these bumps, clangs, growls and explosions sound not just loud, but delicious. If you block the attack perfectly, you get a sound in your ears that makes you say "well done".

The soundtrack is with a choir and an orchestra, everything is as it should be. The music doesn't just sound in the background, but makes the battle epic, even if you've just stumbled over a regular mob. It appears at the right moment and pushes you forward when your hands want to drop the gamepad.

What makes The First Berserker: Khazan differs from other games in the genre

Illustration: Nexon

The game immediately lets you know what league you're playing in: it's a pure Soulslike, and you won't be allowed to walk around the location without someone ruining your life. There is everything as it should be: bonfire-style checkpoints (here they are called Blade Nexus), experience loss upon death(Lacrima) and a chance to get it back if you don't die again. There are also bosses who make you learn their animations like students cramming for exams.

But Khazan is not just a copy of Dark Souls. It actively looks into the record book of other titans. Its combat system with a focus on parrying (Brink Guard) is very reminiscent of Sekiro. And the mission structure, weapon and equipment upgrades are a greeting from Nioh. Some reviewers have even compared the game to Lies of P and Black Myth: Wukong for its atmosphere, combat feel, and overall presentation.

But Khazan wasn't just inspired by them - he added his own twist.

• Cel-shading anime graphics are a rare sight in the Soulslike world, and they really make the game stand out from the crowd.
• The"Brink" system is not just a parry or roll, but a mechanic that gives you a bonus if you press the right button in time. It's as if the game is saying: "Don't just survive - play beautifully".
• Even if the boss takes you out, the game gives you skill points just for participating. It's like a medal for the will to live - a motivation not to give up.

They also added a character progression with different branches, which allows you to really build a character to suit your style, and not just pump up your strength because "the sword hits better". And there's even a system for summoning NPC helpers for the boss, if you want to make your life a little easier - or just don't want to go through everything solo because you don't have the nerve.

What critics say about The First Berserker: Khazan

The First Berserker: Khazan won't get the "game of the year" applause, but it's off to a confident start. On OpenCritic, it has an 80% average score and 79% recommendation. That is, the majority of reviewers say: "Yes, the game is worth playing". But, as always in the soulslike genre, it's not without a spoonful of pain in a barrel of pleasure. On Metacritic, there is also a score of 80 from professional critics.

Illustration: Nexon

What is praised

Thecombat system is an absolute hit, described as "juicy", "precise " , "responsible" and, most importantly, "so that you get high with every hit".Brink Guard received a special mention - it's less punishing than the classic Souls, but no less deep. It's a perfect entry into the genre for those who want to feel like Sekira, but without the constant reanimation of the nervous system.

Bosses are another story. They are called"tough, epic, creative, and unforgettable". These are the moments when the gamepad becomes your best friend or enemy. Exactly what you expect from a game with the subtitle "berserker". Just look at this colourful boss named Skalpel:

Thegraphics - 3D cel-shading with a clear anime flavour - are also in favour. The visuals were called "bright," "lively" and"distinctive among the grey swamp of the genre." The music and soundtrack are"percussive, atmospheric, and clear". The sound of a sword on a shield works better here than coffee.

The progression system is another plus. The depth, customisation, and possibilities for character development are the level of freedom that is often lacking in more linear competitors.

What was disappointing

The plot. Everything is simple here: "pale", "banal", "template revenge". And yet, there is a slideshow with voiceover text. It seems as if the budget for cutscenes was spent on swords.

The level design is "cramped" , "linear", "tedious", and "monotonous". Fans of open-ended exploration in the style of Dark Souls may get bored.

They also mention the repetitiveness of enemies, which sometimes makes the game a "groundhog day with a sword". Some bosses are too long, with mechanics on the verge of frustration. The loot system? One reviewer called it"tedious", another -"imposing things that are not needed".

And the last one is the main character. Cauldron. Some say: "wooden", "emotionally uninvolving", and in general -"a typical gloomy man with an axe". Although, perhaps, this is part of the plan: less emotion - more blows.

The critics' verdict: a good game with great combat, but no emotional depth outside the battle arena.

If you're here for the story, pass by. If you're looking for a sense of victory after 15 deaths, you're welcome.

Direct quotes from reviews

• Fextralife - "a brilliant blend of the Soulslike and Hack and Slash genres, offering some of the best combat in recent gaming years and an incredibly polished product".
• XboxEra - "an excellent action-focused Soulslike... its combat is even more satisfying [than Lies of P's]".
• rockpapershotgun.com - "A hack 'n' slash soulslike with an uninspiring plot and tedious level design but its satisfying combat and tough boss fights might make it worth trying".
• Gamespot - "Despite a forgettable story and some constricted level design, The First Berserker: Khazan's excellent combat is more than enough to cover for these missteps".
• PC Gamer - ""Despite somewhat samey missions and a flat protagonist, Khazan's combat and boss design are some of the best I've seen in a soulslike." ".
• Anime News Network- "There's a new soulslike on the block. But does its lore-filled world and fluid combat system offset the crazy difficulty spikes?".
• Gamerant - "challenging and incredibly rewarding Soulslike with intense action and memorable boss fights".
• TechRadar - "combat feels on par with Lies of P's quality... supported by excellent sound design and music...".
• GamingBible - "The hardest soulslike I've ever played, yet it's still brilliant...".

What players think about The First Berserker: Khazan

Illustration: Nexon

On Steam, The First Berserker: Khazan was greeted very warmly on Steam: 94% of positive reviews out of 1300 (at the time of writing) - and it's not just "played", but almost "put on repeat". Players enjoy the combat, parry, and bosses, and generally echo what the critics said: "it hurts, but it feels good".

On Reddit and forums, everything is in line with the classics of the genre: some call the game "Sekiro, but with an axe", others mention Nioh and Lies of P, and some even throw in comparisons to Dragon's Dogma. The most praised is the combat system - "juicy, precise, tangible", plus the sound that "hits you in the ears so hard that you want more".

But it was not without creaks. Players also noticed a weak plot, repetitive enemies, and technical bugs - from friezes to "why didn't that attack happen?". One guy on Reddit wrote bluntly: "this was a solid average - the combat is great, everything else is lame".

The price also came under fire - not everyone liked the fact that for a game without wow-graphics and a revenge plot, you have to pay almost as much as for AAA.

As a result, players say yes - but with the amendment that it is "yes, if you came for the battle, and not for the lore and drama of half an hour of cutscenes". And yes, the comparison with big titles is a compliment. But the expectations are also appropriate.

Who can play First Berserker: Khazan

Illustration: Nexon

Khazan is not "rough, but with love". It is "tough, without pity, but honest". For fans of hardcore action, this is almost complete mincemeat: the combat system works like clockwork, bosses make you cram animations like an exam, anime-style graphics on steroids, a "bang!" sound at every hit, and all this is wrapped up in a fairly flexible leveling system where you can build your Khazan to suit any style.

But there was a spoonful of "here we go again". The plot is a template, like in a literature notebook: betrayal, revenge, a ghost. Khazan as a character is wooden, although he wields his axe well. The levels are linear, without discoveries or "what happens if you go here?". And even on Easy, the game is hardly a beginner-friendly experience.

Who will definitely enjoy the game:

• Fans of Soulslike - yes, this is yours. If you like Sekiro and Nioh, and your finger is looking for the "parry" button, then take it.
• Fans of action RPGs with deep customisation - you will have the freedom to customise your character the way you want.
• For anime aesthetes, the style, colours, and visuals are on top. Even if the plot sags, it will be pleasant for the eyes.

But for those who want a strong narrative, it's better to pass by. Here, the plot does not live, but exists. For newcomers to the genre, it's difficult, painful, and it's not a sure thing that you'll make it to the second boss fight. Unless you play with masochistic delight. The game is not for everyone, but if you are that "everyone", you will plunge in.

To sum up

The First Berserker: Khazan is a solid player in a genre that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but puts spiked wheels on it. The plot? Pass. Levels? Average. But the combat, visuals, and fighting spirit are all there. And if you need a yjdsq soulslike challenge without compromise, this game will definitely hook you.

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