After a profitable demo, The First Berserker: Khazan is slated to launch on March twenty seventh for Xbox Collection X/S, PS5, and PC (with Deluxe Version homeowners getting entry on March twenty fourth). With its modern anime aesthetic, fast-paced brutal motion and intriguing story of revenge, it may very well be a darkish horse in an in any other case packed month. Listed below are 15 issues you want to know earlier than choosing it up.
Dungeon and Fighter Connection
Because it was first introduced, The First Berserker: Khazan has shared an indelible connection to Dungeon and Fighter. Dungeon Fighter On-line gamers can have encountered the disgraced common (no spoilers on how that seems), however this story performs out in the course of the Pell Los Empire’s reign. It explores Khazan’s story and his rise because the notorious berserker after betrayal.
Environments
In case you’ve performed the demo, the sheer number of environments seen up to now has been spectacular. Gamers go from a snowy cross teeming with beasts and troopers to a non secular journey on the mountainside and ultimately, a darkish dungeon stuffed with dragon-like hybrids. One other location was just lately revealed in a brand new trailer – the Rovelion Imperial Theater, the “house of arts and tradition within the Pell Los Empire” (or at the very least it was). Now there are traps and nobles of the previous lurking within the darkness, seemingly creating hallucinations.
Fight
For many who haven’t performed the demo, The First Berseker: Khazan’s fight is basically a Souls-like. You’ve a stamina meter, can execute gentle and heavy assaults, and declare a number of websites of the Blade Nexus as checkpoints. Very similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, enemies have a posture gauge (often known as Fortitude) that you should break to deal crucial injury.
Parrying and Evasion
Parrying and dodging are a given, however timing them is vital. A correctly executed parry means much less stamina misplaced – and stamina will develop into important in some boss fights – permitting you to take care of the aggression. In case you dodge proper earlier than an enemy’s assault lands, you’ll execute a Brink Dodge, which might be helpful together with sure abilities.
Counterattacks
Not each assault might be parried or dodged, nevertheless, and that’s the place Counterattack is available in. Execute it completely and also you’ll carry out a Nioh 2-like Burst Counter, which staggers the enemy and regenerates all of your stamina. Mess it up, nevertheless, and you’re taking tons of injury. Watch out, although, as Elite enemies can even carry out Counterattacks (which is as cool-looking as it’s horrifying).
Weapons and Abilities
To date, we all know of three weapons that Khazan wields – the Spear, Greatsword and dual-wielding a Sword and Axe. Every possesses distinctive assaults and playstyles, whether or not you like in depth mobility with the Sword and Axe, extra vary with the Spear or gradual however hard-hitting assaults with the Greatsword. You’ll be able to’t swap between weapons (at the very least, not within the demo), which inspires zeroing in on a construct and playstyle.
Every weapon additionally has distinctive abilities, unlocked with talent factors, like Ruthless for quickly slashing away at any enemy with the Sword and Axe, or Breakthrough for charging at an enemy with the Greatsword earlier than bringing it down in an enormous swing. My favourite is Moonlight Stance, which creates afterimages for 15 seconds that deal extra injury. Abilities devour Spirit, so managing it throughout a battle alongside along with your stamina and Fortitude can also be key.
Berserker Mode
A latest trailer additionally revealed what appears to be Berserker Mode for Khazan, which sees him taking over the Blade Phantom’s armor and gaining new abilities, even seemingly transitioning between a number of weapon sorts. Not many particulars have been offered, but it surely seems to be sick as hell.
Summoning Allies
Whereas Dungeon Fighter On-line is understood for its multiplayer, you gained’t discover such modes right here. That doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t summon allies to your trigger, nevertheless. Out there from the third stage onwards, the Spirit of Advocacy will combat by your aspect (and also you’ll most likely want it, given the boss). Nonetheless, like Nioh, there’s additionally the Remnant of Adversity, who you’ll be able to problem and earn drops from. Additionally they drop Lacrima of Circulation, which you want to summon allied Spirits.
Simple Mode
If the fight and total issue are an excessive amount of, The First Berserker: Khazan sports activities an Simple Mode, offering a way to emphasize much less and benefit from the narrative. Nonetheless, at the very least within the demo, you should end the primary mission to unlock it. It’s unlikely to be completely different within the recreation, however regardless, be ready.
Transmog
Although it’s not the be-all, end-all of the motion RPG gameplay, loot is necessary, and so is trying superb. So what occurs if you wish to change your seems to be however retain the identical tools? Transmog is fortunately out there to facilitate this…after you end your first playthrough, as confirmed by artistic director Junho Lee in a Reddit AMA. Why it’s arrange like that is unknown, but it surely’s there.
New Sport+
New Sport Plus can also be out there, and it’ll perform extra akin to Nioh. When you can get pleasure from all the pieces within the recreation throughout the first playthrough, Lee stated greater playthroughs can unlock “extra choices and talents.” Sure “restrictions” are additionally lifted, and whereas that appears to consult with transmog, maybe there are extra game-changing options to find.
A number of Endings
Another excuse to embark on one other playthrough is the a number of endings. Khazan isn’t on some informal stroll of the Pell Los Empire and as such, sure choices might affect the general narrative. Whether or not it’s as concerned as, say, the method of unlocking different endings in Elden Ring stays to be seen, however Khazan’s story seemingly has multiple consequence.
Playtime
Whether or not you’re in it for the story or taking over each problem, The First Berserker guarantees a meaty expertise. In case you pursue the True Ending, it may take greater than 80 hours to complete, per Lee. How a lot it will fluctuate relying on talent (and the quantity of grinding beforehand performed within the demo) stays to be seen, however both means, it’s an extended recreation.
Potential Submit-Launch Options
Khazan is seemingly poised to obtain DLC sooner or later, although the “course, content material, and schedule” hasn’t been finalized. Nonetheless, Lee confirmed that a number of modes are being mentioned. Potential boss rush or boss rematch options? One can definitely hope.
PC Necessities
The minimal necessities aren’t too demanding, consisting of an Intel Core i3-6300 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 12 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 580 or Arc A580. This is sufficient to run the sport in 1080p/30 FPS at Low settings. The really helpful necessities, however, demand a Core i7-6700K or Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 2070, a Radeon RX 5700XT or Arc A750 for 1080p/60 FPS at Excessive settings. You additionally want 70 GB of set up house with a solid-state drive obligatory throughout.
