Is The First Berserker: Khazan Worth Playing? Full Review

The First Berserker: Khazan is a challenging action RPG with intense combat, powerful bosses, and a gripping tale of revenge.

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Players are put to the test in the hard action role-playing game The First Berserker: Khazan through fierce combat. It’s a Soulslike game that calls for skill, patience and accuracy. Fights are harsh from the start and need almost perfect timing. However, as you persevere through the difficult situations, you grow stronger and more equipped to handle any obstacle.

The story focuses on Khazan, a former general who was abandoned for dead after being betrayed by his own empire. The Blade Phantom, a gang of warrior ghosts that now inhabit his body, is a sinister power that brings him back to life. Human will and otherworldly might clash as Khazan seeks retribution and the Blade Phantom has its own schemes. Despite being straightforward, plot takes an intriguing turn.

Rather of having an open environment, game is structured around missions. Players return to The Crevice, a hub where they can enhance their equipment, do side tasks and get ready for battles, in between battles. Despite its intriguing appearance, it doesn’t really further the plot.

Game’s main attraction is the combat. Khazan is capable of using three weapons: the aggressive dual blades, the swift but exhausting spear and the formidable greatsword. Because every weapon has a different playstyle, players can try out different combinations to see what suits them best.

Fast-paced action and hard fighting make The First Berserker: Khazan both gratifying and punishing. This game is going to test your abilities if you like challenging combat and learning new things.

Khazan’s Gameplay Evolves Over the 85-Hour Journey

In The First Berserker: Khazan, each weapon comes with its own skill tree, enhancing Khazan’s abilities in battle. These skill trees offer upgrades for attacks, stamina management, and new moves that use Spirit Points. By the end of the 85-hour campaign, Khazan feels drastically different from the beginning, thanks to hours of experimentation and character progression. The customization options are fun, allowing players to choose moves and perks that fit their playstyle for tougher battles.

Although you can freely switch between 3 weapon types in game, switching might be difficult due to the disparity in powers. There are multiple distinct Spirit assaults for every weapon and it can be difficult to keep track of them all. During my game, I decided to continue with twin blades, but moving between weapons and skill combinations seemed needlessly difficult. Although skill points can be reallocated, it is a laborious process that should not be done on the spot.

In terms of gameplay, The First Berserker follows a familiar Soulslike structure: You’ll fight tough enemies, collect items to level up, and battle challenging bosses. Despite being well-known, the levels have some clever design elements, such as connected areas and shortcuts. But there aren’t many optional locations or unexpected interactions to keep things fresh, and exploration feels constrained.

The bosses are the most challenging aspect of The First Berserker. It takes hours of trial and error to defeat some bosses in these vicious battles. You may encounter monsters in the early game that can quickly eliminate you, and although character development and grinding can help, there is no simple solution to overcome the challenge. It’s a difficult task but with persistence, it becomes worthwhile.

The First Berserker’s high point is the boss fights. They are first frustrating, but as you figure out the proper tactics and understand their patterns, they become rewarding. Every death serves as a teaching moment, and defeating these challenging bosses gives you a sense of achievement that makes the game worthwhile.

Quality of Life Features That Made The First Berserker: Khazan More Enjoyable

2 essential quality-of-life elements in The First Berserker: Khazan enabled me to overcome early obstacles & persevere through challenging boss battles. First of all, it’s not a waste of time to die at a boss repeatedly. Instead, you earn Lacrima based on how much damage you did to the boss making each attempt count. This means grinding bosses is more beneficial than farming elsewhere, as each upgrade brings you closer to victory. Second, skill points are earned through a separate experience bar, filling up as you battle. In difficult situations, these skill points provide you a strategic edge by unlocking new moves or improving ones you already know.

As I progressed, I needed better equipment. Weapons, armor, and accessories provided useful upgrades like increased fire resistance, faster stamina recovery, and reduced damage taken. When worn together, some equipment sets even offer potent advantages that encourage you to take up particular playstyles. For instance when fighting directly, Beastslayer set enhances damage and strengthens the Whirlwind attack. These products give you useful options to improve your approach without drastically altering your gameplay.

After finishing the main missions, Khazan became stronger by completing side quests. These quests gave me new enemies to fight, item blueprints, and crafting materials. They also added more story details by connecting characters to Khazan’s past.

I started New Game+ after finishing main plot & acquired new weaponry with elemental effects, which made fighting more strategic. Although it was thrilling, I wish there had been more special equipment on first playing to give battles a new flavor sooner.

Conclusion

After learning the basics and unlocking strong abilities, I started to love The First Berserker: Khazan for its intense boss fights. These battles are the core of the game, getting harder but more satisfying as you go. The early fights can feel overwhelming but landing perfect blocks, dodges and counterattacks makes every win exciting. Beating tough enemies gave me the confidence to keep going, and I’m glad I did. The First Berserker: Khazan is the hardest game I’ve played this year, but for fans of the genre—or anyone curious—it’s a challenge worth trying. It’s tough, but with patience and practice, you can master it too.