The First Berserker: Khazan - A commendable breakthrough in the Soul-like genre.

Years ago, Nexon announced a series of spin-off games to expand the DNF universe . These included the already released fighting game Dungeon & Fighter: Duel, as well as the 3D platformer DNF: Overkill. Among them, a soul-like game called Project AK was highly anticipated by action game fans.

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The final official name of Project AK is The First Berserker: Khazan . When a 3D DNF game that fans had been waiting for turned into a Soulslike action game, the question was—would long-time DNF fans accept it? And would new players who love the Soulslike genre be willing to try it out? The First Berserker: Khazan 's path to vindication : The story takes place on the continent of Arad 800 years ago. The protagonist, Khazan, is a general of the Pelos Empire, a name familiar to players who have participated in the Ozma raid. The plot begins when Khazan is accused of treason, his tendons are severed, and he is imprisoned and exiled. At this time, Blade Phantom (the spirits appearing in the level 75 skill of the Demon Swordsman class in DNF) possesses him, saving his life and demanding that he complete a mission to restore order to the Netherworld.

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Besides the main character, the game also contains many elements from the DNF universe, making it feel familiar to veteran players. For example, the NPC Danjin with his familiar catchphrase "Use money to make money!", the Bantu blacksmiths on Mount Stru, and the dragon monsters and undead soldiers.

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Furthermore, the game's storyline is of the "What If" type – a parallel timeline. Therefore, whether you're already familiar with the entire DNF storyline or completely unfamiliar with this world, you can easily follow the content. Satisfying combat experience : As a game that self-labels itself as a Soulslike, Khazan truly felt very "Souls" on first try. With its stamina system limiting the number of attacks, its parrying and dodging mechanics, and the tradition of "a giant, super-powerful monster in the tutorial area," the writer immediately approached the game with the familiar mindset of a Souls game.

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However, after unlocking three different weapon types and the skill tree, the depth of the combat system and the character's power will instantly increase exponentially. From a cripple gasping for breath after just a few steps, Khazan gradually becomes a warrior capable of combining light and heavy attacks, using counter-attacks with his skills, and incorporating stamina-boosting and attack-buffing abilities. Ultimately, you can inflict tens of thousands of damage in just seconds, potentially reminding many of another game, Nioh!

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Khazan's combat system actually has more similarities to Nioh than to traditional Souls games. It focuses on managing stamina between the player and enemies, rather than managing resources and accumulating experience as in typical Soulslike games. However, the game lacks "Ki Pulse" or "Flux" mechanics for active stamina recovery. If you constantly attack without planning, you will exhaust your stamina and be defeated by enemies soon after.

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Therefore, Khazan has integrated stamina recovery mechanisms into the weapon system and enemy interaction mechanics. There are passive skills that quickly restore stamina after dodging, or during certain skill states. Other mechanisms include "perfect parry" or "charged attacks to deal greater damage." To maintain combat power or quickly weaken enemies, you must react precisely to each of your opponent's attacks, rather than just spamming combos like in traditional action games such as Devil May Cry. When you deplete an enemy's stamina, you can perform a finishing move. There are two types of finishing moves:

• Frontal : Restores HP and stamina, allowing you to continue attacking faster.
• From behind : Restores "Fighting Spirit" (skill points) and increases the damage of that finishing blow, suitable for finishing off enemies or replenishing fighting spirit when depleted.

Difficulty? Practice makes perfect. Due to its combat design focusing on high speed, stamina management, and high-intensity engagements, Khazan is extremely difficult to defeat the boss for the first time – you'll almost certainly be defeated several times before mastering its attack rhythm and combo sequences.

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However, players with poor reflexes don't need to worry, as the game not only offers a difficulty reduction option but also boasts a groundbreaking "the more you die, the stronger you become" mechanism in the Soulslike genre. Like other Souls games, you lose all your "Soul" points upon death. The difference is that each time you fail a boss fight, you still receive a bonus amount of "Soul" points based on the damage dealt. Simply put, the more you fight, the more familiar you become with the boss's moves, and the more attribute and skill points you gain to upgrade your character.

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This mechanism helps alleviate the frustration caused by repeated failures when facing bosses, one of the most common triggers for "rage quitting" in Soulslike games. Trap-filled Maps: Khazan's world map isn't continuous but uses a stage selection mechanism, consisting of independent areas. Some maps are well-designed, incorporating shortcuts and elements of in-depth exploration. However, the majority of the map consists of long, monotonous paths with only a few forks in the road offering rewards.

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After completing the main storyline, players can chat with NPCs at the base to unlock side quests. Most of these quests reuse the main map, only changing the routes and enemy placement, so the level of novelty isn't very high. Additionally, some important features are hidden within the side quests, somewhat encouraging players to explore further.

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The level design is also quite sophisticated. Players can utilize hidden routes on the map to perform ambushes from behind, take down tough enemies, and reduce direct combat. Additionally, they can cleverly exploit the characteristics of certain enemies to cause them to self-destruct or fall into abysses. This level design is very similar to the Souls series, rather than leaning towards pure hack-and-slash action. Of course, the classic "insidious" elements of the Souls series are also present. From monsters lurking behind wooden planks waiting to ambush, soldiers suddenly falling from ceilings, assassins lurking behind treasure chests, poisonous traps in lakes, or giant monsters blocking narrow wooden bridges – all are realistically recreated. Without these elements, how could it be called a true Souls-like game? There's still plenty of content to discover after completing the game. Besides the intense combat and engaging action gameplay, Khazan also boasts a rich system of collectibles and equipment, providing motivation to keep playing even after finishing the game.

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In the game, there are not only equipment items with varying rarity and random attribute lines, but also a set equipment system. These sets of equipment provide various enhancement effects and even unlock new fighting styles. For example, the greatsword's skill tree includes a skill called "Demon Hand Iron Wall," which allows for precise blocking while charging up. When combined with the right equipment set, this skill allows for an immediate next attack after a successful block, creating a highly effective 'lightning-fast charging' playstyle.

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Each equipment set has a different focus – some enhance damage, others concentrate on defense or survivability. Players can combine attribute lines from various equipment sets to build their own fighting style. The familiar equipment enhancement and attribute adjustment system is also implemented in the game. If an item's attributes are changed too much, causing the adjustment cost to increase significantly, players can use a special item to reset the cost to its original level, reducing the burden of upgrading to higher-level equipment.

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Additionally, the game features numerous collectible items that grant characters rare attributes such as healing or increased damage output, motivating further exploration. Another notable feature is the online mode. Players can see red "fallen souls" markers on the map – indicating that other players have fallen there. These souls can be summoned as enemies, and defeating them will reward players with "Soul Support" items. Using this item allows summoning a ghost warrior to assist in battles against bosses, reducing the pressure of playing solo. In conclusion , The First Berserker: Khazan is a solid action game, inspired by the Souls-like genre but incorporating a fast-paced combat system and stamina management mechanics similar to Nioh. As a result, the game retains the tension and drama characteristic of Souls-like games while also delivering the satisfying combat feel of traditional action games.

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The "the more you die, the stronger you get" mechanic, the easy-hard mode option, and numerous defensive and dodge skills that don't consume stamina make the game more accessible than other Souls-like titles, reducing the feeling of "too difficult to give up." However, the trap-filled map and the design heavily influenced by the Souls series will still present an unavoidable challenge. Overall, Khazan has found its own path in the current market flooded with Souls-like games, focusing on the traditional action style favored by many gamers. The game offers both a challenging early game experience and the enjoyment of looting and character development in the later stages. Whether you're a DNF fan or not, if you enjoy Souls-like action games, Khazan is definitely worth a try.