The First Berserker: Khazan Review: A Brutal, Beautiful Blend of Souls-like Perfection

In recent years, the gaming landscape has been flooded with "Souls-like" titles, many of which are content to merely replicate the FromSoftware formula without attempting to evolve it. While die-hard fans are rarely opposed to another challenging boss-rush experience, the genre has been starving for genuine innovation—a title that takes the best parts of the genre’s pillars and fuses them into something cohesive and fresh. That is exactly what The First Berserker: Khazan has achieved.

Developed by Nexon, The First Berserker: Khazan is a daring leap into the single-player action RPG arena for a studio previously known for online-centric experiences. The result is not just a success; it is a masterpiece of design that manages to channel the parry-heavy intensity of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the intricate progression of Nioh, and the oppressive, mysterious atmosphere of Dark Souls. Here is our comprehensive review.

A Story of Vengeance and Possession

Most Souls-like games bury their lore under layers of item descriptions and vague side-quest triggers. The First Berserker: Khazan takes a different, more accessible approach. You play as Khazan, a legendary general of the Empire who has been unjustly framed for treason. On his way to execution, he is approached by a demonic spirit that offers him a pact: possess his body in exchange for the power to exact revenge. Khazan accepts, setting him on a path of relentless vengeance against those who wronged him.

The story is delivered through high-quality, frequent cutscenes and grounded NPC interactions. You are not forced to "figure out" the narrative through cryptic clues; the story is presented with clarity and drama. While Khazan is a man of few words, he is not a silent protagonist. When he speaks, it is impactful, carrying the weight of his tragic past and his singular, blood-soaked mission. It is a refreshing narrative style that keeps you engaged with the protagonist's internal struggle without sacrificing the mystery that defines the genre.

Combat: The "Trial by Fire"

If you are looking for a game that will challenge your reflexes and push your patience to its absolute limit, look no further. The First Berserker: Khazan is arguably one of the most difficult Souls-like games ever made—at least on its intended "Normal" difficulty. While there is an "Easy" mode available, the game warns you that certain rewards and achievements will be locked; playing on Normal is the only way to experience the true essence of what the developers intended.

Mastering the Parry

The combat feels like a hybrid of the industry's best systems. It prioritizes a parry-heavy style reminiscent of Sekiro, where rhythmic precision is the difference between a successful riposte and a quick death. You also have a posture bar—a dual-purpose system that functions as your stamina gauge. If you run out of posture while attacking, you become vulnerable to a crushing counter-attack. The enemies also possess posture bars, and depleting them is the key to creating windows for massive damage.

The boss design is where the game shines brightest. Each encounter is a masterclass in pattern recognition. The second boss in particular serves as a "trial by fire," forcing you to adapt as he cycles through three distinct weapon types in real-time. You aren't just fighting an enemy; you are learning a dance. When you finally land that last blow, the rush of adrenaline is unparalleled.

Rewarding Defeat

One of the most innovative mechanics in the game is how it treats death. Instead of punishing you for every failure, the game rewards you for your attempts. Every time you fall to a boss, you gain "Lactrima"—the game's equivalent to Souls or Runes—which can be recovered just outside the arena. If you are struggling, you can effectively "grind" levels by simply attempting the boss fight multiple times, allowing you to strengthen Khazan before returning for the kill. It is a brilliant design choice that mitigates the frustration of "hitting a wall" while still demanding mechanical improvement.

Progression and Weaponry

Borrowing heavily from the Nioh philosophy, the progression system in The First Berserker: Khazan is deep and highly customizable. As you accumulate Lactrima, you can invest points into core stats like Vitality, Strength, and Agility at "Broken Sword" checkpoints—the game's version of bonfires. Beyond stat leveling, you gain experience points through combat that unlock specific skills tied to your weapon types.

Khazan wields three distinct weapon classes: dual-wielded axes and swords, longswords, and spears. Each weapon dictates an entirely different playstyle, and the skill trees are uniquely tailored to each. The ability to "respec" your character at any time for free is a godsend, allowing you to experiment with different builds without the fear of permanent consequence. This freedom encourages you to find the playstyle that best suits your temperament, whether you prefer aggressive, high-speed aggression or a more calculated, distance-focused approach.

Visuals and Atmosphere

Visually, The First Berserker: Khazan is a stunning achievement. It blends anime-inspired character designs with a gritty, dark fantasy realism that feels both unique and instantly recognizable. The environments are impressively varied, taking you from the frozen summits of snow-covered peaks to claustrophobic, spider-infested underground caves. Every location tells a story of the decay and horror Khazan must endure to reach his goal.

Technically, the game is polished, though eagle-eyed players will notice an over-reliance on "fog" effects to mask distant draw distances in some of the larger vistas. However, this is a minor complaint when compared to the visual brilliance of the parry animations and the eerie, spirit-infused lighting that flares whenever you interact with the demonic force possessing you. On the PlayStation 5, the DualSense controller adds another layer of immersion, with haptic feedback that makes every weapon strike feel weighty and satisfying.

Final Verdict: The Souls-like We've Been Waiting For

The First Berserker: Khazan is a triumph of balance. It manages to be relentlessly challenging without ever feeling unfair, and its systems—while familiar—are tuned to perfection. It is rare to find a game that respects the lessons learned from FromSoftware while simultaneously daring to improve upon them in meaningful, tangible ways.

If you have been searching for a Souls-like that truly captures the magic of the genre—the satisfaction of mastering a difficult boss, the tension of exploring a dangerous new level, and the reward of building a character exactly to your liking—then The First Berserker: Khazan is the answer to your prayers. It is not just one of the best games of the year; it is an essential entry in the Souls-like genre that will be discussed and played for years to come. Do not miss it.

Final Score: 9.5 / 10