The First Berserker: Khazan Will Grant a Villain the Spotlight
New gameplay and behind-the-scenes trailers for The First Berserker: Khazan introduce the brutal protagonist's backstory and his combat capabilities.
Posted 4 months ago
Ahead of The First Berserker: Khazan’s launch next year, developer Neople has released two new videos showcasing the first 15 minutes of gameplay for the demanding action-RPG, as well as a look behind the scenes at the setting and story.
©Neople
The game is set in an alternate take on the Dungeon Fighter Online universe. The First Berserker: Khazan looks set to deliver a far grittier story than its inspiring world, with a narrative focused on a villain from the original game. The game’s star, Khazan, was originally exiled in chains after defeat in DNF Online, but in The First Berserker’s opening, he breaks out of confinement thanks to a conveniently timed avalanche.
In the behind-the-scenes video, aptly titled ‘Unveil the Universe’, the backstory of Khazan’s adventure is further expanded. Fluid-looking action is sprinkled throughout the short video, but the main focus here is on the wider world of The First Berserker: Khazan.
Set in a fantasy land inspired by medieval Europe, The First Berserker: Khazan follows the anti-hero protagonist on a path of revenge. After being framed for treason alongside the mage Ozma, Khazan is rebranded from hero to traitor, leading to his single-minded mission to defeat the emperor who betrayed him.
In addition to divulging the story, Neople has released some extended gameplay alongside the behind-the-scenes video. The footage includes the first 15 minutes of action, offering a taste of the intense combat that The First Berserker: Khazan aims to deliver. It’s not yet clear if Khazan will incorporate soulslike mechanics such as bonfires, but its clear challenge is likely to appeal to fans of the genre.
Intriguingly, the developer is keen to note in the behind-the-scenes footage that Khazan isn’t an evasive character. Instead of rolling around on the floor like Elden Ring's Tarnished, he prefers to take hits head-on. Khazan does have a sidestep in the gameplay, but the main focus is on blocking and parrying attacks. One for Sekiro fans to consider, then.
The First Berserker: Khazan has a broad release window of 2025, with the game launching on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For those who’ve already wrapped up Shadow of the Erdtree and are eager to test their combat skills in another arena, we suggest checking out our Another Crab’s Treasure review for a unique (and pun-packed) take on the soulslike genre.
