A Soulslike with hack-and-slash and a lot of anime
The First Berserker: Khazan is a hardcore action-RPG set in the Dungeon Fighter Online universe, styled as a cel-shaded anime-infused Soulslike experience. Developed by Neople, you play as Khazan, a fallen general resurrected and possessed by a phantom spirit, embarking on a brutal quest for revenge across the continent of Arad.
The First Berserker: Khazan combat is heavily influenced by Soulsborne games but with a twist, emphasizing parrying with a generous window for attacks, allowing it to introduce hack-and-slash mechanics. It requires precision, rhythm, patience, and complete berserker aggression when doing Burst Counters.
Exact mythical revenge with precise rage
The First Berserker: Khazan is a soulslike that offers three developed weapon classes: Dual wield, greatsword, and spear, each with unique skill trees and combat styles. Despite a limited weapon variety, the depth within each tree enables flexible builds and encourages experimentation. The experience system is refreshingly fair: players regain XP (Lacrima) even after dying during boss battles, cutting down mindless grinding. Meanwhile, class and attribute respecs are free and instant.
Khazan stands out with one of the most refined parry systems in years, delivering exhilarating one-on-one combat. Its anime-tinged cel‑shaded visuals contrast beautifully with the gritty tone of the world. It also has difficulty selection which expands accessibility for players who struggle to keep up with the Soulslike genre. However, the lack of weapons leads to little incentive to craft complex builds, making builds finite.
Khazan’s art style blends anime aesthetics with cinematic grit: glossy cel-shaded animation, crimson Netherworld energy glow, and weighty combat animations give every action impact. While story and world lore feel minimal, the emphasis remains on visceral combat. Performance is optimized well even on older hardware, but it stutters during animations or cutscenes. Moreover, the levels are quite linear and simple.
A stylish, accessible twist on Soulslike combat
The First Berserker: Khazan reimagines Soulslike gameplay with anime visuals, precise parrying, and hack-and-slash flair. It’s more accessible thanks to forgiving mechanics and difficulty settings, making it ideal for genre newcomers. While the story and weapon variety are limited, the responsive combat, build customization, and standout art direction make it a thrilling experience for players craving skill-based battles with an anime edge.
