The First Berserker: Khazan - Review : TechGoggles

From the sprawling, vibrant universe of “Dungeon Fighter Online” (DFO), a franchise renowned for its fast-paced beat ’em up action and extensive lore, emerges a darker, more focused, and intensely personal tale: “The First Berserker: Khazan.” Developed by Neople, the creators of DFO, and published by Nexon, this upcoming title steps away from the MMO format to deliver a single-player, hardcore action RPG experience. Promising brutal combat, a compelling revenge narrative, and a striking cel-shaded art style, “Khazan” aims to carve out its own identity while simultaneously enriching the lore familiar to millions of DFO players. It centers on the tragic figure of Khazan, a once-heroic general condemned to a cursed existence, exploring his path of vengeance against those who betrayed him.

As the game is still awaiting its official release, this analysis serves as an in-depth preview, piecing together clues from trailers, gameplay reveals, developer statements, and the established DFO canon. It’s an exploration of the potential simmering beneath its stylish surface – a look at how Neople intends to translate the visceral energy of DFO into a challenging, narrative-driven action RPG format.

Neople and the DFO Legacy: From MMO to Solo Saga

Neople’s pedigree is intrinsically linked to the phenomenal success of “Dungeon Fighter Online.” DFO is a global powerhouse, particularly in Asia, known for its satisfying side-scrolling combat, diverse class system, and surprisingly deep world-building woven through years of updates and expansions. The Arad continent, where both DFO and “Khazan” are set, is rich with history, conflict, and powerful figures.

Choosing Khazan as the protagonist for a standalone title is significant. Within DFO lore, Khazan is a legendary figure, the Pell Los Empire’s Great General who, alongside his comrade Ozma, saved the empire from the Berserk Dragon Hismar. However, they were subsequently betrayed, falsely accused of treason, and subjected to horrific torture. Khazan had his tendons severed, transforming him into a crippled outcast, while Ozma’s fate led him down an even darker path. Khazan’s story is one of immense strength, profound suffering, and simmering rage – the perfect foundation for a “Berserker” narrative.

This project represents Neople’s ambition to leverage its established IP in a new genre, aiming for the hardcore action RPG audience often associated with Souls-like or character action games. While DFO’s combat is fast and flashy, translating that feel into a 3D, single-player context with potentially more demanding mechanics (like parrying and intricate boss fights) presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Can they retain the satisfying impact of DFO’s combat while adding the depth and difficulty expected from modern action RPGs?

A Tale of Vengeance: Setting and Narrative

“The First Berserker: Khazan” plunges players into a dark fantasy interpretation of the Arad continent, focusing on the events following Khazan’s betrayal. Exiled and imbued with a deadly curse – the Kazan Syndrome, which grants immense power at the cost of sanity – Khazan embarks on a quest for revenge against those who wronged him, including potentially his former friend Ozma, who becomes a major antagonist in the broader DFO lore as the Chaos God.

The narrative potential is immense:

Tragedy and Betrayal: Exploring the downfall of a celebrated hero and the psychological toll of injustice and torture.
The Nature of Power: Examining the corrupting influence of the Kazan Syndrome and the struggle to maintain control while wielding immense destructive force.
Revenge vs. Justice: Delving into the motivations driving Khazan and the moral ambiguities of his quest.
Expanding Lore: Providing deeper insight into a pivotal moment in DFO history, fleshing out the characters of Khazan and Ozma before their legendary conflict.

The game promises a story-driven experience, likely unfolding through cutscenes, environmental storytelling, and character interactions. The success of the narrative will depend on how effectively Neople portrays Khazan’s internal conflict and the weight of his past, making his quest for vengeance feel both epic and personal.

Gameplay: The Brutal Dance of the Berserker

Based on gameplay footage, “The First Berserker: Khazan” is shaping up to be a fast-paced, aggressive action RPG that emphasizes skillful combat execution. Key elements appear to include:

High-Octane Combat: The action looks fluid, intense, and visually spectacular, reminiscent of character action games like “Devil May Cry” but with a potentially heavier, more impactful feel. Khazan wields large weapons and unleashes devastating combos.
Offensive Defense: While dodging is present, a significant emphasis seems placed on parrying and counter-attacking. Successfully deflecting enemy blows looks crucial for creating openings and potentially staggering foes, encouraging players to stay engaged rather than constantly retreating.
Skill-Based Progression: As an RPG, character progression is expected. This will likely involve unlocking and upgrading various combat skills, abilities, and potentially passive traits tied to Khazan’s berserker nature. Customization could allow players to tailor Khazan’s fighting style to their preference, perhaps focusing on raw power, speed, or specific types of attacks.
Challenging Encounters: The game is described as “hardcore,” suggesting demanding enemy encounters and intricate boss battles that require learning attack patterns, precise timing, and strategic use of Khazan’s abilities. Bosses shown in trailers look large, imposing, and possess complex move sets, fitting the mold of challenging action RPG centerpieces.
Berserker Mechanics: Khazan’s cursed state might translate into specific gameplay mechanics – perhaps a rage meter that builds during combat, unlocking more powerful moves or transformations but potentially carrying risks or drawbacks. Managing this berserker fury could be a core element of the gameplay loop.

The combat system appears to be the main draw. Neople needs to ensure it feels responsive, deep, and rewarding. Balancing difficulty, providing clear visual feedback for parry windows, and designing varied, engaging enemy encounters will be critical for its success. The goal seems to be empowering the player through mastery of Khazan’s brutal abilities, making each hard-won victory feel earned.

Art Style and Atmosphere: Cel-Shaded Carnage

Visually, “Khazan” adopts a striking cel-shaded anime aesthetic, strongly aligning with the art direction of DFO but rendered in full 3D. Character models are detailed and expressive, animations are fluid and exaggerated for impact, and environments look stylised yet atmospheric. The art style allows for vibrant special effects during combat, making Khazan’s powerful attacks and magical abilities visually spectacular.

The overall tone appears darker and grittier than the often-bright visuals of DFO might suggest. The environments shown hint at war-torn landscapes, oppressive fortresses, and corrupted locales, reflecting the grim nature of Khazan’s story. This blend of vibrant anime visuals with a dark fantasy setting creates a distinct look that helps “Khazan” stand out.

Sound design will play a crucial role in selling the impact of combat – the clash of steel, the roar of the berserker, the visceral sounds of powerful blows landing. The musical score will also be vital in establishing the atmosphere, likely blending epic orchestral pieces with more aggressive tracks during combat and somber melodies during narrative moments.

Potential Strengths and Challenges

“The First Berserker: Khazan” holds significant potential:

Compelling Protagonist & Story: Khazan’s tragic backstory provides a strong foundation for a gripping revenge narrative within the rich DFO universe.
Stylish, Deep Combat: The focus on fast-paced, skill-based combat with parrying mechanics could attract fans of hardcore action RPGs and character action games.
Striking Art Style: The cel-shaded visuals are distinctive and allow for spectacular animation and effects.
Leveraging DFO Lore: Existing DFO fans will likely be drawn to exploring a key part of the game’s history, while newcomers get an introduction to a deep fantasy world.

However, potential challenges exist:

Combat Tuning: Achieving the right balance between speed, impact, difficulty, and responsiveness in the combat system is paramount and difficult to perfect.
Genre Transition: Moving from a 2D MMO beat ’em up to a 3D single-player action RPG requires different design sensibilities, particularly regarding level design, pacing, and encounter structure.
Narrative Execution: Delivering a nuanced and emotionally resonant story that lives up to the dramatic potential of Khazan’s lore.
Standing Out: The action RPG market is crowded. “Khazan” needs to ensure its mechanics and overall experience feel distinct enough to capture attention beyond the existing DFO fanbase.

Conclusion: An Anticipated Storm of Fury

“The First Berserker: Khazan” is an exciting prospect, representing a bold step for Neople and the “Dungeon Fighter Online” universe. By focusing on a single, compelling character and embracing the demands of the hardcore action RPG genre, the game promises an intense journey fueled by betrayal, rage, and spectacular combat. The blend of DFO’s established lore and anime aesthetic with potentially deep, skill-based mechanics creates a unique and highly anticipated cocktail.

Will Khazan’s quest for vengeance translate into a truly captivating single-player experience? Will the combat system deliver the depth and satisfaction required to stand alongside the best in the genre? These questions eagerly await answers. Based on the glimpses revealed so far, “The First Berserker: Khazan” is poised to unleash a storm of stylish fury upon the action RPG landscape. It’s a title that fans of DFO and challenging action games alike should keep firmly on their radar, anticipating the moment they can finally walk the blood-soaked path of the first berserker.