Neople, a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming powerhouse Nexon, is set to release its eagerly awaited hardcore RPG slasher, The First Berserker: Khazan, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. The launch is slated for March 27, and to build anticipation, the developers have unveiled an eight-minute gameplay trailer that delves into the game's complex combat system.
The trailer highlights three fundamental combat principles: attacking, dodging, and defending. In The First Berserker: Khazan, defense consumes more stamina than dodging, yet perfectly timed blocks can significantly reduce stamina drain and minimize stun effects, making them a strategic choice in battle. Dodging, which requires less stamina, demands precise timing and quick reflexes to fully exploit invulnerability frames during evasive moves. The key to mastering the game, much like in other soulslike titles, lies in effectively managing stamina during combat.
Should Khazan's stamina be depleted, he enters an exhaustion state, rendering him completely vulnerable to enemy attacks. This mechanic also allows players to exploit enemy stamina bars by draining their foes' stamina before landing devastating blows. For enemies without stamina bars, relentless attacks can wear down their resilience. These encounters require patience, precise positioning, and impeccable timing, but are balanced by the fact that monster stamina does not regenerate over time, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay.
