Neople, a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming powerhouse Nexon, is set to launch its eagerly awaited hardcore RPG slasher, The First Berserker: Khazan, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms. Mark your calendars for the release on March 27. In the lead-up to the launch, the developers have unveiled an eight-minute gameplay trailer that delves into the game's sophisticated combat mechanics.
The trailer highlights three pivotal combat principles: attacking, dodging, and defending. While defending consumes a hefty amount of stamina, perfectly timed blocks can significantly reduce stamina drain and mitigate stun effects, offering a strategic edge. On the flip side, dodging is less taxing on stamina but demands sharp timing and quick reflexes to fully benefit from the invulnerability frames during these evasive moves. In The First Berserker: Khazan, as in many soulslike games, mastering stamina management is key to triumph in battle.
Should Khazan's stamina be depleted, he enters an exhaustion state, rendering him defenseless against enemy onslaughts. This mechanic can also be turned against foes with stamina bars, allowing players to drain their enemies' stamina before unleashing devastating blows. For adversaries without stamina bars, continuous attacks can still erode their resilience. These encounters require patience, strategic positioning, and impeccable timing, yet they remain balanced by the fact that monster stamina does not regenerate, adding a layer of tactical depth to the gameplay.
