So whatsThe First Berserker: Khazanbringing to the table?

What fresh twist or novel setting makes this soulslike stand out?

To be frank, I can’t see one.

A huge demon stares down at a woman with a shield.

Some of you might read that and think this anime-eyed action RPG sounds derivative.

Others will probably salivate with glee.

Well, both reactions make sense.

A blond-haired figure wields a staff that glows with white spray.

Theres absolutely nothing original about The First Berserker: Khazan.

It might also be the most fun Ive had playing a soulslike in years.

You are General Khazan, a once-celebrated veteran who has been framed for treason by a cowardly emperor.

The player and an enemy clash, sending sparks flying from their weapons.

From here you set out on a quest to punish those who framed you and restore your name.

Yeah, its hardly Macbeth.

Worse still, the majority of the plot is divulged through narrated slideshows.

A demon stretches out his hand to grab the player during a boss fight.

But I cant imagine even diehard fans of that will find themselves invested.

The main story missions are straightforward enough.

There’s a sense of sameiness to enemies that gets worse the longer you go on.

The player talks to a character wearing a jar for a head, called Danjin.

Khazan’s icicle yetis and hammer heaving demons throw everything at you.

Ultimately, however, they are still fair.

Khazan balances its aggressive nonsense by giving you a massive bag of defensive tools.

The player stands in the snow outside a cave.

But this more closely resembles the ideas of Nioh.

The cleverness comes in how you use these blades.

But by timing a dodge or guard perfectly, you could use their brink variants.

The player attacks a beast four times their size.

These will help you regenerate stamina or reflect damage back at your foe.

There is great satisfaction in perfectly reflecting a beast’s 30-second-long combo.

Or parrying a hulking monstrosity and shaving off half of its stagger bar.

The player wears a red cape and stands atop a platform looking at some ruins.

As someone who loves the genre, I can forgive so many of Khazans defects because of this fierceness.

But I cant deny that the game has plenty of weaknesses outside of those pitched battles.

Instead, it leaves me feeling conflicted.

This review is based on a review build provided by the publisher.