It’s hard not to compare new games to the titles that they so clearly take inspiration from, especially within the Soulslike genre, where a few standout developers have proven to be as adept as FromSoftware at creating challenging action RPGs with methodical combat. Neople’sThe First Berserker: Khazanis already resonating strongly among Soulslike fans thanks to its understanding of the genre’s fundamentals while also being willing to implement some interesting ideas. One area whereKhazanstands out is with its limited weapon variety but emphasis on more frequent loot drops, which sees the title finding a nice sweet spot between the curation ofDark Soulsand the randomization of Team Ninja’sNiohseries.
TheDark Soulsgames have a plethora of weapon types, as well as multiple kinds of magic spells and their specific catalysts, that result in players acquiring lots of gear that has a very specific purpose. Even in terms of items that can be purchased in shops, there’s typically only one of each piece of equipment, which gives the series' gear a very purposeful, curated feel.NiohandNioh 2(as well asStranger of Paradise) take the opposite approach, showering players with so much gear that it’s almost overwhelming, requiring more time spent within menus to determine which pieces are the most beneficial for a build. Somehow,The First Berserker: Khazanmanages to land a near-perfect balance between the two approaches.
The First Berserker: Khazan’s Gear Drop Rate Encourages Exploration and Customization
It can be a challenge for a game to find the sweet spot between providing players too much gear and incentivizing them to seek it out thanks to regular and rewarding drops, butThe First Berserker: Khazanseems to have somehow landed it. While the game only features three distinct weapon types, players are regularly rewarded for exploring each new area and venturing off the beaten path with both weapon and armor upgrades that provide noticeable differences in how effective players are in combat. That there are different rarity tiers of gear to chase down only adds to the dopamine rush of acquiring a new piece of gear that suits aspecific build or playstyle.
Khazan’s item drop rates also happen to have the secondary effect of encouraging players to experiment with different builds, regularly swapping between light and heavy armor or changing up weapon preferences to see what might work best for a particularly challenging area or boss fight. To help facilitate this,The First Berserker: Khazanmakes acharacter respecrelatively easy, which only seems to reinforce the idea that the game’s regular loot drops add to the value of gear rather than detract from it. Gear drops are not anywhere near as frequent as a Team Ninja Soulslike, but they are also frequent enough to where players don’t have to feel as if they’re locked into a game-spanning build like in theDark Soulstrilogy.
Chasing Down Set Bonuses Makes The First Berserker: Khazan’s Gear and Buildcraft Exciting
One of the more exciting aspects ofThe First Berserker: Khazan’s gear economyand progression is the implementation of set bonuses that have a palpable and transformative impact on a build. Players will acquire new gear inThe First Berserker: Khazanat a regular cadence, but the game quickly reinforces the idea that set bonuses are more powerful and desirable than a simple boost in stats from a comparable piece of gear. Chasing down the right pieces of armor to support a build or playstyle can dramatically turn the tide in the player’s favor, which is ideally what the best new pieces of gear should always do in an action RPG.
It also doesn’t hurt that the armor sets inThe First Berserker: Khazando a great job of catering to the “Fashion Souls” crowd, with each new piece of armor looking aesthetically pleasing, even when mixed and matched with pieces from different sets. Whether players are looking to make Khazan the coolest-looking or the hardest-hitting,The First Berserker: Khazan’s loot drop rate meets player demand and helps the game stay engaging thanks to regular, worthwhile rewards.
