Neople, a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming giant Nexon, is set to thrill gamers with the launch of its eagerly awaited hardcore RPG slasher, *The First Berserker: Khazan*. Scheduled for release on March 27, the game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. To build anticipation, the developers have released an eight-minute gameplay trailer that dives deep into the game's sophisticated combat mechanics.
The gameplay video highlights three essential combat principles: attacking, dodging, and defending. In *The First Berserker: Khazan*, defense consumes significantly more stamina than dodging. However, mastering the art of perfectly timed blocks can dramatically reduce stamina drain and minimize stun effects, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay. On the flip side, dodging uses less stamina but demands pinpoint timing and swift reflexes to fully benefit from the invulnerability frames during evasive actions. Much like other soulslike titles, the key to triumph in *The First Berserker: Khazan* lies in the meticulous management of stamina during combat.
Running out of stamina plunges Khazan into a state of exhaustion, making him an easy target for enemy attacks. Savvy players can turn this mechanic to their advantage by exhausting enemies with stamina bars before landing devastating blows. For foes without stamina bars, relentless attacks can still erode their resilience. These encounters require patience, precise positioning, and perfect timing, but they are balanced by the fact that monster stamina does not regenerate over time, giving players a strategic edge.
