The First Berserker: Khazan – A Challenging Soulslike Adventure
If you’re diving into the world of The First Berserker: Khazan, brace yourself for one of the most formidable soulslike experiences available. For newcomers to the genre, the game offers a steep learning curve that may lead to frustration early on. Notably, should you find yourself facing repeated deaths within the initial stages, the game will provide a prompt suggesting the use of its Easy Mode. While this option has its advantages, it’s essential to weigh the potential drawbacks before making a decision, as this choice is irreversible.
In The First Berserker: Khazan, the array of challenging bosses will test your skills relentlessly. The so-called “Normal Mode”is a trial that will likely leave even seasoned soulslike veterans feeling overwhelmed. However, with persistence and repeated encounters, you will begin to acclimatize to the game’s demanding nature. Although the thought of switching to Easy Mode can be tempting during moments of frustration, many players, including myself, find themselves glad they persevered. It’s important to note that bosses in Easy Mode retain their punishing difficulty, and in a significant disadvantage, players will miss out on the game’s “true ending.”
Understanding Easy Mode in The First Berserker: Khazan
Buffed Stats but Unyielding Bosses
The term “Easy Mode”can be somewhat misleading. While it enhances certain aspects of gameplay, it does not fundamentally alter the challenges posed by bosses. Boss encounters in Easy Mode maintain their original move sets, causing similar struggles as those faced in Normal Mode. However, players can expect Khazan’s stats to be improved, allowing for reduced damage taken and increased damage output. Regardless, you may still find significant challenges with initial bosses such as Yetuga, particularly due to the intricate timing and tempo of their attacks.
Interestingly, there are three different conclusions to discover in The First Berserker, necessitating a subsequent playthrough in NG+ to unlock all potential endings. While Easy Mode grants certain perks, it comes with limitations: once selected, the choice cannot be reversed, and access to the “true ending”becomes unattainable.
In Easy Mode, players will notice adjustments to Khazan’s capabilities, which include:
- Increased damage dealt to enemies
- Decreased damage taken
- Enhanced elemental resistances
- Faster stamina recharge rates
- More stamina damage from Brink Guards
- Heightened weight limits
These enhancements can only take players so far. If the bosses in Normal Mode already proved to be challenging, expect only a slight decrease in difficulty. Players should not assume they will breeze through encounters in Easy Mode; rather, they will still require patience and understanding of gameplay mechanics to succeed, as factors like Brink Guards, Brink Dodges, and strategic combo stacking remain critical.
Assessing the Value of Easy Mode
Is Easy Mode Truly Easier?
In summary, Easy Mode may not be advisable for players eager to witness the game’s true ending or earn all achievements. Despite its appealing name, Easy Mode doesn’t drastically reduce the overall challenge. Players are likely to encounter significant difficulties, particularly with tricky boss patterns, such as Trokka’s elaborate umbrella strikes or Shactuka’s unpredictable attacks. I would recommend this mode solely to those new to soulslike games who find themselves struggling at the outset.
Nonetheless, even for those who are experiencing their first soulslike adventure, embracing the challenges presented is vital. The trial-and-error nature of the genre fosters the development of skills and strategies essential to mastering the gameplay. Each demanding boss fight presents an opportunity to learn and adapt, ultimately enhancing your understanding of your character’s abilities and combat dynamics. Although Easy Mode provides a slight edge, the lessons learned through perseverance in Normal Mode offer a far richer and rewarding experience in The First Berserker: Khazan.