Neople, a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming giant Nexon, is set to launch its eagerly awaited hardcore RPG slasher, The First Berserker: Khazan, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. Mark your calendars for the release date on March 27. In the lead-up to the launch, the developers have unveiled an eight-minute gameplay trailer that dives deep into the game's intricate combat system.

The trailer highlights three essential combat principles: attacking, dodging, and defending. While defending consumes significantly more stamina than dodging, perfectly timed blocks not only reduce stamina drain but also minimize the impact of stun effects. Dodging, which uses even less stamina, demands precise timing and quick reflexes to maximize the invulnerability frames during these evasive maneuvers. As is common in soulslike games, mastering The First Berserker: Khazan revolves around effectively managing stamina throughout combat.

If Khazan's stamina is depleted, he enters a state of exhaustion, becoming completely vulnerable to enemy attacks. This mechanic can be strategically used against enemies with stamina bars—players can exhaust their foes' stamina before unleashing powerful strikes. For enemies without stamina bars, their resilience can still be eroded through relentless attacks. These battles require patience, precise positioning, and impeccable timing, though they are balanced by the fact that monster stamina does not regenerate over time.