Neople’s new game, The First Berserker: Khazan, is making waves in the popular Soulslike genre. While this category is becoming increasingly crowded, fans are drawn to Khazan for its emphasis on key gameplay elements. At its heart, Khazan offers intense combat and a deep progression system that challenges even the most experienced players. However, the game introduces a new twist with an “Easy” mode, which comes with its own set of conditions.
Khazan is not the first to offer varying levels of difficulty in a genre known for its relentless challenges. In addition to the traditional Normal mode, the game introduces an Easy option. Despite the name, this mode still poses a significant challenge. Differences between Easy and Normal modes include adjustments to how stats are distributed and how the game wraps up. For those hesitant about diving into a Soulslike experience, Khazan’s Easy mode provides a more approachable entry point.
While switching to Easy mode offers relief from the game’s punishing difficulty, players should know the changes mainly relate to characters’ stats. On Easy mode, Khazan deals and receives damage differently, has improved resistance against various elements, and benefits from faster stamina recovery. These adjustments make the gameplay slightly more forgiving while preserving the overall complexity of boss battles, which can make it a good introduction to the Soulslike genre.
There are important considerations when choosing Easy mode in Khazan. First, once you opt for Easy mode, you cannot switch back to Normal mode without starting over. Additionally, selecting Easy mode restricts access to the game’s true ending and some achievements. Despite these limitations, many might find playing on Easy initially helpful, using the experience to gain confidence and later tackling more challenging modes.
Discussing difficulty settings in these challenging game genres has been a staple since Dark Souls emerged in 2011. Developers continue to seek innovative ways to make the genre more accessible. Khazan’s implementation of an Easy mode is commendable, as it offers a learning experience without overwhelming new players.
