By The First Berserker: Khazan seems to draw greater influence from Team Ninja than FromSoftware concerning loot and advancement.
The First Berserker: Khazan is a novel soulslike game set to release later this month, and gamers have naturally been drawing comparisons to FromSoftware’s lineup (especially Bloodborne and Sekiro). However, I have always believed it has more in common with Team Ninja’s interpretations of the genre (notably Nioh and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin), particularly based on the Steam Next Fest demo. Moreover, based on the remarks from the game’s director, the Nioh influences appear to be even more pronounced throughout the entire game.
In conversation with GamesRadar+, Junho Lee confirmed that “each level is designed as a mission-based progression aligned with the story.” Thus, unlike the interconnected world in Dark Souls, players will navigate through levels, getting defeated by a boss multiple times until they triumph, after which they will dive straight into a new mission.
Furthermore, that’s not the only aspect the game shares with Nioh; the way it handles weapon drops feels like it was lifted directly from Team Ninja’s playbook as well. During the demo, players can find various drops, including similar weapons and armor – though with different stats and bonuses – whether from enemy defeats or hidden treasures.
This element of randomness might introduce a frustrating aspect, as other titles with random weapon drops can often be a complete headache when you’re seeking something powerful (see: Destiny), but Lee assures that this won’t be an issue here. “Players aren’t obligated to grind to farm for decent gear and make progress in the game. However, if they wish to fine-tune their playstyle, players can opt to farm for specific gear sets or utilize various systems to further enhance their builds at higher difficulties.” That said, it sounds like it’s best not to get too emotionally attached, as Lee also indicated that the team “anticipates a full set of equipment will be replaced once per main mission.”
Khazan’s director also shared insights about the game’s philosophy, emphasizing, “Games are intended to be captivating, not draining.”