At the very start of The First Berserker: Khazan, you’ll find yourself in an expansive tutorial area that feels all too familiar for fans of Soulslike games. This area is cleverly designed to introduce you to the core mechanics that you’ll need to master. By the time you face off against your first major foe, the Blade Phantom, you’ll be expected to have grasped critical skills such as Khazan’s timely dodges and the Brink Guard, a parry-like move. Conquering the Blade Phantom feels like a significant achievement, yet it’s crucial to resist the urge to dive straight into the next primary mission.
Upon defeating the Blade Phantom, the game opens up an area known as The Crevice, serving as your main hub. From here, you can launch into various main and optional missions tied to Khazan’s journey. If you take a moment to explore, you’ll discover that the first optional mission has become available, tasking you with taking down another phantom: Keshta the Unyielding. Challenging Keshta straight away is a smart choice since he is essentially a more powerful and aggressive iteration of the Blade Phantom, serving as a practical demonstration of the game’s mechanics.
In a pattern that becomes familiar with The First Berserker: Khazan’s optional bosses, Keshta proves to be a formidable upgrade to the Blade Phantom you just conquered. This narrative twist both enriches the game’s storytelling and plays on players’ expectations. While the Blade Phantom might have given you a false sense of security, Keshta shatters that illusion with his increased speed and aggression.
Although Keshta shares many moves with the Blade Phantom, his ferocity is unmatched. He deals significant damage and tests your ability to execute the Brink Guard with precision. This encounter not only serves as a tutorial of sorts but also as a formidable hurdle ensuring your readiness for the challenges that lie ahead in the punishing world of The First Berserker: Khazan.
Delaying the face-off with Keshta might seem prudent—perhaps for leveling up or progressing through the main storyline—but such hesitation could be a grave mistake. The next major area introduces a sharp rise in difficulty, making the battle with Keshta a crucial proving ground to prepare you for what’s to come.
Moreover, triumphing over Keshta rewards you with your first Phantom Ability, valuable assets you can acquire throughout the game. These passive bonuses enhance Khazan’s connection with the Blade Phantom and can be pivotal in various combat situations. For instance, Keshta’s Phantom Ability gradually regenerates Khazan’s stamina, a boon that could significantly ease your journey through the challenging landscape of The Forgotten Temple and beyond.
In summary, embracing the challenge that Keshta presents right after surpassing the Blade Phantom is not just beneficial; it’s integral to setting the stage for success in the increasingly difficult realm of The First Berserker: Khazan.
