Punishing: Gray Raven vs The First Berserker: Khazan

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Limited Co-op Modes
• Setting: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi
• Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
• Global Release: 2021-07-16
• Unique Feature: A unique and stylish combo-based combat system built around a '3-Ping' orb matching mechanic, combined with a last-second dodge that triggers a 'Matrix' slow-motion state.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only (with AI summons)
• Setting: Dungeon & Fighter Universe (Arad)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: A unique cel-shaded anime art style combined with brutal, fast-paced Soulslike combat and a deep weapon stance and skill system.

• Squad Members: In single-player modes, the other two members of your squad are AI constructs you can switch to at any time. In co-op modes, your companions are other human players controlling their own lead Construct.
  Constructs (AI/Player)

• Spirit of Advocacy: An asynchronous online feature where players can summon an AI-controlled phantom of another player to assist them in combat, particularly during difficult boss fights. The spirit's effectiveness can be upgraded.
  AI Phantom

• Constructs: Obtained primarily through the gacha 'R&D' system. Collecting different characters and their powerful 'SS' and 'SSS' rank upgrades is the main long-term goal.
• Black Cards: The game's premium currency. Earned from completing daily and weekly missions, story chapters, and events. Used to pull for new characters and weapons.

• Tomes of History: Hidden scrolls and books found throughout the levels that contain lore about the Dungeon & Fighter universe, the Pell Los Empire, and the events leading up to Khazan's betrayal.
• Fallen Knight's Insignia: Insignias taken from powerful, optional enemies. These can be traded at the hub area for special rewards, including rare upgrade materials or unique Tattoos.

• Post-Apocalyptic
• Sci-Fi
• Action RPG
• Hack and Slash
• Gacha
• Anime
• Cyberpunk
• Dystopian

• Revenge
• Betrayal
• Dark Fantasy
• Demonic Possession
• Hardcore Combat
• Soulslike
• Anime
• Gore
• Story Rich
• Violent

• Various: Katanas, Dual Pistols, Cannons, Scythes, etc.
  Each playable Construct has their own unique weapon type. Players can obtain a variety of 4-star, 5-star, and 6-star weapons through the gacha system or by crafting. 6-star weapons are signature to a specific Construct and provide powerful, unique passive abilities.

• Dual Wield: Axe and Shortsword Combo
  A balanced weapon stance offering a mix of speed and power. Allows for rapid combos and agile movement, making it a versatile choice for most encounters.
• Greatsword: Heavy Two-Handed Sword
  A slow but devastating weapon that deals massive damage and can easily break enemy guards. Its moveset is focused on powerful, charged attacks and defensive capabilities.
• Spear: Long-Range Melee
  A nimble, long-range weapon that allows Khazan to poke enemies from a safe distance. It is excellent for managing space and requires high stamina to use effectively.

• Memories: The primary way to build characters. Each Construct can equip a set of six 'Memories'. These items provide base stats (like HP and ATK) and powerful set bonuses (at 2, 4, or 6 pieces) that are crucial for a character's performance. They are the equivalent of 'Artifacts' or 'Stigmata' in similar games.

• Equipment Sets: Players can equip various pieces of armor, including helms, pauldrons, wristguards, and leggings. Equipping a complete set of matching gear (e.g., Hero's Armor Set from the Deluxe Edition) provides predetermined set bonuses that enhance specific stats or abilities.
• Randomized Gear: Armor and weapons are dropped by enemies with different rarity levels (Common, Rare, Epic, etc.). Each piece has randomized defense values and can roll with bonus attributes, such as increased health, stamina regeneration, or elemental resistance, encouraging players to hunt for better loot.

• Coatings: Purely cosmetic outfits for the playable Constructs. Coatings can be purchased with premium currency, earned through in-game events, or unlocked via a special gacha system. They range from casual wear to elaborate, high-fantasy designs.

• Hero's Armor Set: A cosmetic armor set included in the Deluxe Edition, allowing players to change the appearance of Khazan's gear to a more heroic, ornate style.
• Pre-Order Bonus Armor: Pre-ordering any edition of the game granted access to a unique armor set with cosmetic variations named 'Shackles,' 'Scar,' 'Mark,' and 'Resolve'.

Progression is a core RPG element. Players earn Lacrima (experience points) to level up Khazan's base stats. A deep skill tree system allows for extensive customization of abilities for each weapon type. New moves and passive bonuses can be unlocked. Equipment (weapons and armor) is dropped by enemies with rarity levels and random stats, allowing for various character builds. Weapons can be upgraded and imbued with different properties by the blacksmith in the hub area.

The game is not an open world but is structured around mission-based, linear levels with intricate designs, shortcuts, and hidden paths that encourage exploration. Players will travel to various locations across the Pell Los Empire, including ruined villages, crumbling castles, and poison swamps. Between missions, players return to a central hub area known as 'The Crevice'.

• The Commandant: Player Character (Non-Playable)
  The player's role in the story. The Commandant is the tactical leader of the Gray Raven squad, making decisions and commanding the Constructs in battle. You do not directly see or control the Commandant.
• Lucia: Playable Construct (Attacker)
  The leader of the Gray Raven squad. A determined and skilled warrior who wields katanas. She has many different powerful versions (frames) like 'Plume' and 'Crimson Abyss'.
• Liv: Playable Construct (Support)
  The support member of Gray Raven. Her frames, like 'Empyrea' and 'Luminance', are top-tier healers and buffers essential for team survival.
• Lee: Playable Construct (Attacker)
  The ranged specialist of Gray Raven, skilled with dual pistols and engineering. His frames, like 'Entropy' and 'Hyperreal', are powerful damage dealers.
• Vera: Playable Construct (Support/Attacker)
  A combat medic from another squad. Her frames, like 'Rozen' and 'Garnet', are highly sought after for their ability to provide both healing and significant damage.

• Khazan: Playable Protagonist
  The legendary General of the Pell Los Empire and the first 'Berserker'. After being betrayed and exiled, he seeks revenge against those who destroyed his life.
• Ozma: Key Narrative Figure / Archmage
  Khazan's best friend and a master of magic. He was also betrayed by the Empire, and his fate is a central mystery that drives the plot.
• Tristan: Ally / Former Soldier
  A loyal soldier who once served under Khazan. He remains steadfastly by Khazan's side after his exile, offering support and guidance.
• Elamein: Ally / Shield Maiden
  A fierce warrior who joins Khazan on his quest, providing combat support and acting as a moral compass.

• Story Campaign
  A long and ongoing campaign divided into chapters that tells the dark story of the Gray Raven squad's fight to reclaim Earth.
• Phantom Pain Cage
  A weekly endgame boss rush mode. Players fight a series of bosses and compete for high scores on a server-wide leaderboard to earn premium currency.
• War Zone
  A weekly endgame mode where players fight through waves of enemies to earn points. High scores place players in higher tiers for better rewards.
• Limited-Time Events
  Each new patch introduces several events with unique stories, gameplay mechanics, and valuable rewards, including premium currency and upgrade materials.

• Main Story Missions
  Follow the linear narrative path to hunt down Khazan's betrayers, uncover the political conspiracy, and discover the truth behind the demonic forces influencing the empire. Each mission culminates in a major boss battle.
• Side Quests (Remixed Levels)
  Optional missions unlocked at the hub area that allow players to revisit completed levels. These levels are often reconfigured with new enemy placements, different environmental hazards, and unique boss encounters, offering additional challenges and narrative beats.
• Spirit Duels
  Optional duels against powerful spirits that randomly appear in levels. Defeating them rewards players with a special currency used to upgrade the 'Spirit of Advocacy' summon.

The First Berserker: Khazan does not feature any multiplayer or co-operative modes. It includes an asynchronous online feature where players can summon a 'Spirit of Advocacy,' an AI-controlled phantom of another player, to assist in boss battles.

The game was released with a Standard Edition ($59.99) and a Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99). The Deluxe Edition includes the main game, a 'Hero's Weapon Set' and 'Hero's Armor Set' for cosmetic customization, a digital artbook, and 72-hour early access to the game before its global launch.

• Q: What is Punishing: Gray Raven?
  A: It is a free-to-play, fast-paced action RPG with a gacha system. It is known for its stylish, high-skill combat, dark sci-fi story, and challenging endgame content.
• Q: Is Punishing: Gray Raven free-to-play friendly?
  A: Yes, it is considered one of the most F2P-friendly gacha games. It has a pity system that guarantees you get the newest S-Rank character if you save enough premium currency, which is given out generously through events and daily activities.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: The combat is real-time, fast-paced, and combo-heavy. Its unique feature is the '3-Ping' system, where you match colored orbs to unleash powerful skills. It also features a perfect dodge 'Matrix' mechanic that triggers a slow-motion state.
• Q: Is there multiplayer?
  A: Yes, but it is limited. While most of the game is single-player, there are specific co-op modes where you can team up with two other players to fight powerful bosses.

• Q: What kind of game is The First Berserker: Khazan?
  A: It is a hardcore single-player action RPG, often described as a 'Soulslike' for its challenging, stamina-based combat and intricate level design. It is set in the Dungeon & Fighter universe.
• Q: Is The First Berserker: Khazan open world?
  A: No, it is a mission-based game. Players select missions from a central hub, and each mission takes place in its own large, linear level with shortcuts and hidden paths.
• Q: Is there multiplayer?
  A: No, the game is single-player only. It does feature an asynchronous online component where you can summon an AI phantom of another player to help you.
• Q: How is combat different from other Soulslikes?
  A: While it shares core mechanics like stamina management and parrying, Khazan's combat is noted for its faster, more aggressive pace and anime-inspired visual flair. The ability to switch between three distinct weapon stances on the fly also adds a unique layer of tactical depth.

The game utilizes a distinct, high-quality 3D cel-shaded art style that gives its characters an 'anime' appearance, while the environments remain grounded in a dark, gritty medieval fantasy aesthetic. This creates a unique visual blend that stands out in the Soulslike genre.

The UI is typical for the Soulslike genre, featuring health, stamina, and magic/spirit bars. A quick-select menu allows for easy access to consumable items. Weapon stances and equipped abilities are also clearly displayed. The overall design is clean to minimize obstruction during intense combat.

The game includes a range of difficulty options. While there is no dedicated 'story mode,' players can choose a difficulty that affects enemy scaling. The game also supports remappable controls, customizable subtitles, and upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR to aid performance.

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Punishing: Gray Raven. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Kuro Game, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a title originally designed for mobile, the PC client's requirements are relatively modest, but higher resolutions and framerates still benefit from more powerful hardware. The 1440p and 4K tiers are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. For a fast-paced action game like Punishing: Gray Raven, maintaining a high, stable framerate is key to the experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: While the game is not extremely demanding, a higher TGP will ensure the GPU can consistently deliver a high framerate without throttling, which is important for the game's fluid combat.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Intense combat sequences with many on-screen effects can increase hardware temperatures. A good cooling system will prevent performance dips during long gaming sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A capable CPU with good power delivery is needed to handle the game's fast-paced action and ensure smooth input response.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to minimize system latency, providing a more responsive feel to dodges, parries, and combos, which is vital in a high-skill action game.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The official PC client of Punishing: Gray Raven does not have native support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is primarily based on raw hardware capability.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance will be most affected by settings such as Resolution, Shadow Quality, Post-Processing, and Effects Quality. The game offers options to uncap the framerate, which is highly recommended for players with high-refresh-rate monitors.
• Game Name: Punishing: Gray Raven

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for The First Berserker: Khazan. This information is based on official PC specifications found on the game's Steam page and other reliable sources, adapted to the requested JSON structure. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks. The game's official requirements note specific performance targets (1080p/30fps for Minimum, 1080p/60fps for Recommended).
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. The First Berserker: Khazan's official specs are relatively moderate, so a wide range of modern gaming laptops should deliver a great experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: To match the performance of the desktop GPUs listed, laptop GPUs will need a sufficient TGP. Higher TGP allows the GPU to boost higher and maintain performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: As a fast-paced action RPG, consistent performance is key. A laptop with a robust cooling system will prevent thermal throttling during intense combat sequences.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Adequate power delivery to the CPU is important for maintaining stable frame rates, especially in a game with complex physics and animations.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for the best performance and lowest latency, which is crucial for a hardcore action game where timing is everything.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Built on Unreal Engine, the game is expected to support NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. The PCGamingWiki confirms support for DLSS 3.7, FSR 2, and XeSS 1.3, including DLSS Frame Generation, which significantly boosts framerates on supported hardware.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: The most impactful settings on performance will likely be Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Post-Processing, and Texture Quality. The game's stylized, anime-inspired graphics may be less demanding on texture memory than photorealistic titles.
• Game Name: The First Berserker: Khazan

• Upscaling Tech: The official PC client of Punishing: Gray Raven does not have native support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is primarily based on raw hardware capability.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance will be most affected by settings such as Resolution, Shadow Quality, Post-Processing, and Effects Quality. The game offers options to uncap the framerate, which is highly recommended for players with high-refresh-rate monitors.

• Upscaling Tech: Built on Unreal Engine, the game is expected to support NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. The PCGamingWiki confirms support for DLSS 3.7, FSR 2, and XeSS 1.3, including DLSS Frame Generation, which significantly boosts framerates on supported hardware.
• Key Settings Impact: The most impactful settings on performance will likely be Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Post-Processing, and Texture Quality. The game's stylized, anime-inspired graphics may be less demanding on texture memory than photorealistic titles.

• G P U T G P: While the game is not extremely demanding, a higher TGP will ensure the GPU can consistently deliver a high framerate without throttling, which is important for the game's fluid combat.
• Cooling Thermals: Intense combat sequences with many on-screen effects can increase hardware temperatures. A good cooling system will prevent performance dips during long gaming sessions.
• C P U Power Limits: A capable CPU with good power delivery is needed to handle the game's fast-paced action and ensure smooth input response.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to minimize system latency, providing a more responsive feel to dodges, parries, and combos, which is vital in a high-skill action game.

• G P U T G P: To match the performance of the desktop GPUs listed, laptop GPUs will need a sufficient TGP. Higher TGP allows the GPU to boost higher and maintain performance.
• Cooling Thermals: As a fast-paced action RPG, consistent performance is key. A laptop with a robust cooling system will prevent thermal throttling during intense combat sequences.
• C P U Power Limits: Adequate power delivery to the CPU is important for maintaining stable frame rates, especially in a game with complex physics and animations.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for the best performance and lowest latency, which is crucial for a hardcore action game where timing is everything.