The First Berserker: Khazan vs Path of Exile 2

• 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.

• Perspective: Isometric (Top-Down)
• Multiplayer: 6-Player Online Co-op, 2-Player Couch Co-op
• Setting: Wraeclast (20 years after PoE1)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Early Access Release: 2024-12-06
• Unique Feature: A complete overhaul of the original's core systems, featuring a new Skill Gem system, a dedicated dodge roll, and a dual-specialization passive tree.

• 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

• 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.

• Unique Items: Dropped by monsters throughout the game. Each of the 700 new equipment base types has its own unique item variant, leading to thousands of powerful and build-enabling items to find.
• Gold: A new currency type that drops from monsters. Gold is used for various NPC vendor interactions and for respeccing passive skill points, providing an alternative to Orbs of Regret.

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

• Dark Fantasy
• Eldritch Horror
• Deep Character Customization
• Loot Hunting
• Complex Economy
• Action RPG
• Survival
• Post-Apocalyptic

• 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.

• New Weapon Types: Spears, Crossbows, Flails
  Path of Exile 2 introduces several new weapon archetypes alongside returning favorites, each with their own dedicated skills and passive tree nodes.
• Returning Weapon Types: Swords, Axes, Maces, Bows, Wands, etc.
  All weapon types from the original game return, but with updated animations, sounds, and interactions within the new combat system.

• 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.

• Equipment Base Types: The game features 700 new equipment base types. Armor continues to provide a foundation of defenses (Armour, Evasion, Energy Shield) and serves as the housing for sockets, though the linking mechanic has been moved to the gems themselves.

• 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'.

• Cosmetic Microtransactions: Path of Exile 2 shares its cosmetic microtransaction system with the first game. Any armor sets, weapon effects, pets, and other cosmetics purchased in either game will be available to use in both.

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'.

• 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.

• Warrior (Str): Playable Class
  A new melee specialist who excels with maces and clubs.
• Sorceress (Int): Playable Class
  A new spellcaster who can seamlessly blend different elements like fire, cold, and lightning.
• Monk (Str/Dex): Playable Class
  A martial artist who uses a quarterstaff and his fists to deliver swift, mobile attacks.
• Huntress (Dex): Playable Class
  A spear-wielding warrior who excels at hit-and-run tactics, throwing her spear and recalling it.
• Mercenary (Dex/Int): Playable Class
  A crossbow specialist who brings shooter-style mechanics to the game, using different types of bolts for various effects.
• Returning Archetypes: Playable Classes
  The six original classes (Marauder, Ranger, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Shadow) return with new models and animations, alongside six entirely new classes for a total of 12.

• 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 Main Campaign
  A brand new, six-act storyline that takes players across Wraeclast to stop a new wave of Corruption. The campaign is designed to be a more curated, single-player-like experience compared to the first game.
• The Atlas of Worlds
  The shared endgame between both Path of Exile games. After completing the campaign, players unlock the Atlas and can run thousands of procedurally generated map areas to challenge pinnacle bosses and acquire the most powerful loot.

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 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.

• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 an expansion?
  A: No. Originally announced as an expansion, it is now a completely separate, standalone game with its own campaign, classes, and game mechanics. It will exist alongside the original Path of Exile.
• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 free to play?
  A: The game launched into a paid Early Access on December 6, 2024. The full 1.0 release of the game will be completely free-to-play, just like the original.
• Q: Do my purchases from Path of Exile 1 carry over?
  A: Yes. All cosmetic microtransactions and convenience items (like stash tabs) purchased in either game are shared and can be used in both Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2.
• Q: Can I play with my friends from Path of Exile 1?
  A: No. Because Path of Exile 2 is a separate game with different characters and balance, you cannot party up with players who are playing Path of Exile 1. However, PoE2 has full cross-play between its own PC and console versions.

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 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

• OFFICIAL EARLY ACCESS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications may change as development continues towards the full 1.0 release.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the specific model's cooling and power delivery (TGP). Path of Exile 2's new engine and complex combat encounters can be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.
• Game Name: Path of Exile 2

• 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: 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.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.