Neople and Nexon examine how Dungeon & Fighter drives the Lore and Origin of The First Berserker: Khazan

Developer Neople and publisher Nexon have new details for their upcoming hardcore action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan in a new blog entry that examines how the lore and origin fueling their upcoming title is linked to its parent game, Dungeon & Fighter (DNF).

In DNF, the story behind Berserker class that players can choose are Slayers that have succumbed to the "Khazan syndrome" that trades their sanity for newfound power. DNF has previously detailed how Khazan's rage stems from the murder of his close friend, Ozma, by the emperor of the Pell Los Empire.

With The First Berserker: Khazan, Neople and Nexon are utilizing the game as a way to "introduce new storylines and episodes that have not yet been explored in the source material." When designing the gameplay style of Khazan himself, the developers turned to the Neo: Berserker from DNF as an inspiration when thinking of how they wanted Khazan to embody the concept of a "primitive and powerful warrior."

Learn more about The First Berserker: Khazan in the new blog entry talking about the Lore and Origin of the titular character himself down below. The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam), though no release date has been shared.

The Lore and Origin of The First Berserker: Khazan Himself

NEXON and Neople's upcoming hardcore action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan (referred to as Khazan) may be a new name to many, though its titular character has built a legacy for himself long before the game’s initial reveal. Khazan, a key figure within the Dungeon & Fighter (referred to as DNF) universe, takes the spotlight as the main playable character and sets the stage as the "first berserker" in the epic tale inspired by the franchise.

Khazan’s adaptation from DNF comes in the form of an expanded universe, with the narrative being in line with the Dungeon & Fighter story that Khazan lives, while guiding players through new storylines and monstrous battles never seen before. Neople, the Nexon studio behind the DNF IP, views Khazan as an ideal entrance into the hardcore action RPG genre and an expansion of the DNF universe to new players around the world, particularly thanks to Khazan's gripping personal story of a fallen general’s revenge and its unique hardcore action.

Exploring the Origin of a ‘Berserker’ and How DNF Develops a Character

A “Berserker” is no strange concept in action games, and similarly remains a staple archetype within Dungeon & Fighter, Neople’s most recognizable and regarded franchise. The word Berserker, derived from the ancient Nordic word "berserk," translates to “bear skin” and originated from the appearance of Vikings who fought with these adorning uniforms. The term has held elements from its origin several centuries later, often referencing brave or frenzied warriors to this day.

In the early stages of character conception, Neople paid close attention to the Berserker class’s overwhelming combat power and action that amps up the immersion. The class in Dungeon Fighter Online combines simple yet high-tempo motion and high-damaging skills to reinforce their belligerent image and realize the concept of a primitive and powerful warrior. In particular, the "Neo: Berserker” from DNF, an ultimate Berserker style class that dominated the scene with powerful physical and explosive skills, was loved by players around the world.

The Hero of Pell Los and The First Berserker, Khazan

The key feature of “Khazan syndrome” symbolizes the Berserker class in DNF. Khazan syndrome is a curse originated by Khazan himself, the general of the Pell Los Empire, where Slayers (iconic playable characters in DNF) who have succumbed to this curse are reborn as Berserkers with immense power and explosive attacks when engulfed by anger. Khazan's curse stems from his relationship with Ozma, a close friend and the emperor of Pell Los. Khazan and Ozma, both revered as heroes, were then tricked, exiled, and ultimately murdered by the emperor, leading to Khazan’s rage.

Khazan, the first berserker and originator of the curse in Arad, is a DNF fan-favorite along with Ozma, who has since been awakened as an Apostle following his descent with Khazan. The tale of revenge from these two fallen heroes has become a staple within DNF and the "Ozma Raid," which consists of stories from both Khazan and Ozma, has been praised by the DNF community for its design and compelling narrative.

Rousing Hardcore Action Meets Khazan’s Compelling Journey

Among DNF’s many characters, Khazan’s popularity and eye-catching personal tale led to the decision to develop The First Berserker: Khazan. By focusing on this particular character, Neople hopes to bring the universe of DNF to a more diverse audience through one of its most gripping stories. In addition to this, Neople intends to connect Khazan’s immersive storyline and powerful narrative in a way that encourages players to connect themselves with the berserker general and keep them engaged in the larger narrative surrounding him and the universe.

While Khazan is based out of the DNF universe, it will introduce new storylines and episodes that have not yet been explored in the source material. In this telling, the story begins from the point of his escape thanks to an avalanche that struck during his deportation. From this point, the player will experience fierce battles and take revenge by becoming Khazan, who has been reborn as a berserker using the power of the ghost "Blade Phantom."

Alongside Khazan’s narrative, Neople plans to amplify its gameplay with high-quality, hardcore action. Using heavy yet dynamic movements, players will feel the action that lives up to the power fantasy of becoming a Berserker and compliments the original game by adding DNF’s unique 3D cel-animated graphics and dynamic combat system. In addition, it offers the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging boss fight through multiple complex, action-packed battles. In the words of Myeongjin Yun, Producer and CEO of Neople, ”Khazan is a character with a straightforward and in-depth narrative and we are building a robust and immersive storyline," and added, "We hope you look forward to the epic story that The First Berserker will introduce."