Latest news with #Neople
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steam Next Fest hasn't even started, but I'm already obsessed with the subtly Soulslike demo for this 'hardcore' action RPG with over 3,000 reviews of its own
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Developer Neople and publisher Nexon have avoided the term Soulslike in official marketing material, but The First Berserker: Khazan has been making waves among fans of FromSoftware's flavor of action RPG. Positioned as a prequel story for the Dungeon Fighter Online universe and scheduled to launch March 27, The First Berserker: Khazan promises "hardcore" combat and epic boss fights, and its Steam demo is living up to that so far. Ahead of Steam Next Fest's demo extravaganza, I had a play of the Khazan demo – which has a stack of 3,436 Steam reviews that many full games would envy, and with a 90% positive score to boot – and was quickly sucked into it. Some tried-and-true Souls mechanics are introduced quickly – familiar UI and in-universe stand-ins for bonfires, Estus flasks, and Souls as XP – but several distinctions also become clear in the opening minutes, and I'm not just talking about the lovely celshaded look featuring buckets of blood. This is a much faster game than the likes of Elden Ring or even Bloodborne, with an emphasis on perfect dodges and blocks between swift combos that can lead into finishing moves when you break an enemy's stance. The perfect parry and slow-mo effects tickle the brain just right, and heavy attacks punctuate light attacks well. Our hero, Khazan himself, closes gaps quickly, so you really stick to enemies as you swing away with the starter dual-wield sword and axe. Less positioning, more bludgeoning. The best defense is a good offense. Budgeting stamina is still important, but combat is noticeably less weighty than in loud-and-proud Soulslikes. The feel is closer to something like Black Myth: Wukong – colored by Soulslike elements, but not defined by them. If the devs don't want to call this a Soulslike, even if Steam tags certainly do, let's call it a post-Souls game. The action sandbox is deepened through stealth kills and death-from-above attacks which help even the playing field as enemies ambush you in kind. Pop open the gear menu, which within 20 minutes grows filled with bits and bobs dropped by the soldiers and beasts of the wintry demo level, and you'll find set bonuses that begin to layer in RPG elements. The character screen is pared down a bit, with only five stats to invest in, but there seems to be room to specialize within the melee focus. Neople promises plentiful skills and weapons for further customization, with Khazan wielding any weapon with ease. At first blush, The First Berserker: Khazan feels better than AI Limit, the standout Soulslike from last October's Steam Next Fest (which I also enjoyed). I haven't seen enough to truly fall in love with it, but what's here is mighty promising. It runs perfectly, looks crisp, and instantly feels good in your hands, with none of the sluggishness or delay that so often afflicts the snacky action games that I just can't quit. The demo boss kicked my butt a few times, too, which bodes well. The First Berserker: Khazan is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X as well as PC. "Souls-like meets Fable" is all this indie RPG needed to say to meet its Kickstarter goal, but it added in a Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood nod just for good measure.
Tahawul Tech
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Tahawul Tech
NVIDIA DLSS enhances performance in new titles
Dubai — Last week, NVIDIA released DLSS 4, featuring DLSS Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards and laptops, available in over 75 games and apps. Along with NVIDIA app's new DLSS 4 overrides, which allow gamers to further enhance their experience by adding DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, or new and improved AI models for supported titles. Now, the complete suite of DLSS 4 upgrades, including DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, are available in Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Hogwarts Legacy, and Star Wars™ Outlaws adds support soon. Gamers can enjoy 6 more games that are DLSS-enhanced – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, The First Berserker: Khazan, NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black, Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, and Level Zero: Extraction. NVIDIA RTX technology is delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. NEXON and Neople's The First Berserker: Khazan is an upcoming single-player hardcore action RPG from the extensive universe of Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) to millions of players around the world. Ahead of its March 27th release, gamers can now download a two-level demo from Steam, with progress transferring to the full version upon release. In the demo, all GeForce RTX gamers can activate DLSS Super Resolution, accelerating frame rates, and NVIDIA Reflex, reducing PC latency to make battles even more responsive. Alternatively, gamers can activate DLAA if they have performance to spare, maximizing image quality. Using NVIDIA app's new DLSS 4 overrides, gamers can also upgrade DLSS Super Resolution to the new transformer AI model, further enhancing image quality, and activate DLSS Multi Frame Generation, generating up to three additional frames per traditionally rendered frame, for even faster frame rates. NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black, the remaster of 2008's Ninja Gaiden II is developed with Unreal Engine 5, and boasts hardware-accelerated ray-traced Lumen lighting, significantly enhancing everything from character visuals to environmental backgrounds, while characters, effects, and lighting have been completely redesigned to take full advantage of modern technology. GeForce RTX PC gamers can activate DLSS Super Resolution and DLSS Frame Generation to accelerate performance. Developed by Aesir Interactive and Nacon, Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator is the first simulation game in which gamers experience every aspect of a paramedic's life. Quickly reach the accident site at the wheel of your ambulance and take care of the injured with first aid. At launch, the game will include support for DLSS Super Resolution and DLSS Frame Generation, accelerating performance in the game's large, fictional, ray-traced U.S. city. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, the FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, uses the latest technology to bring FINAL FANTASY VII to a new generation and allows fans to experience the famed story reimagined. The second installment in the project, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, is out now on PC, and GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate performance using DLSS Super Resolution. Published by PLAION, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II picks up where its predecessor left off, thrusting players into the shoes of Henry, the steadfast son of a blacksmith, embroiled in a tumultuous tale of vengeance, betrayal, and self-discovery. GeForce RTX gamers can elevate their experience with DLSS Super Resolution, boosting frame rates for even greater immersion in its stunning 15th-century open world. NVIDIA app users can upgrade DLSS Super Resolution in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II to a new, even better DLSS 4 transformer AI model to further enhance image quality and activate DLAA. Level Zero: Extraction is a multiplayer extraction horror shooter from Doghowl Games and tinyBuild that blends the heart-pounding tension of asymmetric survival horrors with the high-stakes showdowns of extraction shooters. Playing as an elite PMC mercenary, embark on dangerous raids to extract valuable loot and face off against other players and unpredictable PvE hazards. Level Zero: Extraction has just exited Early Access, and GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate frame rates with DLSS Super Resolution and DLSS Frame Generation.
