BERSERK and the Band of the Hawk

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a game by	Omega Force
Platform:	PC (2016)
Editor Rating:	7/10, based on 1 review
User Rating:	9.0/10 - 2 votes
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See also:	Hack and Slash Games

If you could think of an anime series that would be perfect for the Dynasty Warriors-style video game, what would you say? Did you mutter - Berserk...yes? That would be absolutely correct - and guess what? They've only gone and made a Berserk game in the Musou style. The offering is entitled - Berserk and the Band of the Hawk.

What's even more of a point of interest is that the game comes from Dynasty Warrior's publisher Koei. You'd be forgiven for suspecting that the gameplay would just be the former in a Berserk skin. There's nothing original, just enough to keep fans entertained and happy. We better dive in and have a look at whether we can confirm these suspicions.

Double the Hack, Double the Slash

All comparisons aside - it's easy to forget how instantly satisfying Musou games are. Berserk is no different in this manner - capitalizing on the violent nature of the anime series, you are dropped into your first battlefield swinging high and low. You will find yourself obliterating your enemies in a sea of blood and guts, making the combat highly entertaining from the get-go. But like every Musou games, there's much more under the surface that can detract from the main mechanics. It's probably best to start with the positives of Berserk and the Band of the Hawk. The cel-shaded visuals translate very well into a video game - the combat animations and environmental aesthetics look brilliant. Every level is as pleasing to look at as the next, with great character models and expressions that really set the game's mood. That also contributes to the narrative that is underlined with anime sequences actually making the story mode worthwhile.

And now the negative. While the game is not the Dynasty Warriors skin one would anticipate - it still harbors that repetitive gameplay that becomes a drag after a few hours. Especially considering how mind-numbingly easy it becomes with upgrades and experience rewarded too soon into the playthrough. You'll just be going through the motions with few characters to choose from for the majority of the campaign.

Dynasty of the Hawk

The Berserk offering should immediately get credit for trying not to be a carbon copy of Dynasty Warriors. The art style is unique - the narrative attempts to offer something special to the franchise - and still, the combat is incredibly satisfying.

Should a player never have even heard of the Berserk series - Band of the Hawk stands up as a decent Musou game amongst the many.

The lack of variation and repetitiveness of the game becomes a soul drainer before long, however. Perhaps if the game didn't get so easy quickly - it might have been different. There is more of a focus on the story than gameplay. The developers have opted to get you through the levels for the narrative reward. There's nothing wrong with giving Berserk and the Band of the Hawk a try, though. There are a few hours of bloody enjoyment to get out of it.

Pros:

Not a direct clone of Dynasty Warriors
Environmental and character models look phenomenal
Combat is satisfying

Cons:

You will play one character for much of the game - not much option to play as another
The combat does not vary much after a couple hours of play
Outside the bosses, each stage is far too easy

Overall rating: 7