Playable characters include some of Berserk’s more
monstrous creatures.
Where Berserk does differ from other Warriors titles
is with its fittingly graphic violence. The Berserk
series is known for its gore, and Omega Force’s game
doesn’t hold back in this regard, with fountains of
blood and body parts flying around the battlefields.
It matches the bleak tone of its source material, and
mixes the grim fantasy and demonic horror elements
of the saga expertly.
Your mileage with the game will largely depend on
your attitude towards the other Warriors games,
unsurprisingly. If, like me, you find the 1 vs 1000
combat and surprisingly deep strategy to the stages
a thrill even after dozens of hours, you’ll get a great
deal out of Berserk. If you’re a Berserk fan wanting
to experience the saga in a new way, the game will
satisfy, and the inclusion of content post the Golden
Age arc will certainly be of interest. If you’re a fantasy
fan who wants something dark and gory to sink their
teeth in to, Berserk’s story will engage you even if its
combat doesn’t.
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk might not be the
finest Warriors game to date, but its certainly an
enjoyable one. 7/10
The Golden Age
Kentaro Mirua’s Berserk manga series has been
running since 1988, and is still going today. Guts’
adventures have seen several adaptations over the
years, most prominently a 1997 TV series, a 2013
movie trilogy, and a 2016 follow-up TV series.
In gaming, Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage was
released for the Dreamcast in 1999, with a 2004
PS2 followup that was only released in Japan.
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is the first time
the Golden Age story arc has been depicted in a
game, though. The series is renowned for its bleak
tone, graphic depictions of violence, and strong
sexual content.
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