TL;DR
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is a musou-style hack-and-slash game that throws you into the dark fantasy world of Berserk. If you love Dynasty Warriors and its horde-slaying action, you'll find familiar gameplay here, including character upgrades and boss battles. While the game features cutscenes from the anime and a familiar art style, animations and frame rate can be inconsistent on PS4. It’s a solid, if repetitive, experience perfect for short bursts of violent fun, especially for die-hard Berserk fans. However, newcomers might find the simplistic mechanics a bit too much to handle. Curious to see if this gore-filled adventure is your cup of tea? Read on for the full breakdown!
Berserk is a Japanese anime/manga series centered on the scarred warrior Guts and his formidable sword, set within a dark fantasy world. Berserk made its initial foray into the gaming world on Dreamcast (1999) with the mature-themed Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage, which shared similar mechanics but placed greater emphasis on narrative. Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is a title within the Omega Force / Tecmo Koei “musou” genre. These games challenge players to control a lone warrior battling through massive enemy hordes, executing elaborate combos, and striving for high kill counts. This gameplay style is familiar from the Dynasty Warriors franchise, which was recently adapted into a Nintendo-themed version in Hyrule Warriors.
In terms of gameplay, Berserk and the Band of the Hawk adheres closely to established conventions. Levels retain a linear structure, enemies continue to “appear” dynamically, and players are rewarded for eliminating key threats and defeating formidable enemy heroes. Between missions, players can enhance their characters using treasures acquired in previous stages. While variations exist in environments and objectives, the core gameplay loop consistently involves defeating large waves of enemies to prevent them from overwhelming allies and disrupting the mission.
The narrative in Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is presented through cutscenes extracted from the anime adaptation. Visually, the game presents a mixed bag. The art style evokes Attack on Titan with a stylized cel-shading approach, but animations and the frame rate can occasionally struggle to maintain fluidity on the PS4. The audio comprises battle music and Japanese voice samples, providing a suitable atmosphere but lacking distinction.
Progressing through the game allows players to control characters besides Guts.
For enthusiasts of the Berserk manga/anime series and musou games like Dynasty Warriors, Berserk and the Band of the Hawk delivers accessible and violent entertainment that is easy to pick up and suitable for shorter play sessions without disrupting the overall 20-hour campaign. The game includes surprises that become more enjoyable with progression, such as diverse characters and storylines. However, this requires patience. The game mechanics lack complexity and variety, making a strong affinity for hack-and-slash gameplay crucial to avoid fatigue.
Considering that Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is a full-priced title on PS4 at the time of this review, the recommendation is primarily aimed at established fans. Others should consider trying it first, as its appeal lies in short bursts, but it is a specialized, simplistic, and repetitive experience. Regrettably, the game does not appear to support cross-play between PS4 and PS Vita, requiring separate purchases for those who still utilize Sony’s portable console. This is unfortunate, as its self-contained missions would have made it ideal for portable play.
