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Berserk and the Band of the Hawk

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This article is about the 2016 video game. For the 1980 video game, see Berzerk (video game).
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
Developer(s)Omega Force
Publisher(s)Koei Tecmo
Director(s)Dai Kawai
Jun Kawahara
Producer(s)Hisashi Koinuma
Designer(s)Genki Fujimori
Programmer(s)Yoshinao Yamagishi
Writer(s)Masahiro Kato
Keisuke Okabayashi
Composer(s)Masako Otsuka
Kosuke Mizukami
Ippo Igarashi
SeriesBerserk
Dynasty Warriors
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
PlayStation Vita
Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation 3
  • JP: October 27, 2016
PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
  • JP: October 27, 2016
  • NA: February 21, 2017
  • EU: February 24, 2017
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: February 21, 2017
Genre(s)Action, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk, known in Japan as Berserk Musou (Japanese: ベルセルク無双, Hepburn: Beruseruku Musō),[1] is a Musō game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Microsoft Windows. It is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors video game series and Kentaro Miura's Berserk manga series. Berserk and the Band of the Hawk was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, as well as PlayStation 3 in Japan on October 27, 2016, and was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita in February 2017.[1]

Gameplay

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Berserk and the Band of the Hawk mixes the hack-and-slash gameplay of Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series of video games, with the setting and characters from the Berserk manga series by Kentaro Miura.

Plot

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The game follows parts of the story of the manga series, starting at the chronological beginning with the Golden Age Arc and ending in the Hawk of the Millennium Empire Arc. The Guardians of Desire arc (Vol 1-3) featured chronologically after the Golden Age arc and its immediate follow-up, the Lost Children arc, are skipped.

Development

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Berserk and the Band of the Hawk was first revealed in a short promotion video by Koei Tecmo on June 12, 2016, prior to Electronic Entertainment Expo 2016. A release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, as well as PlayStation 3 in Japan and Microsoft Windows in western territories, were confirmed. A week later, on June 20, a flyer was sent out in Japan, which confirmed a September 21 release in the country.[2] In an interview, producer Hisashi Koinuma ensured fans that the team aims for a CERO D rating for the game in Japan and will do anything to avoid a CERO Z rating.[3] The Z rating is the equivalent of the "Adults Only" rating by the North American board ESRB. On July 15, 2016, Koei Tecmo revealed that the western version of the game was planned to release in Fall 2016.[4] However, when the game's official localized name was revealed, Koei Tecmo announced new release dates, being February 21, 2017 for North America and February 24, 2017 for Europe.[5] On December 1, 2016, Koei Tecmo America revealed its Endless Eclipse Mode, a new detail for battle mechanics and alternative armaments.[6]

In Japan, first-print copies of the game included a bathing outfit for Casca for in the game.[7]

In North America, pre-ordered copies of the game would include codes for DLC costumes.[8] The game supports PS4 Pro which targets 60fps in 1080p.[9][10]

Reception

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Berserk and the Band of the Hawk received "mixed or average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[11][12]

Destructoid awarded it a score of 8 out of 10, saying "Seeing the story continue past the Golden Age is enough for an enthusiast to buy in. Otherwise, wait for the price to match what's being offered."[13] Famitsu's four reviewers gave it scores of 9, 9, 9 and 8 out of ten, equalling a total of 35/40.[14] GameSpot awarded it a score of 5 out of 10, praising its story mode but criticising its secondary modes.[15] IGN awarded a score of 6.3 out of 10, saying "Berserk fits the Dynasty Warriors mold well in Band of the Hawk, but the too-easy combat still gets very repetitive."[16]

Sales

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The PlayStation 4 version has sold 32,751 copies in Japan while the Windows version has sold 24,904 copies.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sal Romano (2016-06-12). "Koei Tecmo announces Berserk for PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  2. ^ Sal Romano (2016-06-20). "Koei Tecmo's Berserk launches September 21 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  3. ^ "【E3 2016】史上最凶の無双が登場！謎に満ちた「ベルセルク無双」について鯉沼久史プロデューサーにインタビュー". Gamer. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  4. ^ "The Berserk Warriors game will launch this year in the west". Destructoid. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  5. ^ "Berserk and the Band of the Hawk launches February 21 in North America, February 24 in Europe". Gematsu. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  6. ^ "Koei Tecmo America Reveals 'Endless Eclipse Mode' For Berserk and the Band of the Hawk". Anime News Network. December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  7. ^ Giuseppe Nelva (2016-06-23). "Berserk for PS4/PS Vita/PS3/PC Gets First Bloody 1080p Screenshots and Full Trailer; Looks Awesome". DualShockers. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  8. ^ Romano, Sal (27 October 2016). "Beserk and the Band of the Hawk details combat styles, pre-order bonuses announced". Gematsu. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  9. ^ "Sony Reveals PS4 Pro Enhanced Japanese Games: Yakuza 6, Valkyria, Berserk, Nights of Azure 2 and More". DualShockers. 2016-11-10. Archived from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  10. ^ "PlayStation Games".
  11. ^ a b "Berserk and the Band of the Hawk for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Berserk and the Band of the Hawk for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Carter, Chris (February 21, 2017). "Review: Berserk and the Band of the Hawk". Destructoid. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Romano, Sal (October 18, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1455"". Gematsu. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Miguel, Concepcion (February 21, 2017). "Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Review". GameSpot. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Defreitas, Casey (February 21, 2017). "Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Review". IGN. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  17. ^ Sato (November 9, 2016). "This Week In Sales: Kamehamehas, 360 No Scopes, And A Side Of Alchemy". Siliconera. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
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