"Now it's time for... the revenge!"
Changed Berserk (also known as Berserk Deluxe) is a 2022 Changed fangame Beat 'em Up made by Spanish developer SGymer (Teff).
You play as Colin, who wakes up from cryostasis in an abandoned laboratory skyscraper, alone, and surrounded by goo monsters intent on assimilating him. You must fight your way out, with attack combos, melee weapons and firearms, to defeat these creatures.
The game can be downloaded from Itch.io
.
Changed Berserk contains examples of:
- 2½D: The fangame switches to this viewpoint during the Deceived Ending.
- 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: Some sections of the platforming game have 3D barricaded hallways you run past.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Colin's a Troll to many of the beasts, and can quickly become a douchebag towards Puro when rejecting any friendship requests. Puro likewise, has an ulterior motive in all but one of the endings. The wolf works for Dr. K and desires to assimilate Colin, so he can rule over the tower complex as alpha-predator.
- Adaptational Wimp: Berserk is a Beat 'em Up. The nigh-unstoppable latex monsters can now be defeated with your bare fists, or with guns, neither of which would ever work in Changed.
- All for Nothing: In all endings Colin will have a Heroic BSoD when he finally sees the outside world lays in ruins, and there's nothing out there for him.
- Animal Jingoism: Averted. Both dark and light latex species have no feelings for hostility towards each other, and are more than happy to cooperate together to kick Colin's ass.
- Assimilation Plot: Subverted. Some of the monsters want Colin to become one of them, or part of them. Others just want to beat the young man to death for intruding on their terrority.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: Unlike the Hive Mind in Changed, all the resident monsters here value strength above all things, fighting one another for respect and better standing under their Alpha (implied to be the giant Squid Dog) who controls them all. They see defeating the human as a rite of passage. It's also implied by doing a Pacifist Run, the monsters don't see any honor in attacking someone not interested in fighting, and stop chasing him after Squid Dog declines to show himself.
- Camera Abuse: You can punch some of the latex beasts so hard, they fly straight into the screen, cracking it, before sliding down. This can become a situational Interface Screw when trying to jump obstacle-filled stages.
- Collapsing Ceiling Boss: When down to one unit of health left The Squid Dog after slamming his fists and tentacles down for the entire Boss Battle, causes the overhead pipework to fall onto him, knocking him out.
- Combos: Your melee attacks change with each consecutive hit after the first punch, and vary depending on whether Colin's on the move, in the air, stationary or holding a weapon.
- Creator Cameo: You can find the developer SGymer (Teff), of the fan game by exploring the game's gallery. This takes you straight to the Developer's Room. He'll answer any questions the player has about Berserk's development.
- Cruel to Be Kind: In all endings Puro didn't want Colin to find out the human race has been destroyed, but wouldn't stop him if he was utterly determined to discover the truth.
- Darker and Edgier: The monsters, though
cute, are more intimidating at a glance. Colin can dispatch them with relative ease as their gelatinous ooze splatters all over the place. There's profanity whenever weapons are thrown. The man will bleed everywhere if enemies assault him, becoming Bloodier and Gorier if they gang up. - End-Game Results Screen: The credits will give the player a complete breakdown of their run time, enemies defeated, resets, damage dished out, and so on.
- Excuse Plot: Berserk is a Beat 'em Up. The plot of the game it parodies, the global pandemic, and the creation of the latex goos, all take a backseat to mindless button mashing fun.
- Fragile Speedster: Colin's light on his feet and can effortlessly punch and kick through waves of latex threats, but there's no Mercy Invincibility in Berserk. He will get beaten to a pulp if cornered or surrounded by his enemies.
- The Ghost: Dr. K is mentioned by Puro in all endings, but doesn't appear unless criteria is met for the Destructive Ending, where Colin destroys all the security cameras, forcing the former-human to show himself directly.
- Glowing Eyes of Doom: As you flee the female snow leopard through the dark vents, her green feline eyes are glowing with malicious intent to catch you.
- Healing Checkpoint: Your health is always restored after reaching a new section of the level.
- Improvised Weapon: All the melee weapons are these, from old lead pipe, a traffic cone, to a fire axe. As firearms are rare, these are your go-to when the fight gets heated.
- Kaiju: Squid Dog appears in a Boss Battle, towering over a large flooded area, and he is utterly enormous. Colin will have to deal with waves of enemies, falling debris, and his fist and tentacle attacks, which get progressively faster when he's down to half health.
- Large and in Charge: Its implied the Squid Dog being of massive size and strength, is the alpha predator that controls all the other latex monsters running around within the complex.
- Made of Indestructium: Subverted. The artificial lab-created monsters still can't technically "die", but Colin can beat, blast and dismember them with melee weapons and guns.
- Mooks, but no Bosses: Choosing a Pacifist Run will mean The Squid Dog does not show up for a Boss Battle. After the aquatic area is cleared, the latex animals become placated, appeased Colin's no threat to them, and so are all absent afterward.
- Multiple Endings: The fangame has five possible different endings, depending on actions were taken right up to the last area of the game, and what choice you make at the end:
- Deceived: Being an asshole to Puro throughout the game, will ensure an Assimilation Plot. The dark latex wolf explains to Colin there's nothing out in the wastelands for him, and it's far better and kinder to become a part of him instead, so that his life will no longer be threatened by the other roaming monsters.
- If Colin accepts, the goo creature is pleased, shaking his hand before engulfing him alive. As Puro transforms he remarks the human's consciousness now forever belongs to him, and with this new body (and Dr. K's consent), intends to rule over the other latex experiments within the tower.
- If Colin rejects this. Puro is confused, before forcibly grabbing him, reminding Colin he has no choice in the matter; the man will become part of him, whether he wants to or not.
- Neutral: The default ending when the player hasn't qualified for any of the other endings. Colin will still have his Heroic BSoD upon seeing the Urban Ruins outside. Puro arrives telling him Dr. K is waiting in his office but only implies he'll explain everything, even asking he doesn't "take too long".
- Pacifist: If the player doesn't attack any of the goo beasts, The Squid Dog doesn't show up for a Boss Battle, and all the monsters are absent thereafter. Puro's happily amazed, stating the latex beasts are now content and docile. The wolf explains Dr. K is waiting in his office to have a talk before he leaves the tower. Puro promises there won't be any tricks and will defend the human if anyone threatens him.
- Destructive: If the player defeats all the goo animals and/or smashes up all security cameras, Puro will unhappily remark he left quite a trail of destruction, and that Dr. K would be coming to see him personally. The scientist arrives, annoyed the human broke his cameras, and wants to talk to him about the state of the outside world. K wants him in his office, asking he "doesn't take too long".
- Deceived: Being an asshole to Puro throughout the game, will ensure an Assimilation Plot. The dark latex wolf explains to Colin there's nothing out in the wastelands for him, and it's far better and kinder to become a part of him instead, so that his life will no longer be threatened by the other roaming monsters.
- Personal Space Invader: Some of the latex enemies will latch onto Colin, instead of pummelling him. You've got to break out of their grasp, before they absorb you.
- Playing with Syringes: Among the enemies are goo beasts coming at you with syringes full of latex mutagen. It deals a lot of damage to you if they successfully connect.
- Run or Die: The most faithful the fangame is to the original title gameplay, is when Colin is being chased through the vents by the female snow leopard. You cannot fight back, as touching her results in being instantly swallowed up.
- Scenery Gorn: The sunset lighting effects as Colin sees the post-apocalyptic outside world is unexpected and beautiful.
- Schmuck Bait: All the traffic cones present are actually mimetic latex creatures Hidden in Plain Sight, picking one up gives you the option to wear it, which does nothing but nets you an instant game over.
- Throwaway Guns: They're uncommon weapons to find, but if you destroy walls and lockers you might find either a XM fully-automatic shotgun to dish out a powerful short-range blast, or the AK-47 that'll spray lead everywhere. In the video game canon, the latex beasts are Immune to Bullets, but not in Berserk. These firearms can blow away most Mooks or just clobber them with, for a limited time as you can't reload them. Once they're about to run dry, you can throw the weapon at the monsters.
- We Can Rule Together: Puro tries to convince Colin to be willingly assimilated in the Deceived Ending. However, the dark latex wolf was lying, and works for Dr. K as The Dragon, to bring order to chaos in the superstructure. Colin ends up forever a part of him instead.
