Summary
Skydance’s Behemoth, one of the year’s most hotly anticipated VR titles, has released a new patch addressing what the developer calls a “controversial” player response to the game’s combat.Skydance’s Behemothlaunched in early December to disappointing reviews, with critics citing repetitive gameplay loops and glitchy combat as the primary detriments to the game’s playability.
First announced in 2022, fans of immersive gaming have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the titular behemoths, which represent the latest outing from the team behindTheWalking Dead: Saints and Sinners, one ofthe most well-received VR experiences of recent years. A gameplay trailer released earlier in 2024 generated a healthy dose of hype around the title, stirring up nostalgia for the classic PS2 game,Shadow of the Colossus, which featured similar giant-scaling mechanics and a haunting environment. Now thatSkydance’s Behemothhas been released, players have voiced some dissatisfaction with elements of the game’s combat.
Announced in a Twitter post, Skydance listed a few of the major elements contained in the patch, including improved combat mechanics and alignment, reduced hand jitters during climbing, and general gameplay balance improvements.Skydance’s Behemoth’s combat compares handily toBlade and Sorcery’s physical fighting mechanics, but some players aren’t having as much fun with it. Noting that some people “love [the combat] as designed”, Skydance acknowledged that others have reported being frustrated by stamina drain, parrying, and tight tolerance for dodging. The patch has sought to address those issues without stripping the challenge from the experience. In that effort, Skydance has incorporated a new beta feature called “Freestyle Mode”, that minimizes the stamina drain from combat to negligible levels, allowing players to hack and slash without any real impediment.
Skydance has stated that it’s hungry for more player feedback, as evidenced by the incorporation of comments regarding the feel and parameters of combat. While the game continues to evolve, there’s more to look forward to, with a promised “Arena Mode 1.0” rolling out in 2025, alongside some other as-yet-unnamed surprises teased by the developer. With a dearth of AAA VR titles likethe well-receivedBatman: Arkham Shadowon the horizon, XR gamers would benefit greatly from a swift recovery afterBehemoth’s unsteady roll-out.
While it hasn’t so far proven to be a game-changer for the struggling VR form factor,Skydance’s Behemothis available for PSVR2, Meta Quest, and other compatible headsets via Steam VR. Whether the game can grow and maintain an audience may depend largely on forthcoming updates, including live service play, and any possible expansions Skydance may throw in the mix.
Spoilers Ahead
QUEST SPECIFIC
Over 1000 Art & Audio, Gameplay, and Player Experience changes and improvements made to Quest 3, Quest 3s, and Quest 2 including:
Skydance’s Behemoth
WHERE TO PLAY
Skydance’s BEHEMOTH is an original story set in the Forsaken Lands, a fallen kingdom haunted by tragedy. Play as an outland warrior, Wren the Hunter (the player), and embark on a perilous quest to end the curse that plagues yourself and your village. Your only hope is to slay the unslayable, the monstrous Behemoths.A Dark Fantasy Adventure in VR: A bold new vision from the developers of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. Skydance brings its in your face - “Virtual Physicality” - to this fully immersive experience, allowing the player toA Dangerous New World: Survive the four biomes of the Forsaken Lands. From snowy tundras to swampy marshlands, the harsh environments may seem uninhabitable, but they hide swarms of traitorous marauders and something much, much worse.Brutal Violence Solves Everything: Use your superstrength in bone-crunching, flesh-cleaving ways to cut down, maim, sever, break and rip apart your enemies.Behemoths Loom Large and Dangerous: To defeat these gargantuan threats you’ll not only need all your strength, you’ll also need every skill in your arsenal to battle them on the ground, in the air, and in the clouds.
