Skydance Games recently rolled out a significant update for Behemoth (2024), aiming to tackle what they’ve openly acknowledged as some "controversial" opinions on the game’s combat system.
Initially, we enjoyed Behemoth’s combat when it launched. However, it seems our opinion wasn’t universally shared among players after its December 5th debut on Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR headsets available via the Horizon Store (exclusively for Meta) and Steam.
In response to the diverse feedback, Skydance has implemented a patch across all platforms to refine the game’s physics-driven melee combat, which features battles against human opponents.
“To get straight to the point: our combat system has stirred up debate. While many players appreciate it as-is, we’ve also heard from those who faced frustrations with aspects like stamina consumption, parrying difficulty, and the tight timing for dodges,” the studio explained. “We’ve adjusted our systems to make the game more forgiving in these areas, in hopes of improving the overall player experience.”
Moreover, Skydance has introduced a beta version of ‘Freestyle Mode’. This mode significantly reduces Combat Stamina drain except during climbing sequences. The latest update also addresses past issues with boss battles, enemy AI behavior and routing, and general performance stability across platforms.
If you’re interested in diving into all the specifics, you can find the full patch notes—though beware of potential spoilers. For a quick look, here’s a spoiler-free summary.
QUEST SPECIFIC
Player Experience
- A new “Shader compiling” loading screen at startup now reduces confusion.
- Haptics feedback has been added to the Main Menu.
- Fixed a crash in Arena Mode [BETA] when the gong was hit under various conditions.
- Enhanced climbing interactions and improved collision handling in critical spots.
- Addressed progression blockers such as issues during the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing during tutorials.
Gameplay
- Improved collisions to prevent players from phasing through scenery.
- Resolved occasional clipping problems with Dreddstag and Shacklehide’s leg-climbing interactions.
- Keys now reliably respawn when playing in ghost form after saving and reloading.
- Enhanced reactions and state transitions for enemies in combat scenarios.
- Refined grips and inverse kinematics for rope interactions.
Art & Audio
- Upgraded environment textures and lighting, particularly noticeable on Quest 3.
- Diminished instances of visual popping.
- Corrected floating objects like arrows and rubble.
- Music plays continuously during the Shacklehide battle.
ALL PLATFORMS
Progression Blockers
- Resolved issues where enemies like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide might not appear or could cause soft locks.
- Enabled Fast Travel post-campaign for expanded exploration.
Combat Updates
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Tuning Adjustments:
- Dodge now grants 0.5 seconds of invulnerability.
- Headshots on standard enemies are now lethal with one hit.
- Enhanced angle allowance for parry/block maneuvers for smoother gameplay.
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Combat Stamina Drain Adjustments:
- Balanced stamina tweaks across difficulty levels.
- “Freestyle Mode (BETA)” offers minimal stamina usage (achievements/trophies are turned off in this mode).
- Further tweaks to the Tenderfoot difficulty level to reduce damage dealt by enemies.
Miniboss and Boss Tuning
- Miniboss difficulty and glitches have been adjusted.
- Ragnar’s health and attack frequency have been increased.
Level Updates
- Fixed crucial area interactions, like those in Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and Throne Room.
- Improved puzzle designs and chest access in locations such as Duskhold.
Miscellaneous Fixes
- Overall stability has been improved with numerous crash fixes.
- Addressed lighting, popping visuals, and voice-over timing issues.
- Reorganized Trophy Room collectibles to avoid glitching problems.
With these updates, Skydance hopes to enhance enjoyment and address community concerns, ensuring a more satisfying and seamless experience for all its players.
