Skydance’s Behemoth: Update Adjusts Combat Mechanics Following Mixed Reviews – Check Out the Patch Notes

Skydance’s Behemoth, released in 2024, recently underwent a significant update aimed at tackling the mixed reactions to its combat mechanics. While some players, like us, were initially satisfied with the combat upon its launch on December 5th across Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR headsets (through the Horizon Store for Meta and Steam), many others voiced their dissatisfaction.

Acknowledging the feedback, Skydance Games rolled out an update across all platforms, focusing on the game’s physics and melee combat with human adversaries. The studio stated, "Let’s get straight to the point: The combat has been contentious. Many players enjoy it as is, so we’re not planning drastic changes. However, we’ve heard concerns regarding aspects like stamina drain, the difficulties in parrying, and the narrow timing for dodging hits."

In response, Skydance has adjusted key systems to make elements such as stamina, parrying, and dodging more accommodating, promising that these tweaks will enrich the game for everyone. Alongside this, a new ‘Freestyle Mode’ is now in beta, significantly reducing the Combat Stamina drain except during climbing sections, while the update also resolves prior issues with boss fights, enemy AI behaviors, and overall game stability.

For those interested, you can explore the complete patch notes online, though be aware they contain minor spoilers. Here’s a spoiler-free summary:

QUEST SPECIFIC

Player Experience:

• Added a "Shader compiling" loading screen at startup to reduce confusion during shader re-creation.
• Main Menu now features haptic feedback.
• Fixed a crash in Arena Mode [BETA] triggered by striking the gong in certain situations.
• Climbing interaction and collision management improved in key zones.
• Addressed progression blockers like the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing early in the tutorial.

Gameplay:

• Improved collision handling to prevent players from phasing through environments.
• Fixed rare clipping issues involving Dreddstag and Shacklehide’s legs during climbing.
• Ghost form keys now correctly respawn after saving and reloading.
• Enhanced enemy reactions and transitions in combat.
• Refined hand grips and inverse kinematics for ropes.

Art & Audio:

• Enhanced environment textures and lighting, particularly for Quest 3.
• Reduced visual popping effects.
• Corrected floating objects like arrows and rubble.
• Music continuity fixed during the Shacklehide battle.

ALL PLATFORMS

Progression Blockers:

• Resolved issues with Kragjaeger and Shacklehide not appearing or causing soft locks.
• Enabled Fast Travel after the campaign for further exploration.

Combat Updates:

• Tuning Adjustments:

  • Dodging now includes a 0.5-second period of invulnerability.
  • Headshots on standard foes result in one-hit kills.
  • Enhanced parry/block forgiveness angle for easier execution.

• Combat Stamina Drain Adjustments:

  • Balanced across all difficulty settings.
  • "Freestyle Mode (BETA)" provides minimal stamina drain, albeit with achievements and trophies disabled in this mode.
• Tenderfoot Difficulty:
  • Further adjustments made to reduce enemy damage.

Miniboss and Boss Tuning:

• Difficulty tweaks and fixed bugs in miniboss battles.
• Increased Ragnar’s health and attack rates.

Level Updates:

• Fixed interactions in critical areas like Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and Throne Room.
• Improved puzzle elements and chest access in Duskhold and other regions.

Miscellaneous Fixes:

• Significant stability improvements with crash fixes.
• Resolved lighting, visual popping, and voice-over timing issues.
• Reorganized Trophy Room collectibles to avoid glitches.

This latest patch underscores Skydance’s commitment to enhancing Behemoth based on player experiences, ensuring a smoother and more rewarding gameplay experience moving forward.