Update for ‘Skydance’s Behemoth’ Adjusts Combat Following “Controversial” Feedback: Check Out the Patch Notes

Skydance Games recently rolled out a significant patch for their 2024 game, Behemoth, aiming to tackle some contentious feedback related to the game’s combat mechanics.

At launch, we didn’t find the combat particularly problematic, but it seems we were in the minority. Many players had a different experience with Behemoth when it debuted on December 5th across platforms like Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR headsets, available via the Horizon Store and Steam. To address these concerns, Skydance has updated all platforms to improve the physics-driven, melee-rich combat against human foes.

"Let’s not beat around the bush: Combat has stirred up some debate. There’s a significant number of players who enjoy the design just the way it is, so we’re not overhauling it completely," the developers revealed. "However, we’ve received feedback about issues such as stamina depletion, the challenges posed by parrying, and the tight timing for dodging attacks."

In response, Skydance has tweaked the combat systems, making stamina use, parrying, and dodging a bit more lenient, which they believe will elevate the gaming experience for everyone.

Additionally, Behemoth now boasts a ‘Freestyle Mode’ in beta, which notably reduces the stamina drain during combat apart from climbing scenarios. This patch also resolves previous issues concerning boss battles, enemy AI behavior, and overall game stability across all systems.

For those interested, the complete patch notes—which contain minor spoilers—are available for perusal. Here’s a spoiler-free summary of some changes made:

For Quest Users

Player Experience:

• Introduced a “Shader compiling” screen upon game start to avoid confusion during shader creation.
• Haptic feedback added to the Main Menu.
• Fixed a crash in Arena Mode [BETA] triggered by striking the gong under specific conditions.
• Enhanced climbing interactions and collision detection in certain areas.
• Resolved issues that halted progression, including during the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearance.

Gameplay:

• Improved collision mechanics to prevent players from moving through solid surfaces.
• Fixed rare issues with Dreddstag and Shacklehide’s leg during climbing interactions.
• Keys now correctly respawn in ghost form following saves and reloads.
• Enhanced enemy reaction animations and state transitions in combat.
• Refined hand grips and inverse kinematics for handling ropes.

Art & Audio:

• Enhanced textures and lighting, particularly on the Quest 3.
• Reduced visual pop-in issues.
• Fixed instances of floating objects like arrows and debris.
• Ensured music continues during Shacklehide battles.

Across All Platforms

Progression Blockers:

• Resolved issues with enemies like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide causing incorrect appearances or soft locks.
• Enabled Fast Travel after completing the campaign for more post-game exploration.

Combat Updates:

Adjustments:

• Dodge now includes 0.5 seconds of invulnerability.
• Standard enemies are vulnerable to one-hit headshots.
• Improved the angle forgiveness on parry/block actions.

Stamina Tweaks:

• Balanced stamina usage across all difficulty levels.
• “Freestyle Mode (BETA)” minimizes stamina drain, with achievements/trophies disabled in this mode.

Tenderfoot difficulty has been adjusted to reduce damage from enemies further.

Miniboss and Boss Tuning:

• Altered difficulty levels and corrected glitches for miniboss encounters.
• Increased health and attack rate for Ragnar.

Level Adjustments:

• Corrected interactions in key areas like Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and Throne Room.
• Improved puzzle mechanics and access to chests in Duskhold and other locations.

Miscellaneous Fixes:

• Enhanced game stability with major crash fixes.
• Resolved lighting, visual pop-in, and voiceover timing issues.
• Rearranged Trophy Room collectibles to avoid glitches.

These updates represent a concerted effort to refine the gaming experience, ensuring players can enjoy Behemoth as intended across all systems.