Skydance’s 2024 release, Behemoth, has just rolled out a hefty patch aiming to tackle some of the mixed reactions players had towards its combat. Right from the start, it was clear that opinions were split. While some players, including us, were unbothered by the combat on launch day, others found it a sticking point after the game dropped on December 5th for Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR headsets via the Horizon Store and Steam.
In response, Skydance Games has pushed a patch across all platforms, addressing the core of the game: its physics-driven gameplay, notably the melee combat against human foes. According to the studio, “Let’s cut straight to it: Combat has been controversial. Plenty of people love it as designed, so we’re not going to radically change it. But we also heard reports from players who were frustrated by things like stamina drain, parrying challenges, and narrow windows for dodging attacks.”
Skydance elaborates that the update "fine-tuned our systems to make stamina, parrying, and dodging more forgiving," and these tweaks aim to "enhance the experience for all players." The patch introduces a ‘Freestyle Mode’ in beta, significantly reducing stamina drain except when tackling climbing challenges. It also targets boss fights, enemy AI behavior, and the overall stability across platforms.
For those wanting the full scoop, detailed patch notes are available, albeit with minor spoilers. Below, we’ll skim over highlights without unveiling any plot twists.
Quest Specific Updates:
Player Experience:
- Introduced a "Shader compiling" loading screen at launch to reduce confusion.
- Main Menu now includes haptics.
- Fixed an Arena Mode [BETA] crash when the gong was struck in certain situations.
- Enhanced climbing interactions and collision handling in crucial areas.
- Addressed progression blockers, including the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing during the tutorial.
Gameplay:
- Improved collision to prevent players from merging into the environment.
- Corrected rare clipping issues with Dreddstag and Shacklehide leg climbs.
- Keys correctly respawn in ghost form after saving and reloading.
- Enhanced hit reactions and state transitions for enemies during combat.
- Refined hand grips and IK for ropes.
Art & Audio:
- Environment textures and lighting see improvements, notably on Quest 3.
- Reduced visual popping issues.
- Fixed floating elements like arrows and rubble.
- Ensured music continuity during the Shacklehide battle.
For All Platforms:
Progression Blockers:
- Fixed issues with adversaries like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide causing soft locks or not appearing correctly.
- Enabled Fast Travel after completing the campaign for further exploration.
Combat Updates:
Tuning Adjustments:
- Dodge now grants 0.5 seconds of invulnerability.
- Standard enemies can be taken out with one headshot kill.
- Improved the forgiveness angle for parrying/blocking to facilitate execution.
Combat Stamina Drain Adjustments:
- Balanced across all difficulty levels.
- "Freestyle Mode (BETA)" greatly reduces stamina drain (achievements/trophies are disabled in this mode).
Tenderfoot difficulty is further adjusted to lower enemy damage.
Miniboss and Boss Tuning:
- Adjusted difficulty levels and fixed glitches for miniboss encounters.
- Ragnar’s health and attack rate have been boosted.
Level Updates:
- Fixed interaction issues in key areas like Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and Throne Room.
- Improved puzzle mechanics and chest accessibility in Duskhold and other locations.
Miscellaneous Fixes:
- Enhanced stability with significant crash resolutions.
- Resolved lighting, visual popping, and voice-over timing issues.
- Reorganized Trophy Room collectibles to avoid glitches.
From these updates, it’s clear Skydance is dedicated to refining the experience for players across the board. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just diving in, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into with these improvements.
