Skydance Games has rolled out a significant update for Behemoth (2024), addressing the game’s combat system, which has stirred quite the debate since its launch.
While some players, including myself, embraced the combat style right from its December 5th release on platforms such as Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR (via Horizon Store for Meta and Steam), others did not share the same enthusiasm. This new patch aims to tweak Behemoth’s physics-based combat system, particularly its intense melee encounters with human adversaries.
"Let’s not beat around the bush: the combat has sparked some controversy," the developers from Skydance acknowledge. "While many appreciate the original design, we realized there are frustrations about stamina depletion, the difficulty of parrying, and the tight timing required to dodge attacks." Consequently, they’ve adjusted the game mechanics to make these aspects less unforgiving, thereby enriching the overall gameplay experience for everyone.
As part of these changes, there’s an introduction of a ‘Freestyle Mode’ in beta. This mode significantly reduces stamina drain, except during climbing sequences. The patch also tackles various issues related to boss battles, enemy AI, pathing, and overall game stability across all platforms.
For those interested in every detail, the full patch notes are available, but beware, they do contain some minor spoilers. Here’s a spoiler-free roundup of the key updates:
Quest-Specific Enhancements
Player Experience
- A new "Shader compiling" loading screen has been added to minimize confusion during shader re-creation at game startup.
- The main menu now includes haptic feedback.
- A crash in Arena Mode [BETA] triggered by certain gong interactions has been resolved.
- Climbing interactions and collision handling have been improved in crucial areas.
- Resolved glitches causing progression blocks, such as issues with the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing during the tutorial.
Gameplay Improvements
- Improved collision detection to prevent players from glitching into the environment.
- Addressed rare clipping issues with specific enemy interactions.
- Ghost form keys now respawn as intended after saving and reloading.
- Enhanced enemy hit reactions and transition states during combat.
- Adjusted hand grips and inverse kinematics for ropes.
Art & Audio Refinements
- Environment textures and lighting see improvements, notably on Quest 3.
- Reduced visual pop-ins.
- Fixed issues with floating assets, including arrows and rubble.
- Music continuity maintained during the Shacklehide battle.
Enhancements Across All Platforms
Progression Blockers
- Fixed player-blocking issues with enemies like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide.
- Post-campaign Fast Travel is enabled for further exploration.
Combat Updates
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Tuning Adjustments:
- Dodge now grants 0.5 seconds of invulnerability.
- Headshots are now fatal for standard enemies.
- Improved angle forgiveness for parrying and blocking, making them easier to execute.
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Combat Stamina Adjustments:
- Balanced across all levels of difficulty.
- The "Freestyle Mode (BETA)" allows for minimal stamina drain, though achievements are disabled in this mode.
- The Tenderfoot difficulty now inflicts less damage on players.
Miniboss and Boss Tweaks
- Adjusted difficulty and resolved glitches affecting miniboss encounters.
- Ragnar’s health and attack frequency have been increased for a more challenging duel.
Level Enhancements
- Fixed interactions in key locations such as Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and the Throne Room.
- Improved puzzle mechanics and accessibility to chests in Duskhold and other areas.
Miscellaneous Improvements
- Significant crash fixes enhance overall stability.
- Resolved lighting issues, visual pop-ins, and voice-over timing discrepancies.
- Reorganized Trophy Room collectibles to prevent glitches.
With these updates, Behemoth continues to refine its thrilling VR experience, making it more enjoyable and accessible while keeping its core gameplay intact.
