Skydance Games has rolled out a significant update for "Behemoth" (2024) aimed at tackling player feedback about the combat system, which the developers themselves have deemed “controversial.”
While our initial review was generally favorable toward the combat mechanics upon release, a considerable segment of the player community voiced their dissatisfaction since the game’s launch on December 5th across platforms like Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR via the Horizon Store (Meta exclusive) and Steam.
The latest patch, available on all platforms, targets the game’s physics-driven environment, focusing heavily on melee combat with human adversaries.
“Let’s address the elephant in the room: combat. While many players appreciate the current design, we’ve also heard feedback on aspects like stamina depletion, the difficulty of parrying, and the tight timing required for dodges," the studio commented. "Therefore, we’ve adjusted these mechanics to allow a smoother experience for all players."
Included in this patch is a beta version of ‘Freestyle Mode,’ which drastically reduces Combat Stamina drain except during climbing. This update also tackles issues with boss battles, enemy AI behavior, and overall game stability.
For those interested in every detail, the full patch notes are available—though be warned about minor spoilers. Below is a spoiler-free, condensed version of the patch notes.
QUEST SPECIFIC
Player Experience
- A new “Shader compiling” loading screen appears at game start, clarifying the shader process.
- Added haptics to the Main Menu for enhanced sensory feedback.
- Resolved Arena Mode [BETA] crashes caused by specific actions.
- Improved climbing mechanics and collision in certain game areas.
- Addressed progression obstacles, including the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing during the tutorial.
Gameplay
- Enhanced collision prevention to keep players from merging into objects.
- Fixed occasional clipping issues during interactions with Dreddstag and Shacklehide’s legs.
- Keys now properly respawn in ghost form post-save and reload.
- Refined enemy hit reactions and transition between states in combat.
- Improved hand grip and IK mechanics for rope interactions.
Art & Audio
- Upgraded environment textures and lighting, specifically for the Quest 3.
- Reduced instances of visual popping.
- Corrected floating assets like arrows and debris.
- Music now plays continuously during the Shacklehide confrontation.
ALL PLATFORMS
Progression Blockers
- Fixed issues causing enemies like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide to display incorrectly or create game-breaking bugs.
- Enabled Fast Travel after completing the campaign to encourage further exploration.
Combat Updates
Tuning Adjustments:
- Introduced 0.5 seconds of invulnerability during dodges.
- Standard enemy exposed headshots become instant kills.
- Expanded parry/block forgiveness angle to facilitate player execution.
Combat Stamina Drain Adjustments:
- Balanced across all difficulty levels.
- “Freestyle Mode (BETA)” offers minimal stamina drain; note that achievements/trophies are disabled in this mode.
Adjusted Tenderfoot difficulty for reduced enemy damage.
Miniboss and Boss Tuning
- Modified difficulty and corrected glitches involving minibosses.
- Increased Ragnar’s health and attack frequency.
Level Updates
- Fixed interaction issues in key areas such as Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and the Throne Room.
- Enhanced puzzle mechanics and improved chest access in Duskhold and other locations.
Miscellaneous Fixes
- Significant stability improvements with numerous crash fixes.
- Resolved lighting, visual popping, and voice-over timing issues.
- Reorganized Trophy Room collectibles to prevent glitches.
