Skydance’s Behemoth Update Adjusts Combat Following Mixed Reactions – Check Out the Patch Notes

Skydance Games recently rolled out a significant update for Behemoth (2024), aimed at tackling some of the feedback surrounding the game’s combat mechanics that they’ve deemed "controversial."

At launch, we found the combat engaging, but it’s clear from community responses following its December 5th debut on platforms including Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2, and PC VR headsets available through the Horizon Store (exclusive to Meta) and Steam, that not everyone shared our sentiment.

In response, Skydance Games has introduced a patch across all platforms to refine the physics-driven melee combat, which plays a central role against human adversaries.

"Let’s get straight to it: the combat has sparked debate. Many players enjoyed it as it was, so we’re not overhauling it entirely," the developers explain. "However, we received feedback about aspects like stamina depletion, challenges with parrying, and the tight timing required for dodging attacks."

To address these concerns, the team at Skydance has "fine-tuned our systems, making stamina usage, parrying, and dodging more lenient," promising that these changes will "improve the experience for everyone."

The update also introduces a beta ‘Freestyle Mode,’ which significantly reduces the stamina drain during combat, applicable in all scenarios except when tackling climbing challenges. Beyond that, the patch resolves previous issues with boss encounters, enemy AI behaviors, pathing, and enhances overall stability across each platform.

For a detailed look at the complete patch notes—which include some minor spoilers—official patch notes are available online. Below are summarized highlights without spoilers.

QUEST SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS

Player Experience

• Added “Shader compiling” loading screen to reduce confusion during shader creation.
• Haptics feedback added to the Main Menu.
• Resolved a crash occurring in Arena Mode [BETA] when the gong was hit under certain circumstances.
• Enhanced climbing interactions and collision detection in crucial zones.
• Fixed progression issues, including the Nightscraper fight and Ragnar disappearing in the tutorial section.

Gameplay Enhancements

• Improved collision to prevent players from unintentionally moving through solid objects.
• Addressed rare clipping issues with leg climbing mechanics for characters like Dreddstag and Shacklehide.
• Keys now correctly respawn in ghost form when saving and reloading.
• Enhanced hit feedback and state transitions during enemy combat.
• Refined hand grips and inverse kinematics for climbing ropes.

Art & Audio Updates

• Upgraded environment textures and lighting, particularly noticeable on Quest 3.
• Reduced visual popping artifacts.
• Corrected floating elements such as arrows and rubble.
• Ensured persistent music during the Shacklehide battle.

ALL PLATFORM UPDATES

Progression Blockers Resolved

• Fixed issues where enemies like Kragjaeger and Shacklehide wouldn’t spawn correctly or could cause game soft locks.
• Enabled Fast Travel following campaign completion for ongoing exploration.

Combat Updates

Tuning Adjustments:

• Dodging now includes half a second of invulnerability.
• Standard enemies can be killed with a single headshot.
• Increased forgiveness in parry/block angles for easier execution.

Combat Stamina Drain Adjustments:

• Balanced stamina drain across all difficulty levels.

• “Freestyle Mode (BETA)” enables minimal stamina drain (note: achievements and trophies are disabled in this mode).

• Tenderfoot difficulty further adjusted to reduce enemy damage impact.

Miniboss and Boss Adjustments

• Modified the difficulty and resolved glitches for miniboss encounters.
• Increased Ragnar’s health pool and attack rate.

Level Updates

• Fixed interactions in vital areas like Shacklehide’s arena, Zephyr’s Pass, and the Throne Room.
• Improved puzzle mechanics and chest access in Duskhold and other locations.

Additional Fixes

• Bolstered stability with significant crash fixes.
• Addressed lighting, visual popping, and voiceover timing discrepancies.
• Rearranged collectibles in the Trophy Room to avoid glitches.

With these updates, Skydance aims to enhance the immersive adventure of Behemoth and address players’ feedback effectively, paving the way for a more balanced and enjoyable experience across all platforms.