Review of “Skydance’s Behemoth” – A Monumental Leap in VR Action-Adventure Gaming

Skydance has really hit its stride in VR design with their latest offering, Behemoth, and it’s clear they’ve learned a lot from their popular game, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. This new action-adventure title introduces an original storyline that treads some familiar paths. While this might not make it stand out much in the traditional gaming world, in VR, its massive scope and execution make for a very satisfying experience that few others can match.

Developer: Skydance Games
Available On: Quest 2/3/Pro, PSVR 2 (with a SteamVR release coming soon)
Reviewed On: Quest 3
Release Date: December 5th, 2024
Price: $40

Gameplay

In Behemoth, players step into the shoes of a cursed villager named Wren. This curse, looming large over the game, is a bit like wielding a double-edged sword: it’s your undoing, yet it grants you superhuman abilities. Think speed, power, and an unparalleled knack for combat—all tools at your disposal as you embark on a mission to uncover and end the evil that’s destroyed once-great realms.

The comparison to Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke isn’t just superficial; like Ashitaka, you’re an outsider on a quest through a land torn asunder. The environment takes you through the decaying halls of castles and along winding paths crowded with enemies who’ve pledged their allegiance to dark powers. Among these are hefty, Troll-like giants that add to the chaos. But more on them in a bit.

As a combat-focused game that leans heavily on physics-based melee mechanics, Behemoth delivers a do-it-your-way approach to fighting. You’re given freedom in how you can slice and dice your enemies without being bogged down by scripted battle sequences.

The basic mechanic involves parrying—it’s all about timing and angle, holding your sword just right to expose foes for a counter-attack. But go in swinging wild and your stamina will plummet, so you’ll need to pay close attention to the variety of weapons and fighting styles your enemies sport. It’s a balancing act of managing your enhanced abilities, smart movements, and strategic defenses to avoid getting overwhelmed.

Though battles can be tough, there are shortcuts. Your superhuman might can crush weaker foes, sometimes in one hit. In the demo video above, you’ll notice I didn’t use this power—it was recharging from a prior assault—but it’s essential for dealing extra damage and can be enhanced to boost speed, and when used cleverly with chain kills, becomes a game-changer.

The game’s second half steps up the armor game, demanding reliance on strength and the legendary weapons scattered through the journey. These include a powerful sword, a handy bow with regenerating arrows, and an axe capable of smashing armor. You can upgrade all these at convenient forges using Coloss Alloy, the game’s upgrade currency you can find in chests.

Although weapons are the only thing you can upgrade at these stations, the game seems to miss a chance with crafting, particularly since you pick medicinal plants that, unfortunately, only restore a sliver of health on the spot—making them almost irrelevant next to potions scavenged from your fallen foes.

Between your quests for upgrades, Behemoth throws in environmental puzzles and introduces varying mini-boss encounters. But it’s the titular Behemoths that steal the show. There are just four of these towering beasts to face, each testing all your combat skills in multi-phase challenges that demand strategy and dexterity. These battles epitomize the game’s thrill: massive foes, intricate maneuvers, and epic cinematic sequences.

Guided by a mysterious, witch-like voice, you’re directed through battles in a way that helps but doesn’t oversimplify the encounters. The dialogue does give away the necessary steps, but even this guidance doesn’t make it easy—you’ll need to climb and grapple along the Behemoths to strike weakly defended areas while managing the imposing onslaught.

Though I could dive into extra features—like collectibles and holster-based inventory—the essentials of Behemoth’s experience reflect Skydance’s honed VR expertise. The story may feel familiar and straightforward, but still manages to captivate well enough, particularly backed by solid gameplay mechanics.

Challenges abound, as even on the simplest difficulty setting, Tenderfoot, you’re pushed to master foes’ attack patterns. Throughout my nine hours with Behemoth, little felt wasted. Every narrative moment matters, every weapon upgrade drives exploration. Searching levels for the precious Coloss Alloy used for upgrading never felt like a chore.

The game’s world design encourages exploration with replayable levels and hidden areas to discover without rehashing content—a refreshing touch.

Immersion

When it comes to VR’s voiced characters, Wren and his mystical companion fit well within the narrative. Unlike many games that over-explain through AI sidekicks, Behemoth maintains a balance, letting players solve puzzles and overcome challenges independently. This approach respects players’ intelligence and maintains immersion.

Though the voice acting is generally strong, one character feels overly dramatic, a small disconnect against the game’s otherwise gritty world of decayed grandeur. I’m avoiding spoilers, but this mismatch does make some interactions feel less genuine.

Visually, Behemoth dazzles, competing with PC VR quality, thanks to its fantastic graphics and detailed environments. While the plot doesn’t break new ground, its execution with thrilling combat and intuitive movement keeps you engaged.

The AI sometimes feels overly predictable, with enemies acting in scripted ways. Certain arena battles also feel too structured, where you fight waves of enemies in a predictable pattern.

Still, Behemoth offers a robust package. Despite any predictable elements, there’s always a compelling reason to move forward, with each area introducing new challenges and showcasing impressive design. Smashing through structures is endlessly entertaining.

Presented on a Quest 3, Behemoth’s engaging and sophisticated gameplay represents a leap forward in mobile VR gaming—a change that would have been stunning just a few years back.

Comfort

Physically demanding but accommodating, Behemoth supports both standing and seated play, reducing fatigue over long sessions. Spatial awareness is key, given two-handed weapon interactions and the need to move energetically.

The game includes standard VR movement options like snap and smooth turning, adaptable to preference, with a light field of snowflakes providing a subtle reference for orientation as you rush through levels.

Apart from one wobbly elevator ride, the overall comfort is commendable, delivering a smooth experience throughout your journey.

Comfort Settings Overview (as of December 5th, 2024)

Turning:

• Artificial turning with options for snap and smooth turning.

Movement:

• Offers smooth and dash movement but no teleportation.
• Includes blinders and a head-based movement option.

Posture:

• Supports standing and seated modes.
• Artificial crouch enables flexibility in play style.

Accessibility:

• Options for subtitles and dialogue audio in various languages.
• Adjustable difficulty levels but limited in other accessibility features like player height adjustments.