Skydance's BEHEMOTH Review

Skydance Interactive has built a reputation within the world of VR gaming, and its latest, Skydance's BEHEMOTH, proves no different. Having followed the development of the game for several months, I started the game with a great deal of anticipation, and it has surpassed my expectations on every level.

I simply could not tear myself away once I fired up the game for the first time. It is available on SteamVR, Meta Quest, and even PlayStation VR2, so it's pretty accessible to a lot of users, and I was fairly anxious to try it out on PlayStation VR2. Combat and exploration, with narratives, all combined into one VR masterpiece, the whole thing became so immersive and thrilling.

Right from the beginning of my journey in Skydance's BEHEMOTH, I started off with the Arena Mode of the game, a beta feature designed to give the user a feel for the combat systems in the game. Frankly, allowing me to try this out was a nice surprise. To begin with, this provided a very good opportunity to try various weapons, mechanics, and a range of different movements before actually starting the campaign.

First and foremost, combat itself was noteworthy. Unlike a number of other VR games, which rely mostly on either arcade-like mechanics or overtly designed physics, Skydance's BEHEMOTH strikes up a good balance in this VR game. From fluid combat down to the feel of the sword swings, everything felt appropriate and strong. Instinctively blocking an attack from an enemy before counterattacking with a slash that felt like it was right on time would be satisfying.

One of the most interesting mechanics was, without a doubt, the grappling hook. This really opened up a whole other dimension in the game. I successfully dragged opponents towards me with so much ease and maneuvered around just about anywhere because the physics of the rope was so real.

Further levels of verticality and freedom in the experience came with the ability for participants to climb and swing on the rope, making every encounter much more dynamic and engaging. That is what impressed me most in the course of my experiments: attention to minute detail, even in the movement and texture of the rope, almost tangible.

After a lengthy investment in time and practice within the arena mode, the transition into the campaign mode delivered me into a richly evocative winter landscape. In a heartbeat, an atmosphere in Skydance's BEHEMOTH was created for a most gruff and genuinely Viking-spirited journey, filled with snow-laden landscapes and an unforgiving, survivalist aesthetic.

Going into the campaign for the first time, it felt like being dropped into the next generation of Skyrim in virtual reality. From the soft crunch of snow beneath my feet to the faraway howl of wind, every single little detail of the setting seemed to be carefully designed to immerse me in the universe.

Transitions from one segment of gameplay to the plot became seamless at the outset of the campaign. I was taught the mechanics of stealth: to study my surroundings with hawk-eyed precision. I was handed a dagger. Stabbing physics played out in a fashion hauntingly reminiscent of Skydance's previous game, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, but much more refined. Combat encounters called for a degree of strategy and skill. Nothing quite beats the rush of creeping up behind a foe and dispatching them or engaging in one-on-one battles.

What really set Skydance's BEHEMOTH apart, however, was how they approached the climbing and navigation. All the ledges, ropes, and rickety bridges felt real like my character was really struggling to pull themselves up or keep balance across the hazardous terrain. These moments made the feeling of the game very realistic, which is really lacking in most VR games.

Without question, in order to make such a polished and well-put-together climbing system, they learned a lesson from previous attempts and applied most of what they obtained from those projects. My impressions were that both the riddles and various environmental problems became more and more interesting the further I went through the game.

Certain sequences of events, like when you go down on a rope and then crawl across a narrow ledge to a hidden passage, are etched in memory forever. It called for exploration and wouldn't overload you; at the same time, every puzzle was fun to find the solution for without being overcomplicated. The level design was both delighting and demanding.

All along the journey in Skydance's BEHEMOTH, fighting was the main attraction. It was superb simply because of the weight and feel of the weapon. The swings felt weighted, from the huge two-handers to dual-wielding smaller swords simultaneously. Of course, parrying and defending from the opponent's strikes felt natural, and each successful move felt like a huge accomplishment in itself.

At one point, I had to face off against a fully armored marauder, which required both brute force and perfect timing to take down. It was a relatively small fight, but it felt like a mini-boss fight, and that showed that the game can get pretty tense and exciting even. An aesthetic taken straight out of the concepts of Vikings brought into the arsenal of Skydance's BEHEMOTH.

Each axe, sword, and even arrow was well-designed, each offering a different set of fighting benefits. Among the other interesting features was how I could upgrade and modify their equipment, adding replayability and even some depth to the overall experience. I continually liked to experiment with loadouts for different scenarios, whether it was taking on groups of foes or fighting that single difficult foe.

Equally engaging as the rest of the story's factors are Skydance's BEHEMOTH's narrative aspects. The voices of the characters were natural and crystal-clear, well-blended into the surroundings. For example, speaking with one prisoner who had been shut behind bars rewarded me with some much-needed items for the trip, while other aspects added layers of depth to the whole experience. It is at times like these that an octane-fueled adventure humane with passion and stakes, a world really felt lived in and tangible.

Visually, Skydance's BEHEMOTH is gorgeous, with highly detailed settings and realistic lighting effects. The visuals never failed to amaze me, whether I was walking through the dimly lit dungeon or traveling across the snowy mountain pass. The tiny details, like floating snowflakes and fluttering shadows, made the world feel almost alive, helping to pull me into the atmosphere of the game.

One of my favorite moments was obtaining the strength skill, which gave me the power to grip foes and items with a force beyond that of a human. This concept opened up new opportunities for combat and exploration. When I was able to throw foes into the environment or use my newly acquired strength to solve problems, I felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

Skydance's BEHEMOTH's cutting-edge features differentiate it from other virtual reality games. The game's tempo deserves special commendation for its execution. The game deftly transitions between dramatic battle sequences and more relaxed exploration or puzzle-solving.

Because of this balance, I was able to completely appreciate the game's variety, which guaranteed that the experience would remain fresh and fascinating. Smooth transitions were made between the various gameplay features, ensuring that no aspect of the game felt repetitious or out of place.

While Skydance's BEHEMOTH is definitely one of the better VR games out there, there are certainly a couple of small issues. I noticed throughout the game a few physics bugs-ones where enemies might get stuck in the environment or objects just suddenly started flying all over the place. The game crashed once, actually-which was pretty immersion-breaking in and of itself. These were pretty rare, though, and didn't detract from the overall experience.

The Arena Mode really adds to the replay value of the game. With this mode, I was able to test new techniques and improve my combat performance, as well as try a vast number of weapons safely and securely. It is a great addition that ensures that even after the story campaign has been completed, players are kept busy.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement as I got closer and closer to the game's most exciting moments. In a way that very few virtual reality games are able to accomplish, Skydance's BEHEMOTH manages to capture the essence of epic adventure. The combination of captivating gameplay, visuals, and innovative mechanics results in an experience that is not only exhilarating but also completely immersive.

Skydance's BEHEMOTH is a triumph of the virtual reality medium. It creates a unified and unforgettable product by combining the most enjoyable aspects of storyline, combat, and exploration. A commitment to perfection is seen in every facet of the game, from the environment, which is based on the Vikings, to the mechanics, which have been meticulously calibrated.