Skydance's Behemoth
{{Short description|2024 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Skydance's Behemoth
| image = Skydance Behemoth cover art.png
| developer = Skydance Interactive
| publisher = Skydance Interactive
| released = December 5, 2024
| director = Brian Murphy
| writer = Frank Barbiere
| composer = Andrea Bellucci
| artist = Michael 'Maxx' Kaufman
| platforms = {{ubl|Meta Quest 2|Meta Quest 3|PlayStation VR2|SteamVR}}
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player
}}
Skydance's Behemoth is a 2024 virtual reality action-adventure video game developed and published by Skydance Interactive for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PlayStation VR2, and SteamVR. It received mixed reviews upon release.
Gameplay
The game is a first-person action-adventure video game. The player assumes control of a hunter named Wren, who must embark on a journey to slay colossal beings known as the Behemoths in an effort to lift a curse that plagues the land. The player can use their melee weapons to strike, block or parry incoming attacks. Attacking, defending and climbing all drain Wren of their stamina. They can also use a bow and arrows to kill enemies from afar. Wren is equipped with a grappling hook, allowing him to reach distant areas, unlock blocked paths, or trigger environmental hazards to damage enemies.{{cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/140072/skydances-behemoth-preview-psvr2|title=Skydance's Behemoth takes the Saints & Sinners team from zombies to giants|first=Ozzie|last=Meija|work=Shacknews|date=June 4, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025}} Behemoth encounters serve as the game's boss battles. The game has a total of four behemoths, with each having their own strengths and weaknesses.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/skydances-behemoth-will-make-you-duel-with-giants-in-vr/|title=Skydance’s Behemoth will make you duel with giants in VR|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|work=VentureBeat|date=August 29, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025}}
Development
The game was developed by Skydance Interactive, the team behind The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and its sequel, Chapter 2: Retribution. The combat and physics system from Saints & Sinners were refined in this game, though the game had a larger emphasis on combat and a smaller focus on survival.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/skydances-behemoth-brings-giant-climbable-monster-fights-to-vr-140057216.html|title=Skydance's Behemoth brings giant climbable monster fights to VR|first=Mat|last=Smith|work=Engadget|date=June 4, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=August 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825201103/https://www.engadget.com/skydances-behemoth-brings-giant-climbable-monster-fights-to-vr-140057216.html|url-status=live}} As opposed to Saints & Sinners, Behemoth features large and open levels, allowing players to approach their objectives freely. Shawn Kittelsen, Vice President of Creative, added the team spent a lot of time creating the scale of the world. The Behemoths were designed to be gigantic, and the team kept scaling them up throughout the course of the game's development. According to Kittelsen, Behemoth encounters served as "exceptional punctuation points" along the campaign.{{cite web|url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/interviews/skydances-behemoth-interview-discussing-importance-of-creating-immersive|title=Skydance's Behemoth Interview - Discussing the Importance of Creating Immersive VR Experiences|work=TechRaptor|first=Erren|last=Van Duine|date=June 4, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025}}
Skydance's Behemoth was first announced at The Game Awards 2022, and was set to be released in late 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-behemoth-trailer-debuts-at-the-2022-game-awards/1100-6509909/|title=New Behemoth Trailer Debuts At The 2022 Game Awards|first=Claire|last=Lewis|work=GameSpot|date=December 8, 2022|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214064309/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-behemoth-trailer-debuts-at-the-2022-game-awards/1100-6509909/|url-status=live}} The game was released on December 5, 2024, for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PlayStation VR2, and SteamVR.{{cite web|url=https://www.uploadvr.com/skydances-behemoth-delay/|title=Skydance's Behemoth Delayed Until December For Extra Polish|first=Henry|last=Stockdale|work=UploadVR|date=September 25, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=September 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925223843/https://www.uploadvr.com/skydances-behemoth-delay/|url-status=live}}
Reception
With the exception of the Meta Quest version, which received "generally favorable reviews", Skydance's Behemoth received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/skydances-behemoth/|title=Skydance's Behemoth reviews|work=Metacritic|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=January 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114225644/https://www.metacritic.com/game/skydances-behemoth/|url-status=live}} The game was nominated for Immersive Reality Technical Achievement and Immersive Reality Game of the Year at the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/awards/506810/dice-awards-nominations-2025 | title = Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a GOTY front-runner at the DICE Awards | first = Oli | last = Welsh | date = January 10, 2025 | accessdate = January 11, 2025 | work = Polygon | archive-date = January 14, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250114225410/https://www.polygon.com/awards/506810/dice-awards-nominations-2025 | url-status = live }}
Scott Hayden from RoadtoVR described the game as a "a colossal step forward in VR action-adventure gaming", strongly praising the game's combat and the boss battles for putting a player's skill to the test.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/skydances-behemoth-review-quest-3-psvr-2-steam/|title=‘Skydance’s Behemoth’ Review – A Colossal Step Forward in VR Action-Adventure Gaming|first=Scott|last=Hayden|work=RoadtoVR|date=December 5, 2024|accessdate=January 1, 2025|archive-date=December 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224004118/https://www.roadtovr.com/skydances-behemoth-review-quest-3-psvr-2-steam/|url-status=live}} Ian Higton from Eurogamer gave the game a negative review. While he praised the boss battle for being "impressive", he noted that they were "few and far between", appearing only sporadically. He was frustrated by its checkpoint system, which forced players to replay long segments of the game after each defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/skydances-behemoth-review|title=Skydance's Behemoth review - a grand and gory VR hack 'n' slash that fails to deliver on its lofty promises|first=Ian|last=Higton|work=Eurogamer|date=December 11, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=December 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226201730/https://www.eurogamer.net/skydances-behemoth-review|url-status=live}} Aaron Bayne from Push Square concluded his review by writing that "the enormity of its Behemoths works excellently in VR, but at almost every turn, the game bogs you down with bugs, repetitive gameplay loops, and underdeveloped level design", ultimately describing it as a "a massive missed opportunity".{{cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvr2/behemoth|title=Behemoth Review (PS5 / PSVR2)|first=Aaron|last=Bayne|work=Push Square|date=December 12, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2025|archive-date=December 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226201730/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvr2/behemoth|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.behemothvr.com/}}
{{Skydance Media}}
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:PlayStation VR2 games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Skydance Interactive games