The combination of satisfying combat, jaw-dropping encounters with titanic foes, and a finely-tuned movement system make it a must-play for VR enthusiasts
In the dark fantasy world of the Forsaken Lands, a mysterious rot plagues the land, driving its victims to madness. As Wren, a hunter whose village has fallen victim to this curse, you embark on an epic quest to end this affliction. The only solution lies in hunting down massive creatures known as Behemoths - a seemingly impossible task that forms the core of this ambitious VR action-adventure.
The narrative, while straightforward on the surface, unfolds into something more compelling as you progress. The world of the Forsaken Lands is rich with atmosphere, mixing medieval fantasy with dark, supernatural elements. Throughout your journey, you'll encounter two key characters whose complex histories and conflicting motivations add layers of intrigue to the story. Their mutual distrust creates an engaging dynamic that keeps you questioning their true intentions.
In the levels, you can find scrolls and human skulls you can crush with your hand that will add more to the story.However, I have to say that the twist is very predictable and you can see it coming from a mile away. Still, it's an entertaining story and the characters are well-developed.
At its core, Behemoth is an action-adventure game that masterfully blends combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The physics-based combat system feels weighty and satisfying, offering a variety of weapons to master. From traditional swords that can parry attacks to heavy axes that break armor, each weapon class has its distinct advantages. The bow combat is particularly satisfying, allowing for precise shots that can target specific body parts to create openings. You can block incoming attacks with a shield and even parry them, which is a nice way to mix things up. What's even cooler is that you can also parry throwing knives and even incoming arrows and when you do that, you feel like a total badass.
Wren also get three unique or special weapons, a magic bow, axe and sword. Not only you can use them in combat, but you can also use them to clear the path of any obstacles. Another cool thing that's different with these weapons is that if you throw them, they will return back to you, meaning that you can't lose them. The game's progression system centers around collecting metal to upgrade these weapons at forges. Instead of menu-based upgrading, you physically place weapons on anvils, melt materials, and hammer the heated metal - a perfect example of VR immersion done right.
A standout feature in Skydance's Behemoth is the Strength ability, which temporarily grants Wren incredible power. When activated, you can perform devastating attacks that can split enemies in half, cut their limbs off, decapitate them and even throw them into environmental hazards, you know, the good stuff. However, this ability is not without its drawbacks. Since the cooldown on it is quite short, you can basically spam and if you do that, it makes these encounters trivial. There are some unique mini-bosses in the game and if you pop the Strength ability, you can take them down in a matter of seconds and that doesn't feel right.
The grappling hook mechanic deserves special mention. It's a traversal tool, puzzle-solving tool and it can also be used in combat and it's absolutely awesome. It feels intuitive and natural in VR. You can use it to pull objects toward you or launch yourself to distant points or swinging like a medieval Spider-Man, creating exciting platforming sequences. The movement system builds upon Skydance's experience with The Walking Dead games, feeling refined and comfortable.
All of this is cool, but the reason you need to play this game are the Behemoths. The titular Behemoths are undoubtedly the game's crowning achievement. These massive creatures create truly awe-inspiring moments that showcase VR's unique capabilities. Standing before these towering beings in virtual reality creates a sense of scale that's difficult to convey in traditional games. The closest thing I can compare these fights to, and it's not Shadow of the Colossus, is the Kronos fight from God of War 3.
Each Behemoth encounter is truly a spectacle, and plays out like an intricate puzzle, requiring you to climb the creatures, target specific weak points, and use your entire arsenal of abilities. Yes, yes, these fights are heavily scripted, but they remain some of the most memorable and epic moments I've experienced in VR gaming. I have made a couple of TikToks showcasing the first two Behemoths and you can check them out on my official TikTok account.
But, unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. The game's physics engine although it's good, it is not perfect and trying to climb these creaturs when they are moving around can be quite a pain in the ass due to the jank. The first two behemoths are the easiest to climb, even though the second one can be a bit tricky. But the third one, the massive deer/elk looking one, which is also the biggest one, was to be honest kinda frustrating. Climbing it was janky, standing on the platforms was janky as I kinda slided off them and jumping and using the hook led to me falling off many times. I would clip into his body, I would clip around his arm... it was very very janky. Hopefully, the upcoming patch will fix or improve this cause what I experienced was not good.
The visual presentation is impressive, particularly on the Quest 3. The medieval landscapes are beautifully realized, with stunning vistas that stretch into the distance. The attention to detail in both environment and character design helps sell the dark fantasy setting. The behemoths designs look great and their animations are absolutely top-notch. Voice acting is fantastic too and the epic music, especially the ones playing during the behemoth fights, are absolutely amazing. What developers are able to achieve in standalone VR on the Quest 3 still blows my mind.
In the end, Skydance’s Behemoth is a bold testament to what VR gaming can achieve when developers aim for the stars. While it’s not without its flaws—some frustrating jank during the grandest encounters and a cooldown system that needs better balance—the sheer ambition and spectacle of the game overshadow its shortcomings. The combination of satisfying combat, jaw-dropping encounters with titanic foes, and a finely-tuned movement system make it a must-play for VR enthusiasts.
If you’re seeking a VR experience that combines epic scale with engaging gameplay, Behemoth will have you staring in awe as much as gripping your controllers in excitement. Even when you’re falling off a massive elk for the tenth time, it’s hard not to marvel at what Skydance has built. Here’s hoping that future updates smooth out the rough edges, because this is the kind of game that could define the next chapter of VR storytelling. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a promo copy provided by PR. Skydance's Behemoth is available on Meta Quest, PSVR2 and PCVR.
