Skydance’s Behemoth launches officially today. The game features a narrative journey and giant enemies that will challenge the players in their quest to cross over the Forsaken Lands. In Behemoth, players assume the role of Wren – a hunter who is tasked to break a curse which has plagued his village and body. The stakes are high from the start in these desolate landscapes, where colossal creatures known as Behemoths roam posing a threat not to be taken lightly.
Captured from Quest 2
On Quest 2, the visuals fell short, suffering from blurriness that’s commonly associated with the headset’s aging Fresnel lenses and limited three position adjustable IPD. There was significant aliasing, which made it difficult to read some of the text. Quest 2 is not a good choice for players looking to have a great experience. I no longer recommend it as if you are interested in games that were released recently. For players seeking a good experience, Quest 2 seems a poor choice and one that I am no longer recommending for games that have recently released.
Captured from Quest 3
Switching to Quest 3, there were slight improvements in graphics, but aliasing persisted, although with the headset’s higher-resolution displays and pancake lenses, text readability issues from the Quest 2 version were no longer noticeable. Overall performance improved, but Quest 3 was not free from occasional slowdowns. Similar to a few other big titles I’ve played this year, like
, it became clear that BEHEMOTH was most likely optimized around the limitations of Quest 2, leaving Quest 3’s additional horsepower underutilized.
Captured from PSVR 2Metro AwakeningThe PlayStation VR2 version offered a refreshing upgrade. The OLED screen made Behemoth more appealing to the eyes, especially in dark environments. Its advanced haptic technology, particularly the facial haptics added an extra layer of immersion. The unfortunate Mura issue on PlayStation VR2 detracted from my expectations for this system. Captured on PC
Of the different platforms here, the PC VR was by far the most impressive visually. The graphics look great, but it crashes constantly. David Heaney had better luck and was able to play for an hour with some stuttering but without experiencing any crashes. Don used a Quest 3 across both Virtual Desktop and Air Link.
David’s PC setup uses an Intel i5-9600Km, NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti and 32GB DDR4 2666, playing Behemoth on Quest 3S via Steam Link. David’s PC is an Intel i5-9600Km with NVIDIA’s RTX3070 Ti, 32GB of DDR4 and Steam Link. Don’s setup was a Quest 3 via Virtual Desktop. The tactical melee mechanics are a great addition to the game. Players can feel the weight of the weapons. It is thrilling and satisfying to free your blade when it gets stuck on an object or enemy. The tele-grab feature can be cumbersome when in battle. Standing before Behemoths can be both awe inspiring and terrifying. The voice acting is not as good, but the story keeps the players interested and the progression moving. The voice acting is competent, but certain characters lack depth and range, particularly the protagonist. They sound flat when compared to the sound effects and score of the game. The graphic novel is a great way to enhance the game’s lore and allow players to connect more with Wren. After diving into Behemoth it is clear Skydance pushes the limits of scale and engagement. While the game is great on Quest 3 and PS VR2, it’s not as good on Quest 2 or PC. With upcoming patches and optimizations, I hope to see improvements that will enhance my adventures in this dark fantasy world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymeUVgsg8w8
Out now, Skydance’s Behemoth is ready for you to answer the call and end the curse of the Behemoths, so grab your weapons, sharpen your skills, and prepare to face titans. You can be the hunter or you may just have to live long enough to share the story.