The story begins with Beowulf racing with a fellow Thane on a beach. They fight crabs on the seashore, and then Beowulf races with the Thane into the sea, where a sea serpent attacks him. He fights the snake on a small rock structure but is vanquished and thrown into the river; there, Grendel’s mother comes and declares him her new hero, bestowing strength upon him. With his newfound prowess, Beowulf destroys the sea serpent and returns to the beach where he was racing the Thane.
After hearing about the Danes’ plight, he assists King Hrothgar in stopping Grendel, obtaining Heroic powers along the way. Following then, the player goes through the thirty years of Beowulf’s reign as King of the Danes, which were not depicted in the film. Beowulf travels from Herot to Iceland, slaying demons and enormous beasts such as a big hellhound and trolls.
