Initially revived by Indie games likeHollow KnightandDead Cells, the Metroidvania genre is back in full force, and that’s never been more apparent than right now. With 2024 already being one of the biggest years in the genre’s long history, featuring releases likePrince of Persia: The Lost Crown,Ultros, and now,The Last Case of Benedict Fox - Definitive Edition.
Originally released in April 2023,The Last Case of Benedict Foxsees players take control of the titular old-timey detective as he embarks on his final case, aLovecraftian-inspiredtale that sees him dive into his dead father’s unconscious limbo. An incredibly ambitious game,The Last Case of Benedict Foxunfortunately bites off far more than it can chew, and this Definitive Edition does little to save it from itself.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox Is a Messy Metroidvania
One of the most promising features ofThe Last Case of Benedict Foxis its general premise. Not just an ordinaryneo-noir detective, Benedict Fox is joined by an otherworldly, tentacled being simply known as “The Companion.” Together, the unlikely duo must uncover the dark history behind Benedict’s father’s home, all while battling off Lovecraft monsters and a mysterious “Organization” hell-bent on stopping Benedict at all costs. It’s a strong premise for a Metroidvania, but unfortunately, as will soon become a clear throughline of this review,The Last Case of Benedict Foxjust can’t stick the landing.
To begin on a more positive note,The Last Case of Benedict Foxis a refreshinglyeasy Metrodivaniato navigate. The fog on the player’s map is revealed quickly via exploration, and it boasts large and clear icons for areas that the player can and can’t access, and what type of puzzle is preventing them from progressing through that gateway. Players are also given the ability to teleport to any checkpoint on the map - called “Anchors” - at any time, alleviating a common frustration of the genre by reducing the need to backtrack to find the golden path. But already, players are likely to stumble uponThe Last Case of Benedict Fox’s first issue.
The Last Case of Benedict Foxhas a rathermessy Metroidvania structure. In most Metroidvanias, the power or item needed to progress the golden path is usually made very clear to the player, either through story, presentation, gameplay, or a mix of all three. However, inThe Last Case of Benedict Fox, many key items needed for progression are simply lying on the ground in seemingly random spots on the map, and little fanfare is made when players eventually find what they’ve been searching for, which can make the game’s main quests feel a little obtuse.
What exacerbates this issue even further is the way the narrative is handled inThe Last Case of Benedict Fox. From interweaving too many overly complex plot threads, to presenting some of the most on-the-nose dialogue in the current gaming landscape, the writing inBenedict Foxlets its story down greatly. This is made even worse through some trulyawful voice actingthat bounces wildly between being yawn-inducingly mundane, and absurdly over-the-top, always switching at the most bizarre moments. It’s hard to pay attention to dialogue that might hint at a puzzle solution or the start of a new questline when it’s delivered so strangely.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox’s Puzzles Could Have Been the Star of the Show
On the subject of puzzles,The Last Case of Benedict Fox, once again, starts strong, but quickly becomes disappointing. During its first few hours,Benedict Foxdelivers some surprisinglychallenging puzzlesthat feel suitably rewarding to complete, many of which revolve around a Conundrum Device and its accompanying diary. These puzzles see players attempt to match the device’s symbols with something in the environment, with the diary being used as a guide to determine which symbols should be used.
This is a solid puzzle mechanic that offers quite a bit of gameplay depth, and evolves gradually throughout the game, but there are a few things that hold it back from being the star of the show it certainly could have been. The biggest issue related to this mechanic - and therefore the vast majority of puzzles in the game - is its clunky UI. To complete many of thepuzzles inBenedict Fox, players must open up their device and start moving its wheels to create a symbol. This in itself feels fairly easy to do.
But, if the player needs to check their diary - which they almost always will - they need to hold down a button, and to interact with the device again, they need to hold down another button to put the diary away. It’s a little thing, but these needlessly clunky puzzle menus can get rather frustrating to navigate, especially duringBenedict Fox’s handful of timed puzzles.
Combat Remains a Weak Point of The Last Case of Benedict Fox
Though improved combat mechanics were touted as one of the biggest features ofThe Last Case of Benedict Fox’s Definitive Edition, they’re still pretty lackluster. To start with, players have access to a knife and flare gun, with the latter receiving ammunition upon the player managing to land successful hits on an enemy. The flare gun feels suitably powerful, being able to knock out most foes in just one hit, butBenedict Fox’s knife feels rather weak. While this is to be expected at the start of a Metroidvania, the problem here is thatBenedict Fox’s combatnever really evolves past this starting-game dynamic.
Though both the knife and flare gun receive multiple upgrades throughoutBenedict Fox, nothing ever really makes the knife feel satisfying to use. But much like most ofBenedict Fox’s issues, this combat dilemma is multifaceted. The knife itself isn’t a major issue inBenedict Fox, it’s how it’s implemented in most combat encounters, with most requiring the player to parry an oncoming attack, hack back at the enemy until the flare gun is charged, and finish them off with a quick shot of light. It’s a loop manySoulslike and Metroidvaniafans will be used to, but a big issue here is the unresponsiveness of the game’s parry. The visual indicator of an enemy’s attack is often very difficult to see, meaning that achieving a successful parry is all down to reaction time, which leads to some frustrating encounters, especially when the player is confronted with multiple enemies at once.
While players can also unlock a slew of abilities for their Lovecraftian Companion, these are often much better on paper than they are in practice, with many featuring some clunky controls, and others being completely inefficient.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox’s Presentation is Simultaneously its Biggest Strength and Weakness
By far the biggest highlight ofThe Last Case of Benedict Foxis its visual presentation. Though its character models can look a little lifeless, the vast majority ofBenedict Foxlooks outstanding. Wearing its influences on its sleeve,The Last Case of Benedict Foxembraces a bold color palette of stark neon purples, reds, greens, and blues, giving each environment a distinctive look, while also maintaining a consistent stylized look throughout. The general environmental design of mostBenedict Foxareas also looks excellent, with the camera using perspective in a neat way to present important details in both the foreground and background.
Unfortunately, that’s just one half ofThe Last Case of Benedict Fox’s presentation. Audio design is one ofBenedict Fox’s weakest points, with many of the sound effects used inBenedict Foxfeeling weak at best, and shockingly out of place at worst. For instance, walking across cobblestone surfaces inBenedict Foxpresents players with a strange mushy sound effect, double-jumping using The Companion’s tentacles sounds more like hitting a tennis ball with a racquet, and the sound of reloading the flare gun is, rather ironically, the well-known sound of an M1 Garand unloading.
ButBenedict Fox’s worst audio design moments come when no sound is heard at all. Ingames likeZelda: Tears of the Kingdom, completing a puzzle is rewarded with not just the satisfaction of overcoming a challenge, but with a triumphant sound cue that emphasizes the player’s feat. InThe Last Case of Benedict Fox, there are virtually no sound effects upon completing a puzzle, leaving a bizarre feeling of emptiness as opposed to satisfaction.
There’s Nothing Definitive About This Edition
On paper, developer Plot Twist has added a lot to this Definitive Edition, ranging from improved AI to improved combat systems to a new training mode. While all of these additions and tweaks are in the game,The Last Case of Benedict Fox’s Definitive Editionis let down by one of the core facets of any improved edition: its performance. Even playing on a PlayStation 5,Benedict Foxis in a perpetual state of stuttering, with every double-jump, every parry, and every dodge causing the game to drop far more frames than is acceptable.
When playing throughThe Last Case of Benedict Fox, it’s clear that the developer had high ambitions for the project, but none of it really comes together in the end. Combat feels unresponsive, puzzles quickly become tedious, sound design is lacking, the story is hard to follow and delivered with sub-par voice acting, and that’s simply too much for some nice lighting and visual effects to paper over, especially when games likePrince of Persia: The Lost CrownandUltrosexist.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
Reviewed on PS5
Experience The Last Case of Benedict Fox: Definitive Edition, featuring reimagined combat and traversal that is both intense and exhilarating. Paired with new lightning-fast animations and a substantially upgraded AI, topped by terrifying secrets and new stories to discover filled with brand-new puzzles, brace yourself for a thrill that will send shivers down your spine!Descend into a limbo of decaying memories as Benedict Fox, a self-proclaimed detective bound to his demon companion. Use that unholy bond to explore the minds of the recently deceased in search of clues as you uncover the mysteries of a massive, decrepit mansion — the site to a young couple’s grisly murder, and the disappearance of their child. Immerse yourself in a dark, intriguing world full of secret organizations, forbidden rituals, and cold-blooded crimes in an arcane adventure brought to life through a fascinating Burton-esque art style.Fight demons, explore the subconscious, and solve elaborate puzzles in a labyrinthian adventure inspired by Lovecraft’s nightmares, noir pulp fiction, and early 20th-century jazz music.Use your bond with the demon to explore the minds of the recently deceased in your last chance to get a “testimony”. Jump into surreal worlds where memories, emotions, and traumas take on a physical form.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox - Definitive Edition is available now for PS5. Game Rant was provided a code for this review.
