Indie gaming is big business. However, some people despise the constant steam of titles and the lack of high-end aesthetics. I, on the other hand, love the variety and the occasional hidden gems I discover. Therefore, when I was given The Last Case of Benedict Fox to review, I couldn’t wait to get started. This was a game I tried at EGX 2022 and it left a lasting impression. Consequently, I was hopeful that it would live up to its hype.
Developed by Plot Twist and published by Rogue Games, Inc., this is a Metroidvania adventure title. Moreover, it has a delightfully morbid twist as well as plenty of tough puzzles to solve. Accordingly, it pushes you from beginning to end as you try to get to the bottom of the weird unfolding events.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox is fascinating.
This unusually challenging hodgepodge of genres is available on Game Pass. Subsequently, you have nothing to lose by giving it a go. What’s more, the challenging gameplay and interesting lore are fascinating. On top of this, many of the puzzles require an understanding of a unique language. Therefore, this isn’t your normal puzzle-adventure title.
You are Benedict Fox, a self-proclaimed detective with an eerie secret. This would-be investigator is haunted by a part malevolent, and part friendly demon. This shadowy apparition acts as your inner thoughts and depicts a battle of good v evil.
The year is 1925 and you return to the manor of your estranged father. Sadly, he is no longer alive, and you suspect foul play is the cause. As such, you take it upon yourself to examine the evidence and investigate any potential crime. Along the way, you’ll experience some weird sights and explore some odd locations. Furthermore, you’ll test your logical and mathematical mindset throughout.
Creepy locations.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox is obsessed with death! In fact, each body that’s discovered acts as a gateway into an alternative realm. Here, Benedict can explore a limbo dimension that is as close to heaven as it is to hell. In each of these worlds, you’ll collect notes, clues, and collectable items. These trinkets help to solve each puzzle while expanding your father’s manor.
The creepy house is a maze of locked doors, puzzles, and weird art. Moreover, it also houses a shop to upgrade your gear, a tattoo artist to empower your inner demon, and other bits and pieces. This central hub links each piece of the jigsaw and is used to break up the random nature of the gameplay.
As you explore each person’s memories, you’ll unlock Anchor points. These portals enable fast travel between far-off points. Consequently, returning to discover hidden locations or missed items is pretty easy. However, occasionally, you’ll have to fight monsters to activate each portal. As such, progress can be hampered slightly if you don’t master the combat elements.
Fighting, bosses, and ink.
Your inner demon is willing to fight beside you. Accordingly, you’ll want the strongest companion. Therefore, it is essential to collect as much ink as possible. This handy resource is gathered by finding items, exploring the world, and killing your foes. However, if you die and you don’t store your ink at your nearest Anchor point, you’ll lose every drop you’ve collected. As such, it is essential to plan ahead so you don’t lose out.
The fighting mechanics were probably the weakest elements. Many of the fights in The Last Case of Benedict Fox involved jumping and dodging and some minor knife play. Yet, I enjoyed the limited use flare gun and the gradual improvement of both Benedict and his inner demon.
Fortunately, the “boss” battles mitigate this problem. The burly and often grotesquely big overlords are a pain in the arse. Furthermore, defeating them requires agility, dexterity, and a fine degree of luck. Additionally, most encounters are multilayered. Subsequently, whenever you think the danger has subsided, it rears its ugly head and attacks again.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox is dark and captivating.
The developer has a bizarre imagination. Each world that they’ve created is stunningly unique and filled with obscene creatures. What’s more, the level design will test the greatest platforming players. With crumbling surfaces, death-defying jumps, and hidden areas, this pushes the Metroidvania genre to its limits. Alongside this, the fighting animation is smooth, the bosses are eye-catching and grim, and the cutscenes are phenomenal. In short, it is an amazing-looking indie title.
The visuals are complemented by the audio. With era-specific music, excellent acting, and brilliant sound effects, The Last Case of Benedict Fox is an atmospheric treat. I adored the weird noises from each enemy and the booming shot from the flare gun. Alongside this, your demonic friend is uncomfortably sinister during every interaction.
Exploring limbo isn’t as tough as you’d expect.
I was thoroughly impressed by the control system. Not only is it responsive and well laid out, but a straightforward tutorial sets you on your way. Alongside this, each puzzle is easy to manage thanks to the clean-cut UI. Though I wasn’t a fan of the combat, each move was easy to execute, and using your demonic friend as a backup was a cinch as well.
As Metroidvania titles go, this one is pretty accessible. The developers have incorporated many gameplay settings to increase or decrease difficulty. Whether you want to solve each puzzle with ease or turn on god mode, the options are at your disposal.
This is a genre that oozes replay value. Unsurprisingly, The Last Case of Benedict Fox is addictive, enjoyable, and full of things to find. Moreover, there is some interesting lore to study and an array of challenging puzzles and bosses to defeat. Subsequently, it’ll keep you busy for around 5 hours.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox lives up to the hype.
MGTs James Refelian adored The Last Case of Benedict Fox when he played it at EGX. What’s more, he insisted that we check it out to see why it was so special. Thankfully, his intuition wasn’t wrong as it lives up to the hype. With a fantastic story to enjoy, weird locations to explore, and testing puzzles to solve, this isn’t for the faint of heart. Additionally, it is free if you subscribe to Game Pass. Accordingly, I loved it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you uncover the truth about your father? Use your special powers and your demonic friend to get to the bottom of this eerie mystery.
