The Last Case of Benedict Fox: Definitive Edition

The Last Case of Benedict Fox on PS5 is a huge improvement on last year's release, with fluid and responsive combat being its best feature.

With great art direction and fun, though infuriating, puzzles. The Last Case Of Benedict Fox is a fun Metroidvania with great brain teasers and entertaining combat. It just takes a while to experience the best parts of the game. Exploration is fun but suffers in places like the combat and puzzles. But it doesn't keep the game from being fun all the same.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox Definitive Edition clearly alleviates and improves upon many of the grievances it suffered from in the original release, but some of those glaring problems are still there. Nonetheless, the game offers an engaging Lovecraftian narrative filled with gorgeous artwork and interesting characters bound to keep Metroidvania fans entertained. Just know that there are much better ones out there.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox: Definitive Edition ultimately improves the game for the better, I imagine. Because I never interacted with the game prior to this experience, I can only sympathize with the frustrations other players went through and wonder if the updates will entice them to return. While key improvements seem to have been introduced to make core features better, fundamental quirks exist that detract from making it a top-tier Metroidvania. Snappier or not, combat is still quite slow and forgettable, leaving the puzzles and the universe the most appealing aspects of an otherwise intriguing game.

Visually captivating, The Last Case of Benedict Fox excels in its art direction, storytelling, and exploration. However, its limited combat mechanics may prove frustrating for players, and numerous optimization issues are evident from the very beginning of the campaign.

After waiting for the chance to play it on PlayStation 5, The Last Case of Benedict Fox doesn't give me everything I wanted, but gives enough for a decent trip into the world of Lovecraft. Though its story and parts of the combat do let the game down, the art style, puzzle solving and the exploration that Metroidvania's provide really did save it from me putting it down and never playing again.

There’s no doubt that some will absolutely love what The Last Case of Benedict Fox: Definitive Edition sets out to offer. It is genuinely unique, and you might feel a pull to bring the case to an end in spite of its many issues. It is a bit of a mess, though, both technically and mechanically, and it’s telling that there are options to trivialise both the game’s combat and puzzles. Still, they help make completing Benedict’s last case more palatable, and that’s all you can ask.