The Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022 had so many big reveals and announcements that it's easy to forget about the smaller titles. With around an hour-and-a-half of non-stop trailers, some games are bound to slip through the cracks, but The Last Case of Benedict Fox shouldn't be one of them. It may not have the same budget or scale as Bethesda's sci-fi epic Starfield, or the legacy of a series like Forza Motorsport, but The Last Case of Benedict Fox looks like a unique Lovecraftian-inspired Metroidvania.
Metroidvania is one of the most popular genres for indie games, and when done right it can be an extremely compelling experience. Games like Hollow Knight and Bloodstained have proven that the formula works, but also that an indie Metroidvania needs a distinctive hook to set it apart from the ever-expanding market. Thankfully, it seems The Last Case of Benedict Fox has just that.
Benedict Fox's Vibrant Lovecraftian Art Style
One of the big standouts from The Last Case of Benedict Fox trailer is its vibrant art style. It's difficult for games to develop a unique art style, and that difficulty is ramped up for an indie game. The market is flooded with beautifully hand-drawn models, graphics based on children's storybooks, characters made from clay, and just about any other art style imaginable.
That being said, The Last Case of Benedict Fox uses a vivid color palette to convey the Lovecraftian themes of the game. Throughout the reveal trailer, an array of bright purples and reds can be seen, each with a hint of darkness that has become synonymous with Lovecraft-inspired works. Character designs remaining simple but sleek, while monster designs look suitably horrifying and otherworldly, with plenty of tentacles flailing across the screen.
The game's Lovecraftian art style is also enhanced by the game's smooth animations. A few combat and platforming sequences were shown off in the reveal trailer, with each one showcasing a range of actions from attacking to jumping, running, and everything in between. These smooth animations help The Last Case of Benedict Fox's art style stand out from its competition, as its otherworldly horrors are able to express their Lovecraftian behavior with ease.
A Unique Premise for a Metroidvania
Metroidvanias are a dime-a-dozen right now, but it seems as though The Last Case of Benedict Fox may reach loftier heights with a unique premise and some interesting mechanics. Set in 1925, The Last Case of Benedict Fox sees its titular protagonist head to an abandoned Massachusetts mansion in an attempt to discover the truth behind the mansion's former residents and their missing child. The key twist is that Benedict has to battle his literal inner demon. Throughout the course of the game, players will need to solve puzzles to uncover the truth, but will also have to deal with Lovecraft monsters that frequently drags the player to an alternate realm called Limbo.
Players will be back-tracking their way throughout Limbo and the mansion as cultists and tentacled monsters give chase. In what seems to be one of the game's most unique features, players will use just about any object in the environment as a weapon, or as a means to slow down or trap entities in the way. Players will be able to knock over furniture, throw objects, and use everyday items as life-saving weapons. Hopefully this system, and the game's art style, will be enough to set The Last Case of Benedict Fox apart.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox is set to release in spring 2023 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.