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South of Midnight details
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
Southern delights
Set across more than a dozen chapters that unfold like pages from a fairytale book, South of Midnight is about Hazel’s journey to rescue her mother after a storm from a hurricane washes away their mobile home. Before that however, even in just a few minutes of dialogue, it really does a wonderful job in establishing their relationship and tensions. There’s a natural and authentic flow to their speech, neither tiresome Whedonesque quips nor poor stereotypes of Black characters from the Deep South.
Made in Unreal Engine 5, it’s also an incredible showcase for the expressive textural hand-crafted aesthetic that captures the effect of stop-motion animation, even though everything feels smooth once it cuts to gameplay. It all looks extraordinary, especially when you’ve got the mix of the whimsical, from giant talking catfish to a childhood ragdoll puppet that comes to life, with the variety of locales in the Deep South, as Hazel’s journey takes her from the swamps to the mountains, dilapidated shacks to fancy houses.
Past isn’t past
As wondrously surreal as South of Midnight’s world is, playing it is a more familiar and conventional affair. In many ways, it feels like a throwback to single-player action-adventure games from previous generations, as you climb across as many ledges as Nathan Drake and squeeze through many narrow gaps. Yet I also find it refreshing that it does away with a lot of bloat from modern games, rarely diverging you off the path save for the occasional lore pick-up or ‘floofs’ used to upgrade your abilities.
What does undermine this are the combat encounters with the Haints themselves. They remind me of the Hiss in Control – despite being introduced to different types over the course of the campaign, they all have the same dull aesthetic and palette, and each time you reach a Stigma you’re locked into a combat arena a bit like Devil May Cry but where the combat is merely serviceable rather than something you feel compelled to master.
Conclusion
Overall, South of Midnight is a thought-provoking and visually stunning game that explores complex themes and features a unique art style. While it may have some flaws, its engaging narrative and atmospheric world make it a compelling experience.
FAQs
Q: What is South of Midnight?
A: South of Midnight is an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
Q: What is the game’s story about?
A: The game follows Hazel Flood’s journey to rescue her mother after a hurricane washes away their mobile home, exploring themes of trauma, family, and redemption.
Q: What makes the game’s art style unique?
A: The game features a hand-crafted aesthetic that captures the effect of stop-motion animation, with a focus on expressive textures and whimsical elements.
Q: Is the game’s combat system engaging?
A: While the combat encounters are serviceable, they can feel a bit dull and repetitive at times. The game’s focus is more on exploration and narrative than combat.
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