South of Midnight review: A bayou fairy tale

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I found myself instantly captivated when I learned about South of Midnight during the summer of 2023. With its dark fantasy backdrop set in the American Deep South, coupled with a stop motion animation style, I was eager to learn more. Having played the game myself, what truly stands out is how skillfully South of Midnight weaves together the stories and characters within this captivating world.

Turning the whole bayou upside down

Right off the bat, South of Midnight distinguishes itself from many other action games due to its unique backdrop: the American Deep South. This narrative unfolds in a fictional town named Prospero, where we find Hazel, a young woman, and her mother, Lacy. Tragedy strikes when a hurricane destroys their home and takes Lacy away. In an effort to rescue the one dearest to her heart, Hazel embarks on a voyage that ultimately reveals hidden truths about her family lineage, loved ones, and even herself.

The initial scene of South of Midnight effectively portrays the intricate and contentious bond shared by the protagonist and her mother. Within mere minutes of dialogue exchange, Lacy emerges as a remarkably authentic representation of a southern Black mother within gaming. Despite their deep affection for each other, there’s a palpable history of challenges that have left lasting impressions on both characters in distinct manners.

A significant part of this story revolves around Hazel’s late father, who tragically passed away when she was young. Her relationship with her grandmother is tense, and an initial encounter between them sets off Hazel’s personal quest for self-understanding. Fundamentally, South of Midnight is a coming-of-age tale, and Hazel fits the role of protagonist flawlessly, embodying the story’s themes. She’s bold yet naive, but also endearing and kind-hearted. By the end of the game, Hazel had become one of the most memorable protagonists from Xbox Game Studios in recent times.

In the game South of Midnight, the characters and narrative are wonderfully matched with its unique art style. Compulsion Games employs a stop-motion animation technique for the characters and beasts in Prospero, which is reminiscent of Laika Studios’ work. The visuals are breathtakingly beautiful and harmonize flawlessly with the game’s eerie, Gothic atmosphere, as I mentioned in my initial review.

In South of Midnight, it’s evident that the creator drew inspiration from states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The design of this fictional world was masterfully crafted by taking advantage of these regions, with settings like a corrupted swamp (bayou) and an unusual catfish character, both typical elements found in the American Deep South.

Needle and blade

One intriguing discovery about Hazel is her identity as a Weaver – an individual who perceives and interacts with the vast Cosmic Loom, representing the very structure of the universe. This unique ability empowers Weavers to influence their surroundings by manipulating Strands. In-game, this translates to Hazel summoning objects, shifting barriers, and performing thrilling aerial jumps, all within South of Midnight’s environment. The gameplay includes plenty of platforming and environmental problem-solving, often requiring players to produce an item or move it to bridge a gap or uncover a fresh pathway. There are also ledges that can be scaled and jumped between in a manner reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed. Essentially, it’s classic adventure gameplay, but the spectral appearance of the Strands Hazel employs adds an appealing aesthetic touch.

In the game South of Midnight, you’ll frequently engage in fights within specified areas that have been harmed by distress on the Grand Tapestry. Hazel equips the Weaver’s tools for attacking and defending, which allow her to cut, smash foes as well as manipulate their position or apply temporary status changes. By linking these abilities together, you can create impressive combos. As you traverse Prospero, you’ll stumble upon Floofs – these elusive creatures are typically hidden away from the main path and can be utilized to upgrade Hazel’s skills and unlock new ones. The skill tree in this game isn’t complex, which I found refreshing as it means less time spent agonizing over build decisions in menus.

Overall, South of Midnight’s fight scenes are generally satisfactory. The visual aesthetics of battles are pleasing, but the actual fighting feels somewhat commonplace and tends to grow monotonous due to the frequent recurrence of similar battle sequences. However, there are more challenging boss fights that demand strategic thinking, and the game offers a variety of difficulty settings that can make encounters either incredibly tough or a breeze, depending on whether you’re aiming for story progression or a challenge. Regrettably, I found the combat lacked the invigorating experience that the narrative delivers.

Family business

As a devoted admirer, let me express my awe for the stunning narrative achievement that is South of Midnight, masterfully crafted by Compulsion Games. This captivating journey is brimming with engrossing characters and a riveting storyline. However, the combat and platforming elements seem to follow a consistent pattern. Here’s hoping this world and these memorable characters will continue to enchant us in future installments.

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2025-04-03 19:27