South of Midnight Review

Compulsion Games, known for quirky titles like We Happy Few and Contrast, is ready to release its latest handcrafted experience: South of Midnight. First announced during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2023, the trailer immediately caught the audience’s eyes with its deep South aesthetic and stop-motion animation that oozed style.

Set against the backdrop of a Gothic fantasy inspired by the American Deep South, South of Midnight follows Hazel’s journey after a devastating hurricane ravages her hometown of Prospero. Drawn into a haunting Southern Gothic realm where folklore comes to life, Hazel must embrace her role as a Weaver—one who mends fractured spirits and broken bonds through magic.

It’s a truly interesting premise, deeply rooted in the mythos and folklore of its setting. While the overarching narrative and stories in between that unravel the secrets of her family and the townsfolk are interesting enough to see through, the rest of the game drags it down by staying at a serviceable level that fails to evolve and provide something more.

A Tale Worth Listening To

South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure title that blends platforming and combat, offering an experience reminiscent of other over-the-shoulder games. However, it distinguishes itself through its fantastic portrayal of the American Deep South, nailing its mood, style, and atmosphere perfectly.

From the creaky wooden houses to intricately detailed interiors and vast, sprawling forests, the game’s world is meticulously crafted, making environmental storytelling one of its strongest assets. Every location exudes character, immersing players in a setting that is arguably the game’s biggest draw.

At the heart of South of Midnight is Hazel, a Weaver gifted with the ability to mend the broken spirits of the townsfolk. As she journeys through different locales, she encounters Stigma—concentrated manifestations of emotions and thoughts that must be unraveled and healed. Her quest, though deeply personal in its search for her mother, evolves into something more profound as she listens to the stories of the people she meets, helping them overcome the burdens of their past.

The game thrives on these smaller, more intimate tales, some of which delve into rather dark and sensitive themes. One particular story follows Rhubarb and Benjy, two brothers who were once close but became estranged due to Rhubarb’s sacrifices in caring for Benjy. In a tragic turn, Rhubarb tricks Benjy into playing hide and seek inside the hollow of a tree, sealing him within until Benjy ultimately becomes one with it. Though perhaps unfamiliar to some players, these folklore-infused narratives are beautifully woven into the game and, at times, even more compelling than the main storyline. There’s a huge focus on these smaller stories over Hazel, making her play second fiddle instead of taking the lead.

Complementing the rich storytelling is a soundtrack that seamlessly blends banjo rhythms and deep, soulful beats that enhance the setting. A standout feature is the musical conclusion of each chapter—Hazel’s journey culminates with a song encapsulating the events just experienced, offering players a melodic reward that resonates with the emotions of the narrative.

One of the most unique aspects of South of Midnight is its stop-motion animation style, which adds a distinct visual identity. While prominently featured in cutscenes and cinematics, it is less pronounced during gameplay. You’ll see it if you look closely, but it doesn’t quite stand out as you would expect during platforming and combat, considering how this aspect was front and center when it was first revealed. Players who prefer a smoother experience can disable this choice in the settings, which doesn’t make a tangible difference to how the game is played.

Aesthetically, South of Midnight delivers a distinct experience, setting itself apart from other titles on the market. However, while its presentation excels, the same cannot be said for its platforming and combat, which fail to evolve meaningfully throughout the game.

Unraveling the Truth

If South of Midnight’s platforming and combat mechanics could be summed up in one word, “serviceable” would be the most fitting choice. While the game does not particularly excel in either area, it is functional enough, allowing players to propel toward the next narrative beat rather than push boundaries or introduce innovative mechanics.

Hazel has an arsenal of standard platforming abilities, including double jumping, boosting, wall riding, and gliding—skills that aid her in traversing swamps and chasms. She also wields a magical grappling hook, allowing her to slingshot to designated points.

The level design is largely straightforward, with clearly marked paths leading Hazel from one objective to the next. Though primarily linear, occasional forks in the road offer alternate routes, rewarding players with Floofs, the in-game currency used to learn and upgrade skills. Even if players do not collect every Floof, enough is available to complete the skill tree fully.

Platforming itself is smooth and accessible, even for newcomers. Some of the more demanding challenges require Hazel to materialize platforms or walls at the press of a button to progress. There’s even a chase sequence towards the end of the level that requires players to be quick on their feet without stopping for a breather. The obstacles aren’t unreasonable, and in case you need to gather your bearings, a quick press of the R3 button will light the path to the next objective.

Combat, meanwhile, is more of a simmer than a full boil. Rather than encountering enemies naturally within the world, Hazel engages arena-style battles, with waves of Haints appearing at designated points. Combat mechanics are simple, consisting of basic jump and attack functions, with well-timed dodges triggering a flash of light that damages foes.

Enemy variety is relatively limited, including basic grunts, hulking brutes, and supportive creatures that shield others. Defeating enemies allows Hazel to unravel them, restoring some of her health to prolong encounters.

Despite the game’s straightforward design, combat can be more challenging than expected, especially when multiple Haints attack simultaneously. Some encounters require strategic planning depending on enemy combinations, and some encounters are definitely tougher than others.

Rather than brute force, players will benefit from Hazel’s crowd-control abilities, such as push/pull mechanics, mind control, and stunning enemies. Although her toolkit is diverse enough to manage threats, attack inputs remain simple, limited primarily to a single button.

Unlike some action titles, Hazel is not restricted by a stamina meter in South of Midnight, making dodging an essential survival tool, though camera angles can occasionally complicate visibility. Unfortunately, certain Haints poorly telegraph their attacks, making timing unpredictable outside of the occasional damage gauge indicator.

Boss battles are a highlight in South of Midnight, yet they fail to introduce innovative mechanics. These encounters feature massive adversaries that dominate the screen, each following predictable attack patterns that players can quickly memorize. While adjusting to their timing may require a few attempts, none of the bosses present a significant challenge, ultimately rendering these fights as standard encounters that fulfill their role without delivering memorable moments.

Overall, South of Midnight’s combat remains functional but uninspired, hindered by a lack of enemy diversity and minimal progression in Hazel’s skill set. Although new abilities introduce additional effects, they do little to evolve gameplay, resulting in players repeatedly relying on the same strategies due to the combat system’s inherent simplicity.

Going South

South of Midnight presents a mixed experience, offering both compelling storytelling and noticeable shortcomings as two parts of the same coin. On one hand, the narrative engages with its deep-rooted folklore and Southern Gothic inspirations, making it a worthwhile journey for those drawn to its atmospheric world. However, the side characters’ personal stories often outshine the main plot, which, toward the latter stages, begins to feel prolonged and overstretched.

This imbalance contributes to the South of Midnight’s repetitiveness, exacerbated by combat and traversal mechanics that, while functional, lack depth. Both elements serve their purpose but fail to evolve meaningfully, leaving gameplay feeling formulaic rather than dynamic.

Additionally, the game’s non-linear approach to uncovering key story elements during certain levels can occasionally cause confusion. While scattered stigma offer intriguing pieces of the narrative, the freedom to access them out of sequence results in fragmented storytelling that may not always make sense when encountered in the wrong order.

Despite these concerns, South of Midnight delivers solid technical performance on the Xbox Series X. The game consistently maintains a stable 60fps, and any frame rate dips, if present, remain largely unnoticeable.

Verdict: Wait for it…

South of Midnight delivers a distinct narrative-driven experience, ideal for players seeking a story-rich adventure with minimal gameplay complexity. The game masterfully captures the ambiance and essence of the American Deep South, a setting rarely explored in gaming, making its atmospheric world a refreshing and welcome addition.

However, its gameplay elements function more as supporting features rather than core strengths. Combat, while accessible, lacks depth, leading to repetition over time. Similarly, traversal mechanics are straightforward and primarily move players from one point to another, offering little in the way of dynamic exploration or engagement. It’s a big game of give and take, and depending on your preference, this may or may not mean too much to you.

Despite these shortcomings, South of Midnight remains a compelling experience, thanks to its emotionally resonant and well-crafted story beats. These narratives—often deeply personal and relatable—stand out as the game’s strongest aspects, leaving a lasting impression on players.

*South of Midnight was reviewed on an Xbox Series X with a review code provided by the publisher.