South of Midnight Review: A Game with Interesting Story and Atmosphere, But Depressing Combat That Ruins Everything

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Southern Gothic represents not only swamps, ancient magic, and decay, but also dark secrets and personal tragedies, often not the fault of the one who committed the sin. South of Midnight immerses players in the atmosphere of the Deep South, telling many grim stories about ordinary people who find themselves in hopeless situations. This region, with its unique culture and history, mercilessly grinds the destinies of people, forcing them to commit terrible acts. Southern Gothic inspires the creation of deep narratives, where each character is faced with a choice that can change everything.

Western journalists note that this work is of great importance, as the game deeply immerses itself in the culture of the African-American population of the American South and effectively uses symbolism. Every element, including poses, movements, and intonations, is crafted with a high degree of authenticity. Instead of the traditional yellow paint used in modern games to mark accessible locations, the developers use a shade of blue. This color has special significance, as it was used by Black residents of the South to paint their doorsteps with it to ward off evil spirits. This attention to detail contributes to a unique atmosphere and conveys the richness of the region's cultural heritage.

Although I've never been to the United States, it's difficult for me to appreciate the game's cultural nuances. Nevertheless, South of Midnight evokes a profound sense of wonder and interest in me. This game has a unique atmosphere, which makes it attractive to players.

In the game, the main character Hazel is accompanied by a talking A giant catfish who also acts as the narrator. This character, reminiscent of a living doll sewn from scraps, adds uniqueness and flavor to the entire gameplay. The game's visual style is vibrant and memorable, making it appealing to players.

The story begins with an unusual premise. A hurricane sweeps Hazel and her mother's house into the river. Instead of waiting for the storm to pass and calling rescuers, Hazel decides to search for the lost house herself. Although this is a fairy tale, it is filled with dark and harsh moments.

During her journey, Hazel explores several villages with shanty towns where the inhabitants lead a difficult life. She also visits a pig farm with its dark history and swamps, which leave an unforgettable impression. In each new location, sad and cruel stories unfold. People kill each other for various reasons: envy, greed, and hopelessness drive them to extreme measures. The South is full of dark secrets and skeletons in the closet, which makes its atmosphere especially gloomy and mysterious.

Hazel is a unique character with the gift of the Spinner. She not only sees mystical creatures and monsters but also has the ability to unravel the tangles of pain that people leave on the fabric of the universe. Throughout the game, she will delve into dark stories, exploring the events that led to suffering. Hazel will unravel what happened and unravel the scars left by unfortunate people. This process becomes the central theme of the game, where each tangle of pain reveals new aspects and secrets, making the plot deeper and more intriguing.

In some stories, boss monsters play a key role. The game features characters such as Hugging Molly, a spider-like creature that kidnaps children, and a giant alligator. These images draw inspiration from real-life Southern legends, but have their own unique interpretation, which adds depth and interest to the gameplay.

The game's bosses are few and inventive, with the exception of the final enemy, who doesn't really stand out. However, the main problem is that the young Spinner spends most of her time fighting generic monsters, which becomes tedious. Each battle follows the same pattern: Hazel enters an arena where monsters appear in varying order and numbers. The player must destroy and unravel them one by one, which leads to monotonous gameplay.

The number of monster types is limited, and all of them are mysterious blobs of flesh whose movements are difficult to predict. I still haven't been able to master the technique of dodging even the weakest enemy's attacks, since their designs and animations are so unusual that timing the attack accurately becomes almost impossible.

Enemy attacks are difficult to perceive, as they look unnatural and deal damage without the ability to interrupt the attack. Furthermore, the attack indexing is ineffective: red attacks are difficult to distinguish against a black background. Arenas are represented by dark bubbles and branches, making navigation extremely difficult. This creates additional difficulties in gameplay and reduces the overall enjoyment of the game.

Hazel's character moves look unusual. For example, her area attack is executed slowly, allowing enemies to land several hits in response. She also has abilities such as pulling, pushing, and capturing the enemy's will. However, the long cooldowns of these abilities force the player to rely more on regular attacks and maneuvering. Combined with poor monster and level design, as well as poor color indication, battles become chaotic and poorly thought out. This negatively affects the overall perception of the gameplay.

Ideally, the game would have done away with combat. It would have retained only platforming, which, while sometimes awkward, is generally acceptable, and focused on exploring beautifully designed locations. This would have allowed the focus to be on the aesthetics and atmosphere that make the game truly unique.

One might expect the game to be dominated by swamp landscapes, which is quite consistent with the Southern Gothic theme. However, the locations Hazel explores are actually very diverse. The game's creators sometimes add elements of humor that may seem strange and even cruel, but this only emphasizes the uniqueness of the plot. One of the most memorable locations is a pig farm, where hundreds of pig carcasses are haphazardly piled up in a hangar, causing Hazel to feel sick. The hangar is surrounded by sprinklers filled with manure, creating a unique atmosphere. Hazel sarcastically remarks that she's wading through knee-deep mud. This vivid and provocative scene adds depth and originality to the game, making it memorable for players.

South of Midnight amazes with its liveliness and richness, despite the shortcomings of the combat system. The game surprises with a variety of touching stories, an atmospheric environment that itself tells the story of the world, and memorable musical compositions. Every moment immerses the player in a unique atmosphere, making the gameplay unforgettable.

The game's soundtrack was created by composer Olivier Deriviere, known for his work on projects such as Plague Tale and Remember Me. He notes that this was the most ambitious musical undertaking of his career. Deriviere not only wrote numerous blues and jazz tracks with country influences but also collaborated with live musicians and an orchestra. His compositions feature a variety of instruments, including banjo, clarinet, saxophones, trumpets, and trombones. The soundtrack also features guitars, violin, church organ, honky-tonk piano, and a children's choir. Deriviere's work showcases his talent and diversity in musical style, giving the game a unique atmosphere.

Music in South of Midnight is one of the key aspects that makes the game unique and engaging. It's what draws players in and motivates them to continue despite the challenges. In this game, music plays a distinct character, emphasizing important plot points. Each significant story in South of Midnight is accompanied by specially selected compositions, which add a new dimension to the gameplay. At times, it even resembles a musical, with gameplay seamlessly intertwined with musical numbers, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

South of Midnight has the potential to be a real hit if the developers improve the combat system. It's a talented and unusual project that, despite some flaws, fits perfectly into the Game Pass catalog. Players will not regret the time spent in this game, because it offers a unique experience and atmosphere that are worth trying.