Western storytelling loves to make use of mythology as worldbuilding, but it surely fixates on Greek, Roman, and Norse myths so typically that it is simple to overlook different elements of the world, just like the American South, have loads of folklore as effectively. South of Midnight, the brand new action-platformer from Compulsion Video games, makes use of this underrepresented roster of cryptids to nice success, telling a heartfelt story centered round a lady and her mom. Its first rate fight and platforming are elevated to nice heights by stellar visible and musical presentation, leading to a recreation I can not cease smiling about.
Hazel Flood.
South of Midnight stars Hazel Flood, a lady in her late teenagers attempting to trace her mother down within the aftermath of a hurricane. Alongside the way in which, she discovers she’s a Weaver, a magical one who can use ethereal strands to struggle, traverse, and glimpse visions of the previous. Unlockable magical skills are used for fight, traversal, and puzzle-solving, which is environment friendly from a gameplay perspective and a story one; each side of Hazel’s life turns into unusual and magical, and she or he has to discover ways to deal with it. On her journey, she encounters a number of mythic creatures from Southern folklore and learns the tragic backstories that led to their curses. I at all times loved these flashbacks, as they flesh out the world in distinctive methods and seamlessly combine myths into the principle story. Nonetheless, the narrative stays grounded, due to Hazel’s relationship together with her mom, grandmother, and large catfish companion. Apart from some pacing points felt most closely within the recreation’s gradual begin and abrupt ending, it is a touching story I am going to bear in mind fondly.
Cutscenes and fight are woven collectively by linear platforming sequences. Hazel can double soar, glide, grapple, and wall-run to traverse the world. You can too head off the crushed path to seek for Floofs, the sport’s forex for capability upgrades, however I by no means discovered the exploration partaking. While you come to a crossroads, you may click on the best persist with see the principle goal’s route, so “exploring” boils right down to recognizing a aspect path when it seems, briefly heading down it to gather Floofs, after which turning round and getting again on the principle path. Nonetheless, I used to be hungry sufficient for upgrades to seek for Floofs each time attainable. Fortunately, a wide range of motion methods preserve the expertise from feeling too stale. Traversal in the end feels much less like an thrilling mechanic in its personal proper and extra like a way to maneuver between stunning environments, one of many recreation’s highlights.Â
Hazel grapples utilizing her Weaver magic.
One of the best parts of South of Midnight are its artwork and music. Characters are animated with purposefully skipped frames, creating an aesthetic that falls someplace between Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and stop-motion animation. Regardless of these clear inventive inspirations, South of Midnight stands out with superbly designed characters, monsters, and environments. It is visually spectacular on a technical degree as effectively, incomes its spot on trendy consoles and PCs. Whether or not it is the sunbeams streaming throughout the dust at sunset or the haunting visuals of an intense boss battle, I used to be constantly impressed by South of Midnight’s attractive visuals.
The sound design is simply as robust, due to the inspiration it pulls from the story’s setting. The South has a wealthy musical historical past, from bluegrass to jazz to folks, and an appropriately diversified playlist of genres scores Hazel’s journey. A twangy banjo, a rowdy trombone, and a dramatic swell of violins are all equally prone to seem in any given degree’s soundtrack.Â
Traditionally, these songs are additionally the way in which tales are handed throughout generations, and South of Midnight pays homage to this with its boss songs. These authentic tracks play within the background of climactic battles with lyrics pertaining to that second within the plot, typically from the attitude of one of many characters within the battle itself. “Cinematic” is an adjective used to explain video games with grand setpieces or dramatic performances, however these soundtracks are cinematic in a distinct sense. Motion sequences in motion pictures are sometimes underscored by related songs taking part in within the background, so each time I heard the lyrics are available to accompany the boss battle, it felt like I used to be sitting in a theater, watching popcorn-worthy struggle choreography.
Hazel battles the intimidating Two-Toed Tom.
On that be aware, the fight in South of Midnight isn’t its strongest side, but it surely grows in complexity in direction of the top in ways in which dramatically enhance its high quality. Initially, its simple third-person motion feels by-product. Whereas I did not hate it, I by no means regarded ahead to it and did not discover it notably satisfying. Its most original ingredient is the Unravel mechanic: While you defeat an enemy, you may pull aside its lingering spirit, barely therapeutic Hazel and shaving a couple of seconds off capability cooldowns. These skills are unlocked by the story, together with one which pushes foes, one other that pulls them, and a 3rd that afflicts them with a standing known as Weave, locking them in place and decreasing their defenses. They’re helpful and ought to be employed as typically as attainable, however do not normally really feel like game-changing powers.Â
This isn’t the case by the late recreation. As every capability is upgraded, it unlocks new circumstances to afflict Weave and velocity up cooldowns, typically erasing them totally. For instance, you may immediately reset the Push capability by hitting a number of enemies directly, making a transfer with a roughly 15-second timer turn out to be part of your common arsenal. Enhancements like this encourage gamers to contemplate positioning and add danger and reward to the powers. When you add a second sprint and exploding Unravels, fights are quick, frantic, and enjoyable as you progress shortly to maximise your skills, refresh their cooldowns, and Unravel foes quickly sufficient to get some well being again. I want this complexity was current sooner than the sport’s final 5 hours, however I used to be primarily glad it reached these heights in any respect.
Hazel stares down a Rougarou.
Due to its vibrant artwork, music, and storytelling, I had an exquisite time with South of Midnight. Its narrative goes to some surprisingly darkish locations, but it nonetheless brims with whimsy, making it a becoming adaptation of the supply mythology’s comparable tone. I could not have informed you what a Rougarou was a couple of weeks in the past, however due to this recreation, I’ve bought a catchy melody of its identify that performs on repeat in my head. It is becoming that, just like the tales and songs it seeks to honor, South of Midnight has efficiently handed Southern folklore on to a brand new, wider viewers.
