Looking for a comprehensive South Of Midnight Review? We’ve got you covered! Enter into the twisted fantasy of Folklore and terror on your journey to fix a world falling apart. With the weave of the world becoming even more unstable and no current era Weaver present, the tapestry of the world finds its way into Hazel’s hands. Here is our South Of Midnight Review.
Developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Games Studios, this dive into a tale of adventure and discovery is really a twist on your typical story.
STORY
As the story goes, I get the distinctive vibe that South Of Midnight is Kana: The Bridge Of Spirits in a new skin. However, accurate or inaccurate, the game is still a unique take on what the world and Folklore tell. Similarities with Kana are probably just because the game is a set “loop”, meaning that it follows the same pattern Kana does, whereas South Of Midnight flows in a different way, the Loops remain the same.
The story begins with a loss, specifically the loss of Hazel’s home and mother, as both are swept down the river in the storm that hits. This single event not only sets up the story but sets Hazel down a path where only certain talented individuals can go. Different cultures call it something different, but in South Of Midnight, you are known as a Weaver, someone who can see the tapestry of the world and has the power to heal it.
We highlighted these loops earlier; the loops are in the form of healing the land, much like Kana has to heal the land in Bridge of Spirits, Hazel needs to heal the pain by bottling it. Eventually, when enough of the pain is fixed, a boss can be confronted and overcome, healing the land in a way which will make progression possible. We sound sarcastic, right? Well, it seems the simple act of healing the land and confronting the boss is a little basic for my liking. Don’t get the wrong idea, the game is good, but there are only 4 bosses. I would have liked more.
That being said, the game is spread out nicely, and narrative events play a massive role in subtle things like when powers unlock or when you realise something. Encounters are easy as well, needing minimal effort to beat the spread out in a way which is paced well to the exploration. This although a rather important factor as the pacing between encounters and how the sort flows gives the gamer enough time to think and piece together the recent events.
Mechanics, Graphics, & Technical things
One of the most fascinating things about this game is the animation. Normally, animation would be animated in a different way, but what caught our attention was the method of animation. Dating back to the early days of animation, there is an art in this form of animation which is so intense and skill-based, it’s hard to believe people take their time to work like it, even now, when we have computers. This animation is Stop Frame. Whenever I think of stop-frame animation, there is only 1 person who comes to mind: Ray Harryhausen. Regarded by many as the grandfather of modern animation, Ray Harryhausen perfected an incredibly labour-intensive method of animation using puppetry. Although this author would not advise it, you can turn it off in the options, however, it doesn’t affect cutscenes.
The method revolves around moving the puppet a minimal amount and taking a photo, then repeating. Then it’s a case of stitching them together, making them run at the appropriate Framerate, removing props that keep the puppet stable, and some other magic to produce something which we see. If that’s not making sense, then take a look below at the making of Kubo & The Two Strings for a behind-the-scenes look.
Getting back to our point, South Of Midnight utilises this in an incredible way to tell its tale. Honestly, from the second I loaded the game, I was mesmerised by this fascinating aspect, and it didn’t stop there. Now I’ve heard people say it’s blocky and looks like it’s freezing up and so on, but realistically, what Compulsion Games did with the animation alone is impressive.
Mechanically and graphically, the game is just as good as the animation. Graphically, it’s a stylistic approach which fits well with the animations and method of storytelling. Mechanics are easy to take to, with the controls being laid out in a way that makes it easy to just pick up the game and play.
One of the other things that caught our attention was the introduction of the game. There is a Stop Frame, live Action sequence at the start, which, for a game, doesn’t make much sense, unless it’s for publicity. Initially, it is Hazel going to a gramophone and finding a book titled South Of Midnight; however, upon finishing the game, it is revealed to be the book she is reading to the creatures where she is. This poses the question: is the book a story which hasn’t been written by the time you start playing the game? Or is it a story of events yet to come? Additionally, it could be a fantastical story of a hero whom Hazel projects herself onto, or it could be Hazel’s story being written as she moves through it. Whatever the reason for it, this is an interesting sequence added to the fact that the chapters are presented in the book format and having Catfish in the early game and Hazel in the later game narrating events which have unfolded.
The one thing which I kept feeling throughout playing the game was that it should be a Soulslike, which was the core of what the game portrayed. I am unsure why this was the case, but the fact that the game presents this illusion when it is trying to be something else is an interesting one. One of the things that gives the soulslike feel is the death; when you die, you have the option to keep fighting and not just return to the beginning of the encounter. While this is the same thing in most cases, it does seem like the automatic revival at a bonfire from the Souls games. In addition to this, the way combat is handled feels like a soulslike, with the Weaver Powers needing to cool down before they can be used again.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the game is mesmerising and breathtaking, while it feels and reminds me of Alice Madness Returns and Kana: Bridge Of Spirits, it has a uniqueness all its own. As highlighted and emphasised pretty heavily, the animation is the best thing for me. While this is the case, South Of Midnight is far more than a journey of discovery and understanding; for Hazel, it’s also a journey of acceptance and growth.
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