When I first saw South of Midnight, I couldn’t help but think back to my warm memories of my first viewing of Disney’s James and the Giant Peach. The game’s stop-motion animation evoked those overwhelming feelings of nostalgia as the sight of a young woman riding atop a talking catfish instantly captured my imagination. Now that Compulsion Games’ New Orleans folklore-inspired adventure is finally out, I made sure to hop in and give it a whirl to see if all the positives and negatives dished toward it from pre-release reviews were warranted. After finishing three of the game’s initial chapters, I came away with overwhelmingly positive impressions of South of Midnight.
As I’ve already mentioned, this game’s art style is one of its most significant trademarks, thanks to how magnificent it looks in motion. The heavy downpour of a devastating storm, the decor of an old-timey mansion, and the beaming sunlight that bounces off a far-reaching Louisiana bayou are just some of the eye-popping sights I came across at the start of my magical journey. I must commend Clyde Henry Productions, which was entrusted with animating South of Midnight due to its mastery of stop-motion art. Another aspect of this game’s visual trappings that I adore is its character and enemy designs. Hazel, the game’s main protagonist, is a relatable character whose teen angst and sense of wonder come through wonderfully. Coming into contact with her mother, friendly neighbors, and the mythological beings & creatures she encounters along the way led to some humorous and heartbreaking moments in equal measure. Speaking of creatures, the varied forms of the game’s main enemies, known as the “Haint,” make way for some skin-crawling monstrosities that further prove just how inspired South of Midnight’s visual presentation truly is.
Coming across such a monumentally sad moment… hit so much harder with the added effect of a well-orchestrated anthem to accompany it.
The game’s music is just as impressive. As I jogged through “The Quarters” and an abandoned Cajun community, my ears were treated to tunes that transported me to Louisiana – a memorable batch of songs that stay primarily in the realm of blues and are of the highest quality. And what also makes this game’s soundtrack shine is how it stays in line with whatever sequence is played onscreen. During one particularly somber moment, I climbed up a mangled tree and listened to the sad tale of a brother left to die after his sibling trapped him inside it. The song that played out was especially heartwrenching as it summarized the events that led to that act of betrayal and how it ended with the deceased brother becoming spiritually connected to the tree itself. Coming across such a monumentally sad moment, such as that one, hit so much harder with the added effect of a well-orchestrated anthem to accompany it. South of Midnight’s music is a treat to my ears and does a fine job of matching the focal locale & mythical elements that define Hazel’s supernatural trek.
I didn’t foresee South of Midnight dealing with such serious themes of deception, death, and slavery. But I’m glad it did because those initial plot points have me excited for the remainder of the game’s chapters.
From a storyline standpoint, South of Midnight is a lot heavier than I expected. The opening moments allude to Hazel’s predicament being sadder than most as she’s forced to watch her mother get whisked away while trapped in their home as a devastating flood ravages her hometown. Once Hazel discovers her connection to the spiritual realm, she comes into contact with the “Grand Tapestry,” the fabric of the universe that is invisible to most folks. But Hazel can see the “Strands” and memories of the past that are connected to that realm since she’s been bestowed with the powers of a “Weaver,” a magic-wielding individual who can come into contact with the physical embodiment of trauma and witness the heroic deeds of past Weavers. While trying to find her mother, Hazel must deal with the unhealed emotional stress that has overtaken the land and discover its root cause. The aforementioned narrative of a brother being trapped within a tree by his kin and the tale of a previous Weaver who used her powers to help slaves find their way to freedom caught me off guard — I didn’t foresee South of Midnight dealing with such serious themes of deception, death, and slavery. But I’m glad it did because those initial plot points have me excited for the remainder of the game’s chapters.
Gameplay-wise, South of Midnight provides an enjoyable mix of combat and platforming sections. Double jumping into a gliding motion to reach far-off locales, wall running to safety while a vengeful spirit follows close behind, and smacking Haint villains around with melee attacks and magical powers come together to offer fun bits of exploration and action. While the gameplay itself may not be complex and all that different from your average third-person action-adventure experience, it’s solid enough and provides a nice change of pace from time to time. I’ve unlocked new attacks and upgrades for my spectral abilities that give Hazel new tools to work with, so I’m looking forward to using them against the new types of Haint monsters that are sure to come my way as the game marches on.
VERDICT:
All in all, South of Midnight has impressed me immensely during its opening hours. Its art style is marvelous, its music is majestic, and its plot managed to grab me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’m very much looking forward to wiping out all those damned Haints and getting to the bottom of Hazel’s connection to the otherworldly beings that inhabit her homeland within the deep south. If you haven’t already, give South of Midnight a chance and treat yourself to one of the most impressive Xbox Game Studios’ releases of 2025. The famous Louisiana French expression comes to mind when I think about this game – Laissez les bons temps rouler.
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