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South of Midnight: A Captivating Journey Awaits Review

Apr 03, 2025 4:01 PM

In the review of South of Midnight, the game's striking visuals and captivating sound design are highlighted, showcasing rich environmental details and a unique score that enhances the experience. However, the gameplay has been criticized for repeating combat routines and simplistic puzzles that detract from the overall enjoyment. Players embody Hazel, a Weaver tasked with healing traumatic histories in the deep South while encountering underrepresented folklore. The combat system faces issues, including repetitive enemy encounters and clunky mechanics that can interrupt the game’s narrative flow. Despite its artistic merits, South of Midnight struggles with engaging gameplay, leaving a sense of disappointment among players who hoped for a more rewarding experience.

What are the main issues with gameplay in South of Midnight?

The main issues include repetitive combat encounters, simplistic puzzle designs, and a frustratingly rigid combat system that can disrupt the narrative flow, leading to a less engaging overall experience.

South of Midnight is developed by Compulsion Games, known for their previous title We Happy Few, which explored similar themes of trauma and societal issues. This new game delves into Southern folklore, weaving tales often overlooked in mainstream narratives. The protagonist, Hazel, embodies a magical healer who navigates both the beauty and darkness of her culture, seeking to uncover her missing mother while addressing generational trauma. The artistic style mirrors stop-motion animation, further enriching the experience, although gaming mechanics have proven to be a weak point in this ambitious title.



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Jordan Keats

Jordan Keats is a former professional gamer turned journalist, whose competitive background gives them a unique perspective on esports and multiplayer games. Jordan's expertise in strategy and game mechanics is unmatched, offering readers a deeper understing.

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Sephiroth Sephiroth commented on: 2025-04-03 16:18:09
The game’s stunning art and sound feel like a love letter to Southern folklore, but the repetitive combat and stiff mechanics make it play more like a rough draft. It’s a shame when a game’s aesthetic brilliance is held back by gameplay that doesn’t quite keep up.
N3rdo N3rdo commented on: 2025-04-03 16:12:09
South of Midnight’s art and sound design sound like a vibe, but man, repetitive combat and clunky mechanics can really kill the immersion. Shame, because Southern folklore deserves a gameplay loop as rich as its storytelling.
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