When I first saw thetrailer forSouth of Midnightin June 2023, I was instantly captivated bythe stop-motion art style and unique setting in the bayous of the American Deep South.Among an ocean of games set on either coast ofAmerica,seeing a game in the American South was truly a breath of fresh air, and I knew in that moment thatSouth of Midnightwas going to be something special.
I’ll refrain from discussing any major story beats or characters that aren’t already in the trailers to ensure a spoiler-free experience.
And what a special thingSouth of Midnightis. Created by Compulsion Games ofWe Happy Fewfame,South of Midnightis set in the swampy town of Prospero in Chickasaw County, andis centered around track athlete Hazel Flood as she navigates the aftermath of a violent hurricane to rescue her mother Lacey,who was swept away by a flash flood in their trailer.
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A Unique Take On Southern Gothic And Cajun Folklore
Determined to find and rescue her mother, Hazel discovers Weaving—a folk magic that taps into the metaphysical Strands of the Grand Tapestry that connects all life.
Armed with a unique set of magical quilting tools, Hazel soon finds herself entering a heretofore hidden world ofsupernatural creatures and malevolent spirits deeply associated with Cajun folklore. While on her journey, she encounters a myriad of people and creatures changed and warped by their trauma.
The heart ofSouth of Midnightis the Southern Gothic genre, whichblends the dark, supernatural, and macabre themes of theGothic genrewith the rural American South,often exploring themes revolving around violence and the decay of Southern life, and is not afraid to revisit the painful memory of slavery that is still deeply entrenched in the history of the American South.
Let’s get first impressions out of the way—I’m sure this term is going to be thrown around a lot by many, butthere is a lot of soul and heart inSouth of Midnight.From the aesthetics to the story,South of Midnightreflects the rich, deep, and diverse culture andbiomesin the Deep Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Orleans.
Y’all, You Can Feel The Heat And Humidity
If I had to describe the overall vibe ofSouth of Midnightwith one word, then it would be“humid.”Drenched in warm colors and surrounded by nature andswamps, the game immerses you in the muggy humidity of the South, so much so thatyou can almost feel the whining mosquitoes threatening to drink your blood.
But that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, it’s a testament to howimmersive the game feels despite its heightened stylism.South of Midnightexpertly captures the gritty and dirty parts of Southern life, down to the seeped soil and piles of manure. You’d be practically begging for Hazel to take a bath by the time the story ends.
To use someclassic referencesas a shorthand, I would describeSouth of Midnightas a mix ofPrincess and the Frog’sappreciation of Cajun culture and the stop-motion uncanniness in movies likeCoralineorMr. Fantastic Fox.
The visuals are nothing short of stunning, as they seamlessly portray surreal American folklore with a fantastical twist that cannot be denied.The human characters have models with soft and smooth textures that resemble clay,while the creatures and monsters have rough exteriors as though they were made with papier-mache and wood carvings.
Not only does the stop-motion effect bring out a more rustic aesthetic to the game, but it also allows for a morestylistic form of character expression and creature design that probably wouldn’t translate as well in any other game.However, the stop-motion effect is only prominent during cutscenes, as it is much harder to notice during fast-paced gameplay.
Theamazing scoreofSouth of Midnightcaptures the diverse music scene in the American South,ranging from the whimsical and lighthearted banjos and harmonicas to the chaotic and intense free-form jazz.
Not only that, but each narratively significant moment features lyrically driven, catchy songs that chronicle the tragedy of a trauma you’re trying to mend,harkening to the oral stories that each legendary creature originates from.These songs are going on my Spotify playlist, for sure.
One of the most impressive yet minor aspects ofSouth of Midnightis that an angelic choir accompanies every use of Hazel’s platforming abilities, which harmonizes perfectly with the in-game soundtrack. Whether you’re double-jumping,wall-running, or gliding across chasms, you’ll hear an unseen choir chanting an ethereal tune,paralleling the recurring theme that your power comes from those around you.
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler (Let The Good Times Roll)
Running the risk of disparaging and invalidating my review,I have to admit thatSouth of Midnight’sthemes strangely remind me of the infamously terribleBalan Wonderworld,though the only similarity is that their protagonists strive to help people in healing from their traumas—exceptSouth of Midnightdoes it way better in almost every way.
Nuance and complexity makeSouth of Midnight’stales all the more memorable and emotionally provoking,as each is an allegory of real-world issues in the South, like abuse, mental health, and poverty.
Hazel is one of my favorite youngfemale protagonists.She’s spunky, determined, witty, and isn’t afraid to show vulnerability when needed.Her youth is shown through her naïveté, and not only does she grow as a Weaver, but as a young adult finding her way through the trials and tribulations of adulthood.
The character design, especially Hazel’s, is something to be lauded. Fashion also plays an important role inSouth of Midnight, asHazel’s outfit changes three times throughout the narrative to symbolize the character growth she’s going through.I can’t talk about it too much as it will spoil the story quite a bit, but it works well.
Her relationship with the inhabitants of Prospero grows from apprehension to empathy as she learns that even the scary creatures have a story to tell.As Hazel grows as a Weaver, combat becomes less important,and boss fights become less about defeating them and their inner demons.
WhileSouth of Midnightdoesn’t have a long list of characters for Hazel to interact with,they are memorable just the same.You might remember Catfish from the trailers, whom Hazel befriends early in the game. Not only does he guide her through her journey and ferry her through the bayou,he also serves as the game’s narrator in between chapters, making them warm and intimate with his dulcet tone and enchanting Cajun accent.
Even the side characters and mythical creatures have empathetic backstories to tell that explain why they are twisted and warped into the broken creatures that you see.You might find that some stories sound rather exaggerated and might read them as unrealistic, though that is par for the course in the Southern Gothic genre, asthey are represented as allegories for lingering traumas in the Deep South.
My only issue with the characters inSouth of Midnightis the antagonist,whom I believe is woefully underutilized and does not have a satisfying ending.As this is a spoiler-free review, I will refrain from saying anything more than that.
The narrative is strong and is effectively acoming-of-age storywhere Hazel learns of the history of Weaving and becomes the woman that she needs to be to save her mother and help her community.
The Narrative Is Rich Like Gumbo
The overarching story is divided into six mini-stories that are represented by woven patterns that you can collectafter an arc that culminates in a climactic moment that explains the tragedy behind each character’s backstory. Conveniently, there is a dedicated tab where you can read up on character backstories, Cajun folklore, and the readable collectibles you find throughout the game.
As a weaver, Hazel takes it upon herself to either comfort or combat these characters, whose pain reflects a darker and oft-overlooked aspect of Southern history.
There is a sense of kindness and tenderness in which the story is told.
Every mythical creature you meet has a glowing red wound that represents their trauma,and I was conditioned to expect a boss fight down the line whenever I saw one. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that some can heal completely on their own without even fighting them.
I’ve spent a lot of time harping about how much I likeSouth of Midnight, so inevitably, there will be things that didn’t exactly impress me as much.
Meaty Narrative, Bony Gameplay
South of Midnightis not a combat-heavy game, as it seems more focused on showing its narrative through ambient collectibles, environmental storytelling, and character backstories. The game wants you to enjoy the narrative so much that it not only gives you a “Story” difficulty, but it also gives youthe option to completely skip combat encounters and chase scenes altogether.
Despite this, it has a simplehack-and-slash combat mechanicreminiscent ofKingdom Hearts,where each attack and action flows seamlessly into a graceful dance. By pulling on the strands of life that make up the Grand Tapestry,Hazel can use spells that can push, pull, stun, and even control enemies in the heat of combat. I do wish, however, that there were more combo varieties, but I understand that it’s not the focus here.
Eachcombat encounteris indicated by a large field surrounded by cancerous black growths and a knot in the middle, where Haints—grotesque, ink-blot spirits that are pain and sorrow manifested—will spawn and try to overwhelm you with their numbers. In terms of enemy variety,South of Midnightdelivers a diverse enough roster of foes to fight, complete with distinguishable silhouettes and unique attack patterns.
Combat inSouth of Midnightfeels very satisfying but often doesn’t offer enough challenge before the fight is over.I often found myself aggressively beating away at enemies and clearing the encounter with brute force before I could truly find my momentum and enter a flow state.
Enemy attacks can also easily catch you off guard becausethey’re not well telegraphed,which can completely kill the momentum you’ve built up. Not only that, but your hit-box can be wonky sometimes. The game encourages you to use perfect dodges, parries, and complex combos,but doesn’t give you enough rewards to incentivize doing so.
Outside of combat, the gameplay loop usually involvesexploring a new visually impressive area where you can find hidden collectibles and combat encounters.Then, you’ll find and destroy four knots, which reveal backstory tidbits that will culminate in a chase scene, which boils down to relatively easy platforming challenges with very little urgency.The puzzles are also extremely straightforward and became busywork that stood in my way of enjoying the story.
Despite this,I could never tire of the immaculate vibes when the game slows down to let you enjoy the scenery.The level design ensures that you take in the environment and ground yourself with your surroundings, which is all the more prominent when you control Crouton, Hazel’s favorite plushie, come alive.
Inside each burrow lies a cozy world where woodland critters have taken residence, akin to a scene from Wes Anderson’sFantastic Mr. Fox.
Crouton is perhaps my favorite part of the gameplay. Sure, you can use it to possess enemies in combat, but most importantly,its main purpose is to squeeze into small burrows that Hazel can’t crawl into.Crouton is a silly little guy who waddles around and speaks in goofy gibberish when he explodes likeLittleBigPlanet’sSack Boy. It’s a great, much-needed mood-lightener.
Inside each burrow lies a cozy world where woodland critters have taken residence, akin to a scene fromWes Anderson’sFantastic Mr. Fox. You can often find hares drinking tea or a fox watching you from his abode.Save for the occasional threats like fire ants and thorny bushes and the fact that each burrow is essentially the same in aesthetic,running around them as Crouton is always grounding and enjoyable.
Fun, But Technically Unoptimized
Progression inSouth of Midnightis linear and relies heavily on the Floofs that you collect throughout the game,which can be found as puzzle collectibles and combat rewards.Because of the linear progression of your skill tree, there isn’t any variety when it comes to play styles or builds, as one might expect.
Unfortunately,South of Midnightdoesn’t offer much replayability.While you may come back and attempt to find every single Floof and collectible, the lack of variety in combat and challenge throughout makes it hard to want to return to the game other than to appreciate the vibes of the game.
I also encountered a few technical and optimization issues that led to game crashes and interrupted audio that broke immersion. In the loading sections between chapters,Catfish or Hazel narrate the events of the story while accompanied by some upbeat Cajun music,and the music would always cut off, creating uncomfortable and awkward moments of silence.
Closing Thoughts:
Despite its gameplay shortcomings and optimization issues, South of Midnight is an evocative love letter to the Deep South and Cajun folklore. With a touching and inspiring story revolving around Hazel Flood and her journey to rescue her mother, it tackles the darker aspects of Southern culture with well-deserved nuance and respect. While it is a good game with an enjoyable story and a lovable cast, it stops just short of greatness due to its barebones combat and lack of replayable content. Still, South of Midnight is worth the cost of entry and 12-hour runtime. While some spaces in the world felt empty at times, I had a blast playing through it and loved the creativity and passion behind its interpretation of Cajun folklore. I really would love to see more games that showcase the down-to-earth culture of the American South that is very much misunderstood by many.
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