South of Midnight PS5 Review. There haven’t been a lot of games that explore the Southern Gothic Folklore of America. South of Midnight looks to change that and present it to the rest of the world. There is something almost magical about how it does so, and Compulsion Games’ unique storytelling style left me with a smile on my face.
South of Midnight PS5 Review
A Southern Gothic Tale
South of Midnight follows Hazel as she searches for her mother after a devastating flood washes her home away. Along the way, Hazel discovers she’s a descendant of Weavers.
Weavers can see memory strands from another dimension and manipulate them to see past memories and cleanse evil manifestations of people’s pain and sorrow.
The main plot of the game almost feels like a secondary story compared to the stories of Prospero’s citizens. Prespero, a fictional place inspired by the American Deep South, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and others. As Hazel traverses Prospero, she encounters many colorful characters, all of whom have deep trauma in their lives.
A Unique Take On Southern Folktales
With her unique abilities, Hazel takes it upon herself to help ease the pain of the land and the people. You’ll encounter some unique monsters, all based on actual folklore from the region, like the Rougarou.
These folklore creatures may not be as mainstream as things like the Jersey Devil, but it was really nice to learn about them, creatures people in the region have been accustomed to for so long.
South of Midnight doesn’t shy away from showing the hardships of the time and its past. Signs and memories of slavory are scattered throughout. You’ll encounter stories of betrayal, sibling rivalry, and tragic deaths. These stories are the heart of the game, and I was fully engaged with them.
A Beautiful World Full Of Hardships And Pain
Prospero is full of unique locations you get to visit, from the swamps of the Bayou to lush forests and countryside. South of Midnight is primarily an exploration game. You’ll spend the majority of the time traversing the areas, reading notes, and collecting upgrades for your strand weapons.
The locations are varied and have a lot of personality and story to tell. You’ll find homes abandoned with eviction notes highlighting the greed of landowners and the desperation of people just trying to survive in this harsh land.
Hazel has unique abilities to create physical structures from the past, like bridges and boxes. You use these to solve puzzles and open up paths. She can even use the strands to dash in the air and glide across long distances.
Her strands are also used in combat. Hazel battles the physical manifestation of people’s pain and sorrow. These demonic-looking creatures have a unique design to them, and they stand out compared to the beauty of some locations you traverse through.
Smooth Combat That’s Just The Perfect Blend Of Action
These creatures are called the Haint. You don’t encounter them along your path for random encounters. The Haint are always located in specific areas that Hazel has to clear out to remove corruption so she can progress on her journey.
There is a variety of Haint that attack Hazel, from large, bulky brutes that slam their fists into the ground, to a fly nest-looking monster that spits out large flies to attack you.
Combat is fairly straightforward. You won’t find anything in-depth like a God of War or Devil May Cry, but the combat here flows smoothly, and I found it quite enjoyable.
Hazel has her standard combo, but she can also utilize skills with her strands to stun enemies, use a hook to pull them closer to herself, or use a voodoo doll to possess one of the Haint and have it attack the others for a short time.
Blending these moves makes combat flow smoothly, and the way combat is spaced out keeps it from getting stale and repetitive.
Stunning Visuals And Animation
The land of Prospero is gorgeous; even in the worst of locations, you can find the beauty in it. Visually, the game is stunning; the fantastic art direction, mixed with stop-motion animation, blends perfectly. Meanwhile, the character models remind me of a cel-shaded style without the deep cel-shading lines. It’s a fantastic blend that sticks with you throughout the journey.
Storytelling Through Music
The soundtrack is the show stealer here. I have never really experienced a soundtrack where the songs are part of the storytelling. Right before you head up to a boss fight, you are treated to either a folk, jazz, or blues song.
Each one of these songs summarizes the story of the boss fight you are about to take on, and it adds a kind of storytelling that pulls on the heartstrings in the very best way.
The voice work is also exceptional, and everyone does a fantastic job. The Catfish, who acts as the narrator and Hazel’s transportation across Prospero’s flooded land, provides a standout performance. The region’s unique accent is also highlighted, adding so much personality to NPCs.
South of Midnight is an oftentimes magical title, and other times it just goes with the flow. The voice work, writing, and incredible soundtrack really kept me going from start to finish. Its combat is solid, and it doesn’t need to be overly complicated to be enjoyed. Compulsion Games has crafted a unique gem, and I wish more developers tackled the Gothic Deep South of America.
South of Midnight is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Review code kindly provided by PR.