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South of Midnight is a stop-motion adventure straight out of a folklore book
Whenever I'm introduced to a new game trailer that's all about visuals and light on gameplay, there's a lingering worry. Will the graphics hold up to the stunning promises, or will they crumble under the weight of expectation? Thankfully, my experience in South of Midnight left me in complete awe with its mesmerizing stop-motion visuals, each frame oozing with charm and life. Initially, I was skeptical about how the animation from its reveal trailer would translate into the gaming world. But with Compulsion Games behind the wheel, the creators of the intriguing We Happy Few, I was more than willing to dive in. It didn't take long for me to realize just how brilliantly the stop-motion came to life, almost like stepping into a living, breathing folklore novel. Sure, there were a few minor stutters with certain character animations, but honestly, it barely registered. Even the gameplay, from fluid, dynamic combat to seamless movement, flows effortlessly and creates a truly unforgettable experience. The South of Midnight tales begin with a catastrophic hurricane that wipes out the hometown of the main protagonist, Hazel. Everything she once knew about the world changes when she discovers her newfound powers as a Weaver. This role places a responsibility on Hazel as she weaves together the past and present to restore what was once broken. She'll need to master it to rescue her mother, who is nowhere to be found after the destructive events of the storm. Not only does Hazel have to master her growing Weaver powers, but she also finds herself thrust into a world deeply rooted in Southern folklore. Image via Compulsion Games Having the spotlight on this topic, particularly in the gaming world, is something I've wanted to delve into for a long time. I only ever got acquainted with it through Disney's The Princess and the Frog, but I haven't really seen it elsewhere, at least within mainstream media. On the bright side, South of Midnight is brimming with Southern folklore terminology and stories, including an enormous talking catfish and the almighty powers a glass bottle can hold. It's given me a basic understanding of this folklore, especially with its expansive encyclopedia lore. This American Deep South world comes alive even more when it's time to put Hazel's Weaver abilities to the test. The strands from these powers allow her to tie enemies up temporarily, push them away, and pull them closer for a deadly blow. Since enemies are weak to specific attacks, you'll need to strategize a lot to use Hazel's skills wisely. Most times, close-range battles won't do you justice, as foes like Ravagers and Hurlers deal hefty damage within their radius. At first, it was a bit of a struggle — thrown straight into the heat of battle without much warning — but it never became frustrating enough to break my spirit. The combat demands precision and finesse, and with each showdown I conquered, my confidence grew. I could've dialed down the difficulty (though my stubborn pride refuses to let me), but there's something undeniably thrilling about the challenge. South of Midnight knows exactly how to keep your heart racing, pushing you to your limits in the best possible way. Image via Compulsion Games Hazel's Weaver powers extend far beyond mere combat; they weave into a tapestry of traversal advantages. You'll harness the ability to "Echo" objects from the past, solidifying them temporarily in the present to get across broken pathways. Weaving also brings along two of my favorite features in gaming: a glider and a guide that points you to the next quest point. It's a nice break from the traditional open-world games I've been playing as of late, where it can either feel tedious with long journeys or aimless without a mission guide. As much as I love a good open-world game, sometimes I just want to have fun traversing the world in a linear storyline, and that's what South of Midnight brings to the table. Image via Compulsion Games In addition to the combat and exploration, the storytelling that unfolds with Hazel's Weaving powers is a true wonder. Although I only dove into one character's past, it made me feel like a kid again, listening to my parents as they read folktales for bedtime. But this time, it felt much more inviting since it was I who was the "hero" of the story. The soundtrack is another exceptional feature that made the entire experience enchanting. I found myself closing my eyes and simply listening to the musical renditions of its melodic guitar and choir. I even would hesitate to trigger the next part of the quest, just so I could listen to the soundtrack for longer. While my time with South of Midnight was fairly short with its third chapter, I can already tell we got another gem from Compulsion Games. Its collection has always brought a unique charm to the gaming world that makes it stand out from all the others. Plus, if you want something that's much more linear-based, this game can be yo
Whenever I'm introduced to a new game trailer that's all about visuals and light on gameplay, there's a lingering worry. Will the graphics hold up to the stunning promises, or will they crumble under the weight of expectation? Thankfully, my experience in South of Midnight left me in complete awe with its mesmerizing stop-motion visuals, each frame oozing with charm and life.
Initially, I was skeptical about how the animation from its reveal trailer would translate into the gaming world. But with Compulsion Games behind the wheel, the creators of the intriguing We Happy Few, I was more than willing to dive in. It didn't take long for me to realize just how brilliantly the stop-motion came to life, almost like stepping into a living, breathing folklore novel. Sure, there were a few minor stutters with certain character animations, but honestly, it barely registered. Even the gameplay, from fluid, dynamic combat to seamless movement, flows effortlessly and creates a truly unforgettable experience.
The South of Midnight tales begin with a catastrophic hurricane that wipes out the hometown of the main protagonist, Hazel. Everything she once knew about the world changes when she discovers her newfound powers as a Weaver. This role places a responsibility on Hazel as she weaves together the past and present to restore what was once broken. She'll need to master it to rescue her mother, who is nowhere to be found after the destructive events of the storm. Not only does Hazel have to master her growing Weaver powers, but she also finds herself thrust into a world deeply rooted in Southern folklore.
Having the spotlight on this topic, particularly in the gaming world, is something I've wanted to delve into for a long time. I only ever got acquainted with it through Disney's The Princess and the Frog, but I haven't really seen it elsewhere, at least within mainstream media. On the bright side, South of Midnight is brimming with Southern folklore terminology and stories, including an enormous talking catfish and the almighty powers a glass bottle can hold. It's given me a basic understanding of this folklore, especially with its expansive encyclopedia lore.
This American Deep South world comes alive even more when it's time to put Hazel's Weaver abilities to the test. The strands from these powers allow her to tie enemies up temporarily, push them away, and pull them closer for a deadly blow. Since enemies are weak to specific attacks, you'll need to strategize a lot to use Hazel's skills wisely. Most times, close-range battles won't do you justice, as foes like Ravagers and Hurlers deal hefty damage within their radius.
At first, it was a bit of a struggle — thrown straight into the heat of battle without much warning — but it never became frustrating enough to break my spirit. The combat demands precision and finesse, and with each showdown I conquered, my confidence grew. I could've dialed down the difficulty (though my stubborn pride refuses to let me), but there's something undeniably thrilling about the challenge. South of Midnight knows exactly how to keep your heart racing, pushing you to your limits in the best possible way.
Hazel's Weaver powers extend far beyond mere combat; they weave into a tapestry of traversal advantages. You'll harness the ability to "Echo" objects from the past, solidifying them temporarily in the present to get across broken pathways. Weaving also brings along two of my favorite features in gaming: a glider and a guide that points you to the next quest point. It's a nice break from the traditional open-world games I've been playing as of late, where it can either feel tedious with long journeys or aimless without a mission guide. As much as I love a good open-world game, sometimes I just want to have fun traversing the world in a linear storyline, and that's what South of Midnight brings to the table.
In addition to the combat and exploration, the storytelling that unfolds with Hazel's Weaving powers is a true wonder. Although I only dove into one character's past, it made me feel like a kid again, listening to my parents as they read folktales for bedtime. But this time, it felt much more inviting since it was I who was the "hero" of the story. The soundtrack is another exceptional feature that made the entire experience enchanting. I found myself closing my eyes and simply listening to the musical renditions of its melodic guitar and choir. I even would hesitate to trigger the next part of the quest, just so I could listen to the soundtrack for longer.
While my time with South of Midnight was fairly short with its third chapter, I can already tell we got another gem from Compulsion Games. Its collection has always brought a unique charm to the gaming world that makes it stand out from all the others. Plus, if you want something that's much more linear-based, this game can be your cure to all the long-drawn-out open-world titles.
Expect South of Midnight to release on April 8, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S and PC (Xbox Game Pass included). There's also a five-day early access for those who get the Premium Edition, featuring an exclusive music video, a Boo-Hag comic book, and Weaving Hazel's Journey Documentary.
The post South of Midnight is a stop-motion adventure straight out of a folklore book appeared first on Destructoid.
