South of Midnight Reviews
Overall, we had a good time with South of Midnight, as the game gives us plenty of options to customize the experience to our needs, such as simply skipping the battles we don't like. If you have a Game Pass subscription, you can also check it out for yourself without obligation, as the title will be available there right from release.
Review in German | Read full review
South of Midnight is a masterclass in picking a theme and sticking to it all the way through. The usage of music as a character world/lore enhancement is one of the best examples out there of what TO do. From the character models, to the music, and beyond; South of Midnight shows how to build a game around a style and committing fully.
South of Midnight is the work of Compulsion Games, a studio whose previous project, We Happy Few, literally tickled the fancy of only a happy few, th...
With an eye catching aesthetic, unique setting, and a refreshing lack of bloat, South of Midnight is an enjoyable narrative driven action-adventure romp of the type we get all too infrequently in the age of live services and open worlds.
With a thoughtful message, soulful world, and beautifully imaginative design to push things along, Compulsion delivers a classic adventure seemingly beyond their weight class with South of Midnight. It's the exact, elusive story-driven diamond in the rough that Xbox has been in search of for generations now.
South of Midnight comes out swinging with an incredible story, but the gameplay just isn't there to back it up.
South of Midnight delivers one of the most interesting and visually stunning settings in recent memory. It feels like a tribute to the Deep South; it shows reverence to actual folklore while adding its own interesting twists that interweave with Hazel's family history and the story Compulsion Games wanted to tell. Its traversal and combat don't offer anything we haven't seen before, but it's a well-made experience, with its biggest crime being overly familiar systems. What it lacks in gameplay innovation, it more than makes up for with its quirky storytelling and style; ultimately, South of Midnight offers a distinct and gripping point of view that's hard not to fall in love with.
Despite some minor tech issues and lack of any real unique gameplay elements. I really enjoyed my time with South Of Midnight, its story and protagonist Hazel connected with me in a way I didn't expect. The setting and art direction give South Of Midnight an identity all it's own.
South of Midnight accomplishes what it has set out to do, offering players something truly unique, empathetic, and enthralling.
When South of Midnight fully commits to its unique ideas and inspirations, carried by Olivier Deriviere's outstanding score, it is great. But when it is afraid to step out of the line, we get a standard, solid action-adventure with and oldschool vibe. If only the gameplay designers would inject more creative juice into their work, it would be a fantastic game. As it is, it’s simply good.
Review in Polish | Read full review
South of Midnight's second run on new platforms finds it just the same as the first – a stop-motion spectacle with a vibrant world of dark fables and killer original tunes. It may not match its own lofty aesthetic heights when it comes to gameplay, but it's absolutely worth the journey.
In the end, South of Midnight's dividing line is the contrast between its artistically-inspired choices and pre-packaged gameplay.
South of Midnight offers a unique lens into Southern Gothic culture, with strong atmosphere, engaging folklore, and compelling storytelling that successfully highlights the charm of a niche cultural space. However, as a game, even its excellent music and presentation can't fully compensate for the underwhelming gameplay experience.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
South of Midnight's strong story and presentation make the most of its overlooked mythology and oft-forgotten setting, but don't embark on this journey looking for top-tier action-adventure game design.
South of Midnight thrives on contrasts and fails to offer the same level of quality across all aspects: while the stories being told are the true driving force and the artistic side is excellent, inspired, and capable of giving the work great uniqueness, the gameplay doesn't keep up and feels reminiscent of action-adventure/platform games from fifteen years ago, lacking any standout moments or particularly memorable features.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight is one tall tale you wont want to miss.
South of Midnight shines as an atmospheric platformer adventure game with puzzles. The combat needs improvement, as it is constrained to plain, open arenas for every battle with the same handful of enemy types and limited abilities. The story is adequate and has some admittedly impressive imagery and imagination, but Hazel's character is another dime-a-dozen smartass who blurts the obvious when it makes no sense. Most of its shortcomings are magnified due to the roughness of the port on Nintendo Switch 2. Maybe it’s better somewhere else, but there’s no escaping its foundation.
A beautifully crafted journey through Cajun folklore, elevated by its storytelling.
If it weren't for performance issues there would be very little to stop me from telling you to play this game. As is, the recommendation comes with the heavy caveat of where you'll be playing. That being said, I do recommend you play South of Midnight, on whatever platform makes sense for you.
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Review in Polish | Read full review