Yo what up gamers Its your boy Leo comin at you live from the heart of Los Angeles. Ive been deepdiving into the digital world for a minute now slingin reviews on all sorts of killer games.
This time I got my hands on South of Midnight and lemme tell you its been a trip. As a local here in LA kickin it around 3215 Overland Ave CA 90034 Ive seen a few things.
And as someone whos been eyeballin games for a solid couple of years I gotta give you the lowdown on this one.
Setting the Scene Deep South Vibes No Cap
Alright so South of Midnight throws you straight into the Deep South of the US. Were talkin about this town called Prospero and right away the vibes are somethin else.
As someone who knows LA like the back of my hand this game paints a picture thats totally different but in a real interesting way.
The developers over at Compulsion Games really nailed the look and feel of it. Theyre showin off a part of the country you dont see too often in video games and thats kinda dope.
Now I gotta keep it real with you. Mortem from Mortismal Gaming another cool reviewer mentioned that he actually lives in the Deep South and sees similar stuff just walkin down his street.
Thats some serious authenticity right there and it makes you think the folks behind this game did their homework.
Its not just some Hollywood version it feels legit even with the mythical stuff they throw in.
Meet Hazel Our Hero in a Hurricane
You step into the shoes of this young woman named Hazel Flood. Right off the bat things get wild cause a massive flood is tearin through the area.
Hazels tryin to bounce but her crib gets washed away with her mother still inside thats heavy man. This whole disaster kicks off Hazels journey and she soon finds out shes no ordinary person.
Turns out shes a weaver someone who can mess with the very fabric of the universe. Think of it like she can see and fix the cosmic WiFi when its buggin out.
As a gamer here in the City of Angels I appreciate a story that grabs you from the jump and South of Midnight definitely does that.
Hazels got this mission to find her mom and along the way shes dealin with family secrets and all sorts of supernatural craziness. Its like a Southern Gothic rollercoaster and Im here for it.
Gameplay Loop Explore Fight Fix
So how do you actually play this thing Well South of Midnight is structured in these linear chapters.
Youll be movin through different areas learnin the story piece by piece solving little problems and gettin into some scraps.
Some levels open up a bit lettin you explore and hunt down whats causing trouble.
A big part of the gameplay is dealin with these corrupted zones called stigma zones.
You roll into these areas fight off a bunch of shadowy creatures called hints beat em down and then unravel the core issue.
Doing this usually unlocks a memory or gives you another clue about whats goin on.
Its a bit repetitive and Kodiak from Legacy Gaming pointed that out sayin its the same loop throughout the whole game.
As a seasoned gamer I can see where hes comin from a little more variety wouldve been killer.
But it aint all just fightin. Hazels a weaver remember So she gets some cool powers like double jumpin dashin glidin and even runnin on walls.
Youll be using these to navigate the world do a bit of platforming and reach new spots. Theres also this little doll buddy named Crouton who can squeeze into tight spaces and help you out which is a neat touch.
Throwin Hands Combat with a Southern Twist
When it comes to bustin heads South of Midnight keeps it pretty straightforward. Youll mostly be brawlin in these arenalike areas against different types of hints.
Hazels got your basic attacks a charge move and this weave ability that can stun enemies and make em take more damage.
You can also dodge outta the way and a perfect dodge sets off a little explosion thats kinda fly.
Later on Crouton can even possess enemies and fight alongside you which can turn the tide in a big brawl. When you knock an enemy out you unravel em to get a little health back.
The difficulty aint too crazy though you can tweak it to your liking with a bunch of settings even makin Hazel invincible if you want.
Now while the regular fights can get a bit old the boss fights are where its at. There are a few of these sprinkled throughout and they have more unique mechanics and different phases.
Visually these encounters look sick but mechanically they can still feel a bit formulaic as Legacy Gaming mentioned. Still they break up the regular combat and keep things somewhat fresh.
Story and Characters The Heart of the South
For me and it seems like for a lot of folks whove checked this game out the real magic of South of Midnight lies in its story and characters.
The game dives deep into Southern folklore and you meet all sorts of strange and mythical creatures.
These aint your typical fantasy monsters theyre rooted in American legends which is super interesting.
Characters like the mythical catfish stand out and the writing and voice acting are topnotch.
Youll meet other memorable folks along the way each with their own stories and connections to the overall mystery.
These encounters really bring the world to life and make each chapter feel like its own little story.
Mortismal Gaming also shared some personal reasons why the narrative resonated with him talking about his own experiences in the South.
That kind of connection shows that the games themes of betrayal pain and resilience are hitting home for some players.
While not everyone might connect on that deep of a level the storytelling definitely seems to be a strong point.
Technical Check and Final Thoughts from Your LA Homie
Technically South of Midnight runs pretty smooth. Mortismal Gaming mentioned a few minor hiccups like attack delays and some trouble with mantling but nothing gamebreaking.
The game uses Unreal Engine and has an optional stopmotion effect that might look like stuttering to some. Its also Steam Deck Verified so you can take this Southern adventure on the go.
So whats the final verdict from your boy Leo in LA South of Midnight is a solid actionadventure game with a really unique and captivating setting.
The Deep South atmosphere and the incorporation of folklore are definitely the highlights. The story and characters are engaging even if the gameplay loop can get a bit repetitive.
For the full price of $40 it might be a tougher sell for some especially with the combat being pretty basic.
However its also launching on Game Pass which Mortismal Gaming suggests is probably the way to go for most players.
Personally I appreciate Compulsion Games tryin somethin different and deliverin a storydriven experience rooted in a lessexplored setting.
Yo Im leo a gamer enthusiast based in the heart of Los Angeles. With a passion for reviewing killer games Ive got a couple of years under my belt bringing visions to life with style and flair. Catch me chillin at 3215 Overland Ave Los Angeles California(CA) 90034.
South of Midnight might not blow everyone away but if youre lookin for a narrativeheavy game with a cool Southern Gothic vibe this could be your jam.
It definitely left a mark on me and I think its worth checkin out especially if you got Game Pass.
Stay tuned for more game reviews from your LA homie Peace out…
Resource
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBtgp249Uw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPXHt3HoLw0
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/south-of-midnight-review
All Images and featured image used in this article was owned by pcgamer and respective creators..