South of Midnight

Item: South of Midnight
Rating: 92
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-04-09

Summary

Compelling story and well-developed characters.
Atmospheric soundtrack enhances the gaming experience.
Stunning and unique Southern Gothic visual style.
Generally solid, optimized performance.
Repetitive and clunky combat is a drawback.
Linear world restricts exploration.

Reviews (sample size): 167
Helpful reviews: 83%
Unhelpful reviews: 16%
Protest reviews: 1%

92%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
8%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 484
Negative points: 136
Gameplay points: 71
Perf. points: 28
Rec. points: 115
Misc points: 14

Point	Description	Importance
Compelling story and characters Description The game features a compelling and emotionally resonant story with well-developed characters. Reviewers highlight the narrative's exploration of themes such as family, identity, healing, and community. The characters are likable, engaging, and contribute significantly to the overall immersive experience, with many reviewers becoming deeply invested in Hazel's journey. Importance 93%	The game features a compelling and emotionally resonant story with well-developed characters. Reviewers highlight the narrative's exploration of themes such as family, identity, healing, and community. The characters are likable, engaging, and contribute significantly to the overall immersive experience, with many reviewers becoming deeply invested in Hazel's journey.	93%
Exceptional and atmospheric soundtrack Description The game features an exceptional soundtrack that blends traditional Southern music styles with blues, jazz, and folk elements. Reviewers consistently praise the music's ability to enhance the atmosphere, evoke emotions, and complement the storytelling. The dynamic score adapts to the action and provides context to the story, making it a standout aspect of the game. Importance 78%	The game features an exceptional soundtrack that blends traditional Southern music styles with blues, jazz, and folk elements. Reviewers consistently praise the music's ability to enhance the atmosphere, evoke emotions, and complement the storytelling. The dynamic score adapts to the action and provides context to the story, making it a standout aspect of the game.	78%
Stunning and unique visual style Description The game features a unique and stunning art style, often described as gorgeous, beautiful, and visually impressive. Many reviewers highlight the stop-motion animation and claymation aesthetic, drawing comparisons to Laika films and Tim Burton. The detailed environments, character designs, and overall visual presentation contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience. Importance 77%	The game features a unique and stunning art style, often described as gorgeous, beautiful, and visually impressive. Many reviewers highlight the stop-motion animation and claymation aesthetic, drawing comparisons to Laika films and Tim Burton. The detailed environments, character designs, and overall visual presentation contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience.	77%
Rich Southern Gothic setting Description The game is deeply rooted in Southern Gothic atmosphere and folklore, creating a rich and authentic setting. Reviewers praise the game's ability to capture the essence of the Deep South, incorporating elements of its culture, mythology, and history. This unique setting is a standout feature, rarely explored in video games, and adds to the game's immersive quality. Importance 60%	The game is deeply rooted in Southern Gothic atmosphere and folklore, creating a rich and authentic setting. Reviewers praise the game's ability to capture the essence of the Deep South, incorporating elements of its culture, mythology, and history. This unique setting is a standout feature, rarely explored in video games, and adds to the game's immersive quality.	60%
Enjoyable and smooth gameplay Description The game offers enjoyable and well-executed gameplay, with smooth combat and satisfying platforming mechanics. Reviewers appreciate the balanced difficulty, which provides a challenge without being overwhelming. The game also includes accessibility options, such as the ability to skip combat, catering to different player preferences. Importance 40%	The game offers enjoyable and well-executed gameplay, with smooth combat and satisfying platforming mechanics. Reviewers appreciate the balanced difficulty, which provides a challenge without being overwhelming. The game also includes accessibility options, such as the ability to skip combat, catering to different player preferences.	40%
High-quality voice acting Description The game features high-quality voice acting that enhances the characters and contributes to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers praise the voice actors for bringing the characters to life and creating an immersive experience. The voice acting is considered a standout aspect of the game, adding depth and personality to the narrative. Importance 28%	The game features high-quality voice acting that enhances the characters and contributes to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers praise the voice actors for bringing the characters to life and creating an immersive experience. The voice acting is considered a standout aspect of the game, adding depth and personality to the narrative.	28%
Unique folklore and mythology Description The game incorporates unique elements of Southern folklore and mythology, featuring creatures and stories inspired by regional legends. Reviewers appreciate the game's creative use of these elements, which adds depth and intrigue to the world. The game's exploration of voodoo and other cultural aspects further enhances its distinctive identity. Importance 14%	The game incorporates unique elements of Southern folklore and mythology, featuring creatures and stories inspired by regional legends. Reviewers appreciate the game's creative use of these elements, which adds depth and intrigue to the world. The game's exploration of voodoo and other cultural aspects further enhances its distinctive identity.	14%
Hooked from the start Description The reviewer was hooked from the start and loved every critter, turn, and adorable little detail. This point shows signs of emotional language without specific details, so the importance score is reduced. Importance 4%	The reviewer was hooked from the start and loved every critter, turn, and adorable little detail. This point shows signs of emotional language without specific details, so the importance score is reduced.	4%