Compulsion Games, known for their visually evocative worlds, has once again pushed the boundaries with their latest title, South of Midnight. The game, inspired by macabre folktales of the American Deep South, weaves a tapestry of vengeful spirits, grief-stricken souls, and shadowy cryptids. However, despite its bold animation style, the game’s performance issues have left players divided.
The studio behind Contrast and We Happy Few continues to oppose convention with South of Midnight, a third-person action-adventure game set in a mythical world rooted in magical realism. The game follows Hazel, a young woman who discovers her magical abilities after a hurricane sweeps through her hometown of Prospero. As she navigates the surreal landscape, Hazel encounters the ghost of Mahalia, a Weaver from the past who guides her in confronting formidable foes known as haints.
One of the standout features of South of Midnight is its animation style. Instead of traditional 2D animation or hyperrealism, the game employs a stop-motion flair reminiscent of Guillermo del Toro’s 2022 film Pinocchio. This bold choice adds a unique touch to the game’s aesthetic identity, but it comes with its own set of challenges.
The choppy animation, intended to mimic stop-motion, can be mistaken for frame rate drops and may prove divisive for players who are particular about their frame rates. While the effect adds personality to the game, it grows inconsistent in certain situations, detracting from the overall experience.
Despite these performance issues, South of Midnight offers a richly detailed world filled with surreal life. The swamps of Prospero are lit with a golden hue, buzzing with towering cypresses, lush ferns, and thorny vines. The environment, complemented by the game’s handcrafted stylings, creates a perfect playground for players to explore.
The game’s design philosophy extends to its human characters and creatures, with figures like the talking catfish, Rhubarb, and mythical cryptids adding to the vibrant cast. The Southern Gothic roots of the game are evident in its sinister and gritty ambience, with gloomy hues and dilapidated structures contrasting with signs of life like roaming wildlife and grassy fields.
South of Midnight also pays homage to the cultural practice of oral storytelling, with each section of the game split into chapters introduced by a narrator as if flipping through an ornate old book. This warm fireside tale feeling is amplified by the game’s reverse-engineered stop-motion aesthetic, creating a breathtaking visual experience.
However, the game’s performance issues have raised concerns among players and critics alike. The choppy animation, while unique, can be jarring and may hinder the overall enjoyment of the game. Compulsion Games has acknowledged these issues and is working to address them, but it remains to be seen whether they can fully resolve the performance problems before the game’s release.
Despite these challenges, South of Midnight stands out as a bold and ambitious project from Compulsion Games. The game’s unique animation style and richly detailed world offer a fresh take on the action-adventure genre, even if its performance issues may leave some players wanting more.
As the release date approaches, fans of Compulsion Games and newcomers alike will be eagerly awaiting the final version of South of Midnight. Whether the studio can overcome its performance hurdles and deliver a polished experience remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: South of Midnight is a game that dares to be different, and that alone is worth celebrating.
Add Comment