I Was WRONG About South of Midnight! (Review)
16Dive into a surprising journey with "South of Midnight"! This review explores a game that defied initial expectations, revealing itself as a potential masterpiece of creative world-building and narrative from Microsoft in over a decade.
Discover a unique fairy tale world steeped in Southern Gothic charm, brought to life with a distinct stop-motion art style in its cutscenes (though thankfully, it can be toggled off for gameplay!). From handmade quilts and morning fog to the humid atmosphere of the swamps and mountains, the game's attention to authentic Southern detail is remarkable.
Meet memorable characters like a giant, patchwork-quilt talking catfish narrator with an amazing Cajun-style accent, and experience a story so compelling it's hard to put the controller down. The ambient sounds of the South, from whipperwills to crickets, further enhance the immersion.
However, "South of Midnight" is a game of contrasts. While the story, visuals (91/100), and sound (85/100 – despite some lyrical missteps in songs) shine, the gameplay (72/100) stumbles with repetitive core combat, even though traversal is smooth and boss battles are a highlight.
Ultimately, the captivating narrative (a standout 95/100) and stunningly atmospheric world lead to a final score of 82 out of 100.
Find out why "South of Midnight" was such an unexpected delight!
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My Game Review Scoring System (0-100)
I use a weighted scoring system based on 4 key categories to arrive at a final score out of 100:
Gameplay (45% of final score): This is the most important aspect, covering game mechanics, controls, fun factor, performance, bugs, level design, and overall gameplay experience.
Visuals (30% of final score): Covers graphics quality, art style, visual presentation, environment, and character design.
Story (15% of final score): Focuses on narrative, plot, characters, writing, world-building, and story engagement.
Sound (10% of final score): Includes music, sound effects, voice acting, and overall audio design.
Category Scores (0-100):
90-100: Masterpiece/Exceptional
80-89: Excellent/Outstanding
70-79: Great/Very Good
60-69: Good/Above Average
50-59: Okay/Average
Below 50: Below Average to Terrible
Final Score Calculation:
Each category is scored out of 100, then multiplied by its weight. These weighted scores are added together to get the final score out of 100.
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