South By Midnight(Playstation 5) Review

I randomly saw this game get discussed and talked about in certain places and I decided to check it out due it to recently coming to PS5. As a whole, I'd say the game is "okay" and nothing more. It doesn't really get any strong feelings out of me but I did have a moderately enjoyable time in the moment. I did start to get sick of the game the more it went on.

South by Midnight is a cinematic platformer while also being a melee brawler with a unique asethetic and a rather unconventional setting for a game.

Story is decent. At first, I was a little offputted that the game sort of relied on you to read to lore pieces to have a better idea of what's going on but at the same time I'm glad it's there at all since it would be harder to piece together without them.

The characters you meet are moderately interesting enough especially when you learn more about Hazel's past and her family. Laurent being the most interesting of the bunch.

I did wish Chapter 11-13 got removed since it slows the pacing down to halt and not much actually happens in it.

Which leads me to a big complaint I have is that the game can feel longer than it is. Gameplay mainly consists of platforming, puzzle solving and combat.

With all 3 aspects, in the early hours, it's reasonable in that you start off with a basic list of abilites you can do but then you slowly get new ones. After a point, it just stops and much of the game design can feel like it's on autopilot.

This can especially apply to combat. At first, new enemies and combat abilties are being drip feeded to the player at a reasonable rate. With different enemy types you got to take down and prioritize. You get a push and pull ability and a slam. Enemies also give health drops and there is a healing item in the arena.

However when the final giant glob enemy gets introduced, combat encounters become more and more interchangeable especially when you add in how lengthy the game can be.

The bosses were creative and had a decent specticle going on. Ranging from bosses you have to fight like Laurent to more puzzle bosses like Huggin Molly.

Final boss was really disappointing and was when I go so sick and tired of the monotony that I lowered to easy. It's just yet another series of horde battles...something you were already doing in droves prior to this boss fight.

Overall, it's strange. South By Midnight is an average game that I can recall aspects of but I'm just completely indifferent towards.