该夸的配乐得夸，该打的差评得打。这作既然拿了2025年的TGA年度最具影响力奖，我便不禁把它跟其他历届得主作比较；做个不恰当的比喻，这作属于是精神（立意与策划）上及格了，但身体素质（执行与优化）严重不及格。

跟死神讨价还价，一路上救赎他人的同时，从悲痛中汲取力量、疗愈自己，最终那个乳臭未干的叛逆年轻人完成自己的成长，这个剧本我在《Tales of Kenzera: Zau》中看过，也觉得跟《地狱之刃》有一定相似性。本作在这方面的底子和美术概念是做得是比《Tales of Kenzera: Zau》略微好一点的。这作没把自己困在“伤痛=受害者=被困其中无法解脱”的叙事中；想必最能应验这点的，便是主角Hazel和历代编织者的武具——那些被劳工的血泪所浸透的纺锤、纺轮和纺钩，而疗愈伤痛的办法，便是用一对纺钩解开心灵上的缠结。

不过这一作也如同《Tales of Kenzera: Zau》，甚至在玩法的缺陷上有过之而不及。战斗手感垃圾也就算了，好歹作者很识相地加入了“一键跳关”选项。不过打心底来讲，我有些恨不得这作在体量上走了“准3A”的路线；这作最大的问题有且仅有一个：复制粘贴。一场没任何特点的跑酷，接一场杂兵战，复制四次以到达一场没什么特点的逃亡关，完后再跑一段路以开启boss战，这个流程再复制四五次（甚至连视听素材都是大量复用的）就能得到大部分主线剧情；没填的坑让老鲶鱼这个纯旁白来补充。我草草花了6个小时打通本作，具体流程无非这几样循环往复：打开引导、光速跑酷、跳过杂兵战、用几句话概括一个人物的悲剧、跳过逃亡关、在跑酷到boss战的路上聆听叙事感满满的爵士乐、跳过boss战。于是乎，一个有平台跳跃有战斗的游戏，愣是被我玩成了文字冒险。

倘若这个千篇一律的剧情能少重复一两次，我的差评恐怕会变成中评。

South of Midnight has an immediate initial wow factor; the stop-motion style animation is cool and the visuals are extraordinarily pretty. Then I got to the platforming and puzzle solving, which are both inoffensively by the numbers. Then I got to the combat, which is slightly too stiff for my liking and not in the least bit remarkable. At this point, I wasn't sure how much of this game I would actually play.

I'm glad I carried on.

Some might argue that a gorgeous visual style or a fantastically told story that takes inspiration from Southern American folk tales shouldn't excuse the actual "game" parts of a game being so unremarkable or by the numbers. Hell, up until about 20 minutes ago I might very well have agreed with you. But, my god, South of Midnight is exponentially more than the sum of its parts.

Could the story have been told as a film or a TV series? Absolutely it could have, but by being a game - having you guide Hazel through the environments she must traverse and discovering the fates of the various mystical creatures and human inhabitants of Prospero - South of Midnight's tales of heartbreak, suffering, regret and love are so, so much more powerful than they would have been if you were merely passively observing them.

Special mention also has to go to the soundtrack. Every piece of music and every song is exceptional, whether it's just setting the tone for a scene or going full-on musical theatre to further bring the tragic stories of characters like Two Toe Tom, Huggin' Molly and others to life. I'm glad Xbox Game Studios started just giving out the digital deluxe extras with the standard edition of the game, because this is a soundtrack that I'll want to listen to again without question.

I could probably count on one hand the number of games that have made me so invested in a narrative or feel for characters as much as South of Midnight did, or games that are as beautifully animated, or games that are just such a joy to experience. South of Midnight is one of the best games I've played in a very, very long time.

Almost cried this early in the game? Must be a good one!