The vibes, from the setting to the characters, are all very satisfyingly American Deep South.
This is when she first interacts with the ever-growing stranger world around her.
Youre quickly introduced to guide strands.
These help you follow the path forward with a whisper of Hazel when used.
Its atmosphere-building at its finest, and it never gets old.
The swelling trumpets, country-like strings and catchy beats weave into each area, aiding the vibe.
Its these mythical enemies that elevate the vibes.
That 2021 game also deals with the corruption of its world and the people inhabiting it.
Kena’s goal is similar, to purify the environment and free those with hidden traumas.
However, in the case of South by Midnights tales, they can be far more brutal and horrifying.
But these themes are successfully weaved into the story, making it the game’s most compelling component.
This physically manifests into what the game calls a Knot, usually surrounded by monsters (a.k.a.
There are hideous crimes that come to light, and I enjoyed each intriguingly dark tale.
Sometimes, disappointingly so.
It would be nice to see some form of closure with certain characters.
As a quick aside, there is a hint of that, Oh, did I just do that?
from Hazel at first, but nowhere near the level of (you already guessed it)Forspoken.
Its a fantastical world with wondrous characters filled with heart, too.
Once an enemy is defeated, you could unravel downed foes to gain more health.
A simple yet effective system.
Then, youre introduced to Weave spells, used in the environment and in combat.
Nothing is especially unique here.
Combat encounters quickly end up feeling shallow, especially the further you progress.
That’s the overall routine, even when new Haint types are introduced.
But once you’ve seen that same enemy bang out pop up multiple times, defeating them becomes routine.
It doesnt take long to unlock your full suite of abilities.
The first two chapters teach you combat, sorcery, double jumps and even gliding.
Are these the typical makings of any action platformer?
Hazel gets stronger through the campaign via skill upgrades that arent game-changers in the least.
They help power up your moves, but they dont change the way you go about beating down foes.
No combo add-ons or air juggling here, just very repetitive attacking.
The notes at least expand the backstories of the spirits of the land.
Youll get cute messages along the way, like a girl leaving peach cobbler for ghosts.
The ebb and flow of its gameplay and rich story are enough to keep almost any gamer engaged.
