The anticipation for South of Midnight was palpable. Unlike many action-adventure games that often lack originality and lean heavily on the influence of soulslikes, South of Midnight stands out with its unique art style reminiscent of retro Xbox 360 games. The game’s introduction, featuring stunning animation before the title screen, left me eager for a stylish gaming adventure.
However, I soon encountered an unexpected hurdle: the game’s extensive collectibles. This feature turned out to be an arduous and vexing aspect, drastically diminishing my enjoyment of the experience. While difficulty levels in games typically don’t faze me, the overwhelming number of collectibles in South of Midnight proved to be a deal-breaker for my enjoyment, forcing me to stop playing. While some may not find this problematic, it certainly affected my overall experience.
An Overabundance of Collectibles in South of Midnight
Exceeding My Limits in Search of Collectibles
In my younger gaming days, I was more tolerant of collectibles. Titles like Infamous didn’t faze me. However, as I matured, I yearned for unobstructed gameplay. Juggling between a collectible guide and the screen proved taxing and detracted from the immersion I craved.
Many action-adventure games now feature a few hundred collectibles, but South of Midnight takes this to an extreme. By Chapter 2, I realized the extent of my predicament: the game contains an astonishing 2,282 collectibles. This overwhelming amount significantly impacted my overall gaming experience.
The Frustrating Achievement Process in South of Midnight
The Joy of Collecting Fades Away
As an action-adventure hack and slash reminiscent of classics like God of War and Alice: Madness Returns, South of Midnight’s excessive collectibles are simply absurd. The primary offender is the Floofs, which function as upgrade currency. Unlike other games where currency can be amassed casually, here, players are required to gather every single Floof. Each chapter contains over 100 Floofs, grouped in clusters, making the collecting aspect excessively burdensome.
The sheer quantity of collectibles often necessitates constant reference to guides, detracting from the enjoyment of a narrative-driven and visually captivating game. Titles like Astro Bot, for instance, managed to streamline the process and keep players engaged with enjoyable gameplay mechanics amid the hunt for collectibles.
South of Midnight: Overstepping Boundaries
Quick Burnout from Collectibles
It puzzles me why Compulsion Games opted for such an overwhelming collectible system, especially when other games have effectively incorporated it. After recently marathon-playing through the God of War series in celebration of its 20th anniversary, I can confidently say that the collectible management there was far more enjoyable. In the classic titles, the sheer abundance of collectibles made it feasible to gather everything early, allowing for freer play later on.
While it’s not mandatory to collect all in South of Midnight, as a completionist, the daunting task has discouraged me from continuing past Chapter 3. With an ongoing commitment to complete the classic Grand Theft Auto trilogy prior to the launch of GTA 6, and with enticing releases like Blue Prince arriving on Xbox Game Pass, my time is better spent elsewhere.