The Midnight Stroll is an ideal reminder of why stop-motion and claymation nonetheless maintain such a timeless attraction, despite the fact that animators in these kinds have had a tough few years. You barely see these methods in use anymore, regardless of their increase within the early 2000s because of Aardman’s efforts. It’s unsurprising, I suppose, that they’ve fallen out of favor given the a lot greater monetary and time prices, however when executed effectively, they’re magical. Simply take a look at Hen Run and The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas. This type has even made its mark in gaming with titles like Clayfighters and The Neverhood.
The Midnight Stroll is the newest recreation to undertake this distinctive aesthetic type, with the developer MoonHood utilizing a mixture of clay modelling, 3D scanning and stop-motion methods to construct a superbly bleak world oozing with character. From the outset it’s apparent that there was a transparent inventive imaginative and prescient within the improvement of the title, with the graphical design, music, voice appearing and gameplay parts all coalescing into one thing better than the sum of its components.
Strolling down the remoted and surreal pathways of The Midnight Stroll jogs my memory closely of Tim Burton’s work, with the visuals mixing the lovable and the grotesque collectively each in design and animation. It isn’t outright horrifying, merely unnerving and alien, however builds the suspense up in a approach few different kinds can.
By the use of instance, early on you encounter some big anonymous palms, every with a watch within the centre, merely watching you. They serve no function however to observe as your character – “The Burnt One” – passes, however nonetheless they stand tall, light and curious, surrounded by the grim rocky panorama. It’s unsettling, and it’s moments like this scattered all through The Midnight Stroll which construct an oppressive but whimsical environment.
The primary enemies you encounter aren’t nice to have a look at, don’t get me incorrect, but it surely’s not their twisted figures which fill you with panic, however their jerky, grotesque actions and the sounds which accompany their skittering. Even the voice appearing is concurrently surreal and candy; merely each factor of the visible and sound design is completely executed.
Gameplay-wise the identical might be mentioned. The Midnight Stroll is billed as an atmospheric horror title, and while there are some trappings of horror in there – just a few scary stealth sections and so forth – I really feel it may very well be higher described as a first-person puzzle journey with horror parts. You’ve gotten just a few methods of interacting with the world, however primarily you might be tasked with utilizing the objects you discover round you to progress; usually through the use of matches and different gadgets to maneuver fires round.
This reliance on gentle and hearth matches extremely effectively with the title’s total theming and supplies a stark distinction towards different characters within the setting who exist solely within the darkness, while additionally offering a strong focus for the gameplay to revolve round. You even have the choice to shut your eyes, permitting your character to “see” the issues the eyes can’t see. While I perceive that this function – and the reliance on sound-based cues – is anchored within the VR-focus of the title, it nonetheless works exterior of this context; once more reinforcing and complementing the general atmospheric intention.
While I wasn’t a fan of the stealth sections, I see why they have been applied and I loved them way over I’ve executed in different related titles, so on the very least they get a passing grade, and fortunately The Midnight Stroll’s beneficiant checkpointing prevented them from getting too irritating. My solely gameplay criticism could be that it doesn’t actually evolve previous that, and may really feel a little bit repetitive in direction of the tip when a few of these programs nonetheless had room to be expanded upon.
My largest situation with this short-but-sweet journey is the over-arching plot itself, which I felt was under-written and left me feeling un-fulfilled.
You’re tasked with escorting a flame to the highest of Moon Mountain and bringing gentle again to a world engulfed by darkness. Carrying mentioned flame is the ridiculously cute “Potboy,” your enigmatic and smiley companion towards the horrific beings attempting to eat it. You’re additionally joined by your home, which walks together with you for some cause – actually, it has legs. The connection shaped between the trio could be very charming, and I loved seeing them journey collectively to their eventual aim.
The title is break up into 5 smaller sections, every introducing a brand new space and quick story concerning the world’s inhabitants – once more, these have been beautiful, with some lovely characterisation and fascinating takes on the assorted themes within the title proven inside every mini-arc. I significantly liked the design of the world’s inhabitants throughout these sections – once more, very Burtonesque however in the easiest way.
By the tip nonetheless, it felt like our crew had merely gone by way of the motions with out a lot development or actual company. This may very well be intentional, however a part of me looks like there was a number of potential right here for a bigger, extra deeply defined story round these unlikely heroes which merely wasn’t achieved. There’s a large choice in direction of the finale which I do know makes an attempt to convey an emotional payoff, however once more, it didn’t actually really feel all that significant for the world at giant and fell considerably flat, a minimum of to me.
No matter this, I nonetheless suppose The Midnight Stroll is price your time. It could not ship as sturdy a story as I’d have favored, however the world itself and the excellent environment is definitely worth the value of admission alone, and I can extremely suggest giving it a go.
The Midnight Stroll Launch Trailer
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