3rd May
Welcome back to our ongoing series where we share snippets about the games that have captivated us lately. This week, Bertie celebrates a hard-earned victory but finds himself feeling oddly hollow afterward; Tom O embarks on a household reorganization reminiscent of the classic Resident Evil; and Victoria becomes enchanted by the music in South of Midnight.
What titles have you been diving into recently?
Don’t forget to check out previous editions in our What We’ve Been Playing archive.
Slice & Dice, Android
I did it! I triumphed over the game on Hard mode! To celebrate, I played through Normal mode too, just for kicks. Yet, instead of exhilaration, I’m left with a curious sense of emptiness. Or maybe it’s more like an absence of motivation — a lack of desire to continue playing.
This seems to happen to me. Once the immediate drive to engage with a game diminishes, my interest tends to wane. It’s why I’ve always sought out challenging games; they provide goals to work toward and an opportunity for personal growth.
There are still tougher challenges beyond, such as the Unfair and Nightmare modes, which might reignite my passion for this game. But for now, I feel complete. Anyone else feel this way after achieving a milestone?
-Bertie
My own Resident Evil experience… with home organization
It’s been a while since I’ve gamed (and yes, it’s pretty disheartening) because my home is undergoing renovations. Without getting bogged down in the details, I’ve had to contend with moving furniture and belongings around to make everything fit in newly rearranged spaces. Picture the classic Resident Evil attaché case, but instead of expertly organizing weapons and health items, I’m shuffling sofas, adjusting TV stands, and trying to streamline mountains of kids’ toys.
Not exactly my idea of fun. To illustrate, it feels like managing items in Resident Evil while using a controller that’s heating up like a furnace. Extreme, yes, but we’ve been experiencing a heat wave here in England. Please spare me the technicalities about what constitutes an actual heat wave; the sweltering days have already pushed my patience to the limit.
-Tom O
South of Midnight, Xbox Series X
This week, I dove into South of Midnight. I’ve been eyeing this title ever since its announcement due to its enchanting Deep South setting and captivating stop-motion art style. Now that it’s finally out, I find myself utterly charmed by its aesthetics — but it’s the music that truly resonates with me even after I put down the controller.
The world of South of Midnight pulses with life through its soundtrack; it’s arguably one of the best I’ve experienced. The music enhances the emotional weight of the narrative far beyond what I expected, making it a profoundly affecting experience. Some tracks uplift, while others delve into poignant melancholy, inviting moments of reflection. In this game, the music is as vital a character as Hazel herself.
While the combat and platforming leave something to be desired, which is a bit disappointing, the combination of the mesmerizing music and the story keeps drawing me back to the mythical Deep South every night. It’s truly a work of art.
-Victoria
