1978’sSpace Invadersis widely considered to be one of the first games to ever feature something that could be considered a soundtrack. Naturally,video game musichas come a long way since then. Just like any other medium, a video game score can be used as the perfect accompaniment to a thrilling action scene, a terrifying moment of tension, and a range of different tonal sequences in between. Game soundtracks can also often set a tone faster than any on-screen visuals or gameplay mechanics, and that’s certainly the case inSouth of Midnight.
Composed by Olivier Derivière – who’s worked previously on thePlague Taleseries,Dying Light 2, andRemember Me– and implemented by audio director Chris Fox,South of Midnight’s soundtrack knows exactly how and when to accentuate a powerful moment, resulting in some of the best needle drops in recent gaming history.
South of Midnight’s Needle Drops Always Serve a Purpose
South of Midnight’s Soundtrack Punctuates Every Important Moment
Music is used throughoutSouth of Midnight’s 10-12-hour runtime, but it always serves a purpose, and its implementation always feels deliberate. Though soft notes can be heard constantly while exploringSouth of Midnight’s dreamlike world, the game’s music goes out of its way to highlight key moments, and encourage players to feel something specific at that moment.
When a combat encounter starts,South of Midnight’s musickicks into gear and adds an unmistakable layer of tension. When a big story revelation takes place, music is always there to highlight its importance. And when a player learns a new combat ability or traversal skill, a jubilant musical sting rewards them for their achievement.
Each of these musical motifs also acts as a consistent reinforcement ofSouth of Midnight’s Deep South influences, with the blues, jazz, and country riffs all being played on traditional instruments by an incredibly talented orchestra.
South of Midnight’s Soundtrack Is Used as a Pivotal Narrative Device
ButSouth of Midnight’s music goes far beyond a mere accompaniment to the game’s key gameplay and story moments.South of Midnight’s soundtrack is used regularly throughout the game to enrich the narrative, and it’s one of the game’s best features.
During the course of one ofSouth of Midnight’s chapters, players will hear brief and distant chants, often when a boss' name is mentioned. These chants begin very quietly, and players will likely only pick up on a lyric or two. But as the player learns more about the chapter’s boss and their backstory, these chants grow louder, and the lyrics become more clearly defined.
In an Xbox Wire interview with Chris Fox and Olivier Derivière, the composer stated that these choral chants are meant to be the voices of the magical Strands that player-character Hazel follows and uses in her Weaving magic.
Eventually, these chants culminate in a fully-fledged musical number that plays during the climactic boss fight. The choral chants become the backing vocals for a powerful lead singer, and the lyrics take center spotlight, acting as the boss' internal monologue that sheds even more light on their often heartbreaking origin and their deepest fears and traumas. Music is a core part ofSouth of Midnight’s identity, and its integration into gameplay is something truly special.
