The story of “South of Midnight” plunges players right into a thrilling adventure. It opens with Hazel, our protagonist, caught in the chaos of a fierce storm. As her mobile home is swept away by a flood, her mother is still trapped inside, sparking Hazel’s urgent quest to find her. This marks the beginning of an epic journey, rich with encounters featuring creatures straight out of the folklore of the Deep South.
The first formidable foe Hazel encounters is Two-Toed Tom, a colossal, albino alligator with a peculiar feature—a tiny island growing on his back. Tom presents the first major boss fight in “South of Midnight”. However, before players can go toe-to-toe with this fearsome beast, they must delve into Tom’s past. Needless to say, his backstory might strike a chord with those who have a soft spot for animals.
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of Tom’s tragic tale. For a significant portion of his life, Tom was closely bound to his master’s side, literally kept on a leash. His owner had a daughter named Jolene, who left the rural life behind to chase her dreams of singing stardom. As Jolene achieved her ambitions, her father grew resentful, which didn’t bode well for Tom, who suffered from neglect and near-starvation.
Legend has it that at one point, Tom was so famished that he resorted to gnawing on his own toes. His meals were inconsistently metered out, often preceded by the ring of a bell. When Jolene returned home, only to be met with disdain by her father, she acted out of spite. In a bid for freedom, she rang Tom’s bell while her father was vulnerable. The hungry alligator saw an opportunity and attacked.
Two-Toed Tom’s story is deeply rooted in local legend. The real-life lore speaks of a fourteen-foot alligator infamous in Florida and Alabama for devouring livestock and even people. In those tales, hunters trapped Tom, which explains his missing toes. In most narratives, he’s portrayed as an indomitable beast, invulnerable to bullets and explosives.
Back in the wild after the fateful event, Tom found himself roaming near a pig farm, where he gorged on everything in sight. This feast only magnified his size and appetite. Having lived so long with the fear of starvation, Tom never took food for granted again. His insatiable hunger grew insurmountably, leading him to consume livestock, humans, and even structures, eventually becoming the monstrous figure feared by the townsfolk of Prospero.
The game, set to release on April 8, 2025, runs on the Unreal Engine 5 and is brought to us by Compulsion Games, under the publishing wing of Xbox Game Studios. Embark on this journey with Hazel and explore the remarkable world Compulsion Games has crafted. With a rating of 6 out of 10, this adventure is one not to miss, whether you’re on PC or Xbox.
