Review: The Midnight Walk
The announcement of The Midnight Walk by MoonHood instantly made it my top pick for upcoming releases, a title that has remained at the forefront of my excitement ever since. Having thoroughly enjoyed Lost In Random, I was eager to witness their unique artistic vision come alive in virtual reality. With such high expectations, I knew it could go one of two ways: I would either be thrilled or disappointed. So, did it fuel my fire or snuff it out?
Release Date: May 8th 2025
Developer: MoonHood
Publisher: Fast Travel Games
Price: US $39.99 / CA $53.49 / €39,99 / £32.99
Reviewed On: PlayStation VR2
* Access Provided For Review *
Navigate The Midnight Walk
You step into the shoes of ‘The Burnt One’, a character shrouded in mystery. Along your journey, you are joined by Potboy, a wandering lantern creature whose flame is essential for your survival. Together, you will traverse The Midnight Walk, navigating its eerie terrains and terrifying beasts to unveil the hidden secrets that lie within its darkness.
A Stunning Adventure
At its core, The Midnight Walk is a narrative-driven adventure that emphasises exploration of stunning worlds while engaging in light puzzles. These challenges are designed to be enjoyable without causing frustration, enabling players to progress smoothly through their journey and discover the unique aspects of the world and its characters crafted by the team.
The puzzles are designed to be approachable, which I believe suits the game perfectly. It’s all about collaborating with Potboy, fostering a strong connection with your little lantern companion. You might need him to light candles, activate pressure plates, or heat up a furnace, among other tasks. Occasionally, you’ll have to close your eyes to concentrate on sounds to locate items or clear obstacles. A fantastic feature of the PlayStation VR2 is the inclusion of eye-tracking technology, enabling you to shut your eyes for these actions (though you can disable this feature if preferred).
In the game, each chapter introduces unique monsters that require different strategies to navigate. It’s crucial to note that combat is absent; instead, the monsters aim to extinguish Potboy’s flame. This leads to a gameplay experience focused on evasion, where players must find hiding spots if detected. I appreciate this design choice as it fosters a sense of caution and vulnerability, perfectly complementing the frightening creatures crafted by the team. While some monsters can be avoided or escaped from, others can be dealt with simply by closing your eyes, enhancing the immersive experience through eye-tracking technology. I was taken aback by how, despite the game’s slight horror vibe, and resemblance to a Tim Burton, being seen by these monsters can truly send your heart racing and fill you with a sense of dread.
In addition to the main gameplay, across the five chapters players can uncover numerous collectibles. This provides ample motivation for completionists and trophy hunters to keep playing, particularly for those who choose not to seek out every item on their first playthrough.
Truly Beautiful For Start To Finish
What captivated me the most in the trailer was its dark, gothic claymation aesthetic, reminiscent of Tim Burton’s work. Discovering that the team crafted all the quirky characters, frightening creatures, and bizarre settings from clay, meticulously scanning them and employing stop-motion to animate them, truly amazed me – heightening my anticipation for the game’s release.
Stepping into this virtual reality world exceeded my expectations, showcasing the team’s hard work was absolutely worthwhile. I’ve never encountered such a stunning visual experience in VR before. Potboy’s emotions were conveyed beautifully, making it impossible not to adore this quirky little companion. The monsters are genuinely frightening, and the characters you encounter are just as eccentric as the last, while the breathtaking environments left me in awe time and again. The scale used in one of the storytelling scenes was particularly impressive, standing out as one of the highlights of the game and my overall VR experience. It was a visual delight from beginning to end.
During the pre-release review of the game, the team mentioned that they were addressing some resolution issues with the PSVR2 version, which will be fixed before launch. Despite this, I only noticed some slight anti-aliasing problems, but this did not detract from the experience. I’m excited to dive back into the game upon its release, as it already looked stunning even without the fix.
While the game is available for flatscreen, after experiencing it in VR, I can’t fathom a more immersive way to explore the breathtaking world crafted by Moonhood.
This remarkable and visually striking game is complemented by superb audio design. It blends eerie environmental sounds with a stunning yet haunting score. The terrifying noises effectively animate the monsters, delivering a thrilling scare and a palpable sense of dread. Enhanced by exceptional voice acting for every line, the performances underscore the significance of each character and their role in the game’s narrative.
Comfort
The Verdict
The Midnight Walk has been my most eagerly awaited game since its announcement, earning my personal upcoming game on the 2024 VRverse Podcast Awards. This set high expectations, and I’m thrilled to report it exceeded them. MoonHood has brilliantly woven together puzzles with a deep emotional bond to Potboy, all while immersing players in the exhilarating challenge of facing terrifying monsters. The unique atmosphere and engaging narrative that unfolds as you progress creates a truly remarkable gaming experience. The dedication involved in crafting Potboy, along with the characters, monsters, and landscapes you encounter on your adventure from clay, followed by the detailed scanning of each component, has culminated in a truly unique experience. This stands out as one of the finest experiences I’ve had throughout my journey in Virtual Reality.