There is a powerful message about the tendency for history to repeat itself, even when a town’s history is so well-known by its residents. As the game is based in Salem, there’s also a lot of information to be learned about the infamous Salem Witch Trials and, for the most part, I think the game does an effective job in drawing parallels between the former witch trials and the prosecution of Mei. Nancy isn’t so sure until she uncovers that the Hathorne House’s ownership is currently being contested by a number of different parties, some which would seek to benefit from the house being burned down. Deidre’s troubled cousin, Mei, is the prime suspect (as she has been involved in delinquent acts before) but Deidre is convinced she’d innocent. Deidre calls Nancy to investigate a suspected arson of the legendary Hathorne house in Salem. To start, I really thought this game’s story was excellent.
And, all in all, I think the risk paid off. While it was a risk for Her Interactive to do something completely revolutionary with Midnight in Salem that might upset long-term fans, it seems like it was the only decision Her Interactive had that might ensure the company’s future. It suggests that, regardless of how dedicated the existing fan base can be, a company without the market penetration cannot be profitable. (In this case, Her Interactive’s decision to invest all their efforts into developing Codes and Clues instead of Midnight in Salem). I can’t claim to be an expert on Her Interactive’s finances, but it’s never a good sign when a company starts laying off staff, outsourcing all their teams, and becomes increasingly focused on their side-ventures at the expense of their flagship product.
While I was a fan of the old games – and would have been happy playing Midnight in Salem on Her Interactive’s old game engine – I do understand why Her Interactive made the decision to do something different with Midnight in Salem. Midnight in Salem has been perceived as a complete directional change from a formula that, admittedly, had been perfected by time and practice. However, many fans expressed disdained for almost all of the game’s new features, from its open-world exploration to its interactive puzzles to Nancy’s new voice actress. Most critics have cited the graphics and controls as the game’s most problematic aspects, believed due to the staff’s inexperience with the game’s new Unity engine.
Midnight in Salem was finally released this December to mixed reviews. Although fans repeatedly asked for answers regarding what was going on (especially as rumours that most of the Her Interactive team had been laid off transpired to be true), most questions were rebuffed with statements that further information about Midnight in Salem would be announced at a later date. Her Interactive’s thirty-third game, Midnight in Salem, was initially scheduled for release in 2016, but was continuously postponed without explanation. Anyone who follows Her Interactive’s forums or Twitter page will know how much controversy this game has created.