I felt just about every emotion there is to feel during my 70 hour trek through the barren and unrecognizable wasteland that is Death Stranding’s America. I laughed and I cried. I experienced some of the deepest satisfaction id ever felt in a game. And by the end of sam’s journey, I was mentally drained from all the things that that same game had demanded of me. I was on the edge of my seat at times. At others, I was struggling to find motivation to keep on keeping on. Despite all of this, I was unable to put the controller down. Because, after every valley I knew there would be another breathtaking summit waiting for me just around the corner.
As I said before, this game is not even remotely close to “perfect.” The dialogue is downright awful at times; buried in exposition, repetitive monologues and cliches. The gameplay itself can be repetitive, and certain aspects such as human combat don’t feel entirely fleshed out. On top of all of this, the story can be embarrassingly predictable and laden with reveals and story beats that don’t seem to be as moving or surprising as kojima intended them to be.
And still, despite all of this, hideo kojima’s first video game release of the post Konami era has found its’ way into my five favorite games of all time. It has forced me to reevaluate what I value in a video game. The things that it does right are so incredible that I cant help but overlook all of the things I don’t like about the game. It seems almost silly to focus on the negatives of a game that brings so many great new ideas to the table and consistently executes them at the highest level.
This game is all about completing deliveries. While an entire game of fetch quests might seem boring, kojima has found a way to make every hill, crevice, and river a puzzle with dozens of solutions. At times, the terrain itself feels like the true antagonist of this world. There are plenty of different enemy types and you will spend a lot of time fighting or sneaking past them, but the struggle of making it from point A to point B is this game’s bread and butter.
The acting is phenomenal. Every single character (besides Higgs) is relatable and overflowing with charisma. Fragile and clifford really steal the show, and norman reedus sets the tone perfectly with his performance as Sam bridges. Every character gets their moment in the spotlight and none of them disappoint.
The gameplay is addictive and cerebral, and constantly evolving. Around every corner you’ll find new gadgets, vehicles, and structures to help conquer the increasingly hostile tasks and terrains. The game demands your full attention and droves of patience— and its greatest triumph is in the ways that it rewards you should you submit yourself to the game’s unwavering vision.
Kojima’s one of a kind world building is on full display here. The lore is captivating, and there is certainly no shortage of it. I became obsessed with finding every little detail about the true nature of this broken world and how it came to be. Piece by piece, brick by brick, I slowly built my mental case file. By the end of the story, the payoffs for my diligence were massive.
For a game where the central themes are all centered around death, this game can be downright goofy (I’m looking at you, Mario reference). And somehow, not only does this not detract from the story and atmosphere, but it adds to it. This game would be dreary if it was just several dozen hours of death and horror. These moments of levity really make this daunting experience so much more digestible. And while it takes some getting used to, the plethora of fourth wall breaks really grew on me.
A crucial aspect of death stranding’s charm is the asynchronous multiplayer elements. When you build structures or leave vehicles and equipment behind, they will show up in certain players game world’s and vice versa. Every bridge, ladder, or generator you leave behind has a chance to make another real life person’s deliveries that much easier. You can even leave helpful signs that can warn other players of danger or guide them towards safer paths. If you lose cargo, it will give other players the opportunity to pick it up and complete the delivery for you. Kojima ingeniously pushes players towards helping each other by tying player interaction to progression. You are constantly working together in a never ending quest to tame one volatile stretch of land after the next. Death stranding instills a sense of community unlike anything ive ever played, building on the blueprint established by from software titles.
I can’t write about death stranding without mentioning BB. Because Sam cannot see BTs (the hostile ghosts that riddle the world of death stranding), he has to travel with a prenatal baby strapped to his chest. Because this baby was the child of a brain dead mother, it is able to exist in both the world of the living and the dead. This allows it to detect the BTs and help safe-guide Sam through dangerous stretches of timefall (the rainstorms where you encounter BTs). The lore implications alone make this super weird yet interesting. But, because it’s a baby with an array of emotions, you are constantly taking care of it. And before long, you’re attached to it. It becomes an integral part of the narrative, and even though it never speaks a single word, i’d consider it the second main character.
Not everyone is going to enjoy this game. But I do believe everyone should give it a fair chance. You’re either going to love it, or hate it. But if you’re anything like me, you’ll walk away feeling fulfilled in a way that only a handful of games are capable of instilling. Blemishes and all, death stranding is a true masterpiece.
What was your experience with death stranding? Did you love it, or hate it? Are you excited for the sequel? I’d love to hear what other people thought of it. Hope you’re all having a great weekend!
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