The year 2025 heralds the return of Hideo Kojima to the spotlight, six years after gifting us Death Stranding, possibly his most personal and divisive creation to date. While some hailed it as a masterpiece, others perceived it as overrated. The first Death Stranding’s unconventional style was polarizing, with little room for neutrality. Players had to adapt to Kojima’s universe rather than the other way around. After six years, Kojima has had the chance to refine his approach and assess its modest commercial success. So, with a sequel in the works and mixed reactions from players, it was necessary to recalibrate, especially regarding gameplay. This brings us to Death Stranding 2, which we’re excited to showcase with its 22-minute 4K gameplay preview.
Upon its 2019 release, Death Stranding sparked debate. Some found it a captivating, contemplative experience; others saw it as incomplete. Sam Porter Bridges’ first journey, portrayed by Norman Reedus, vacillated between existential solitude and the urge to rebuild connections in a shattered world. It openly tackled themes of death, the afterlife, and finding meaning in a fractured universe. Through the chiral network, deliveries took on a quasi-mystical significance, interrupted by heavy silences and ethereal music. This allegory of human isolation rang prophetic, especially considering the COVID pandemic that followed a year later, isolating the entire planet. But was Kojima a prophet? For his devout followers, perhaps, yet his narrative captured the essence of the post-pandemic era.
SAM THE FIREMAN
In the original, Sam’s mission was to reconnect a fractured America. Death Stranding 2 shifts its narrative to the Mexican border. Bridges is no longer active, replaced by an automated system called APAS that employs unmanned vehicles for deliveries. Sam now leads a secluded life with his daughter Lou but is soon drawn back into action by Fragile, a key figure from the first game, portrayed by Lea Seydoux, who enlists him for a new mission. Sam must reconnect the chiral network in a region suffering from severe communication breakdowns. This expedition unfolds gradually, serving as both a tutorial and narrative introduction, extending beyond traditional borders, including ventures into Mexico and Australia. Gone are the desolate and monotonous Icelandic landscapes; now, more diverse and visually stunning terrains await. Though the ambiance evolves, the core remains: a quest for connection in a world haunted by supernatural forces and fractured by time. Visually, it’s breathtaking, with intricate details across cracked earth, windswept dunes, and distant mountains, surpassing the original game’s graphics, along with more nuanced facial expressions. Despite occasionally sparse environments, the Decima Engine from Guerrilla Studios, also behind Horizon, continues to astonish.
MORE MAINSTREAM, LESS RADICAL
Based on early feedback from journalists and content creators invited to Kojima’s Tokyo studio last month, Death Stranding 2 impresses with its seamless and dynamic gameplay, boasting a faster pace than its predecessor. The varied settings beckon exploration: from Mexico’s arid deserts to Australia’s unforgiving terrains, players are plunged into lifelike and changing environments influenced by extreme conditions that directly impact gameplay. Deliveries remain central but are deepened by extensive customization options: modular backpacks, adaptable vehicles, and innovative tools transform the journey into a tactical, engaging, and less burdensome experience. Nevertheless, backpack management remains integral. Death Stranding 2 aims to be more approachable, intending to win over those who were put off by the original. As such, Kojima plans to offer a story summary at the outset, complete with an interactive glossary called the Corpus to help new players navigate the complex terminology and concepts.
The core mechanics of the first Death Stranding relied on a triadic structure: balancing movement, strategic combat, and social interaction. This remains unchanged, with the Odradek scanner identifying terrain hazards and maintaining weight and stability management essential. Infrastructures like ropes, ladders, and roads are vital, though now enhanced with monorails for quicker transit. Constructing these requires gathering materials, making logistics even more crucial. Meanwhile, the environments become more challenging with expanding rivers, earthquakes, sandstorms, and a real-time day/night cycle complicating journeys. These natural elements interact with gameplay, rendering each expedition unpredictable.
Combat in Death Stranding 2 seeks to be more ambitious, allowing players to tackle missions through stealth, action, or pure avoidance. You can even drop your backpack to enhance agility, with combat showing increased fluidity reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5. The tactical dimension is advanced in this sequel through the Dollman puppet, enabling distant enemy observation. While previously ancillary, battles now hold greater prominence. Besides the Mules, new adversaries like Bandits and Armed Survivors populate enemy bases. BTs, or Beach Things, these supernatural entities, return with more formidable versions.
A significant addition is the APAS upgrade system, which allows customization of Sam’s abilities in combat, travel, or delivery tasks, enabling a personalized gaming experience. Skills can be reset, encouraging experimentation, and the game offers four difficulty levels to suit all players.
With Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima demonstrates his ability to innovate while staying true to his vision. The gameplay has become more vibrant, addressing critiques of the first installment’s slow pace, yet the core concept remains. It continues to explore humanity, its connections and vulnerabilities, and the imperative of reconnection. Whether the broader audience will embrace this vision remains to be seen when the final verdict arrives on June 26th.
