It’s an interesting game, to say the least… Death Stranding isn’t that type of game that you pick up, smash some mobs, and be done with it. It’s a game that needs your full attention and not in the way you might think. The game doesn’t have fast-paced shooting action or ultimate character creation, but it creates this itch to continue playing even though it’s a walking simulator most of the time. Here’s my two-piece…
Hideo Kojima’s game takes you to a place unknown where both life and death play an important role. You’re dropped into the story with almost no background or lore option to read through. You just go with the flow and experience everything first handed. Death Stranding manages to draw the player’s attention with its atmosphere and unknown lands. Your journey through this haunting wilderness and scarred environment creates unforgettable moments and at the center of this moment, that’s the point of no return… That’s the moment you realize this game is formidable even though it won’t be for everyone.
“Death Stranding left a mark onto this world…”
Death Stranding lets you follow into the footsteps of Sam Porter Bridges. Most of the people will recognize this character model as it’s been shaped to represent Norman Reedus, one of the actors that starred in The Walking Dead. Sam is a delivery guy and you deliver packages to all of the corners of this godforsaken ground that used to be known as the United States. Due to a cataclysmic explosion that’s called Death Stranding, the world turned into a rough state of its former self. Death Stranding left a mark onto this world and not only an esthetic mark but also left some Beached Things. These BTs are paranormal energies that suck the life out of anyone who gets in their way. If all these BTs weren’t dangerous enough, there’s also the matter of the rain that rapidly ages all it touches. Therefore the leftovers of our beloved humankind had to find shelter in underground cities, hoping to survive and rebuild the world as they knew it.
This information is given to you within the first hours of Death Stranding and builds up to the moment where Sam gets the important mission to make this nation whole again. Due to Sam’s excellent experience delivering packages from point A to B, he’s been ordered to connect the remaining settlements to the Chiral Network, the main network to boot the nation up again. Sam’s supernatural ability to connect with the so-called Bridge Babies also helps him to spot BTs which will help him to plan his route carefully. On a side note, he’s also a repatriate which allows him to be immortal. Whenever death comes along, his soul can always find its way back to his body. However, BTs can still suck his life force and if that’s the case, a void-out happens which is another term for a big supernatural atomic explosion.
“Combine these elements with the amazing sound design and you’ll capture one of the best digital landscapes made.”
Most of the time, you’ll be plowing your way through challenging environments to get an item delivered. These hiking trips go from volcanic fissures to snowy mountains with some splendid sightseeing points of interest like waterfalls and long stretched rivers. It’s due to these different points of interest that the world seems like a big open world where nature goes its normal course. Combine these elements with the amazing sound design and you’ll capture one of the best digital landscapes made. Just like you would in a normal hiking trip, you’ll often wander around and take a moment to let this beautiful environment sink in.
Death Stranding is the perfect professional hiking simulator as the game goes for a realistic mountaineering/climbing approach. Bringing an item from point A to B sounds fairly simple if the terrain was flat, the weather conditions were decent, no weight on your shoulders, superhuman strength, and endurance, … Reality teaches us that nothing is that easy-going and without any kind of problems. There’s always a moment where things don’t go as planned and you’ll have to be extra careful if you want to continue your journey any further. Sam is an excellent porter but even he can trip over his shoelaces or lose his balance which often results in damaged goods, whether it’s one of your body parts or an important package. In other words, you’ll have to plan your route carefully and take on a more thoughtful approach. You’re free to go where you like but be prepared!
“It won’t be easy but it is definitely worth it to go through all of these situations.”
This landscape is full of inconvenient terrain and you’ll have to prepare yourself to overcome most obstacles nature throws at you. Death Stranding allows you to get a top-down view of your route which will give you a heads up about the challenges you might overcome. This overview allows you to pack your bags with useful equipment to get from point A to B with ease. You’ll have different tools to your disposal and you will make use of them: climbing ropes or ladders to get to a higher/ lower level of terrain or traverse wild rivers, an exoskeleton to divide the weight of your care packages evenly, a new pair of walking shoes, supply deposits to relieve stress, … Plotting your route and preparing yourself for the worst is the best way to handle this type of game. Not only has the game some difficult terrains, but there are also extreme weather situations to keep in mind like disorientating blizzards or rapidly aging rain which will eventually threaten your life but also deteriorate your delivery. There are also terrorists who will steal your packages and it will be your task to get it back. Sam can also lose his packages by traversing a wild river or lose balance. You can tell, it won’t be easy but it is definitely worth it to go through all of these situations.
Eventually, these routes will become easier the further you progress through the game. Once you have a certain route planned out, you’ll probably take the same route for another delivery task as you already have explored this part of the map. Knowing the dangers is half the work. Also, your toolkit will improve as well. For example, you’ll be unlocking power gloves that allow for faster climbing or get an improved exoskeleton that will help you to handle more weight. There are also vehicles within the game that can help you with your journey.
As a porter, it’s important to gain a certain status between you and your employers as they’ll give you more important tasks if a certain status has been achieved. The better you perform, the more known you become between these task-givers. Not only is it important to do your job at its best, but it’s also useful to plot a route that anyone can benefit from. You might feel alone sometimes in Death Stranding but actually you’re not. The game has a multiplayer feature where you see traces from real fellow players. You’ll find placed ladders or zip lines across the landscape that can help you with your journey. If these tools were helpful along the way, you can leave them alike which will show your appreciation towards your fellow porters.
Weapons are also a part of the Death Stranding game but the game doesn’t force you into battles. You can often complete your missions without the many uses of lethal or non-lethal weaponry. You will always have the option to avoid enemies or BTs. It’s just a way of putting your mark on a certain approach. Play as you want it without any kind of punishment.
Even though the story is quite interesting, it fails to give an answer to all of the questions that the storytelling creates. There are definitely some mind-blowing scenes but there are also lengthy scenes that try to glue all of the missing pieces together but fail miserably in doing so. You’ll have to plow your way through long emails and radio messages to get even a glimpse of the lore behind Death Stranding. I even had to look some things up on the internet to get a decent perspective on the game. It’s disappointing to say this, especially if you see how much energy and time the developers invested to create this realistic look of every character within Death Stranding. The cast sounds great and is very realistic looking but their script takes away some of the magic.
“Death Stranding definitely delivered a lot of things from what I’ve expected.”
The PC version of Death Stranding is just great. I didn’t have any hiccups during my playtime and everything ran smoothly. The sound design was superb! Not only did I enjoy the atmospheric sounds of the game but the song choice also did a great job in pulling myself deeper and deeper into the game. The combination of great graphical and sound design choices makes up for a beautiful game. Even though not everyone has a high-end gaming PC, the game engine seems sturdy enough to create a smooth running experience a lower-end PCs. There’s always the option, of course, to buy it on the PlayStation.
Conclusion:
Death Stranding definitely delivered a lot of things from what I’ve expected. It’s truly one of its kind and I’m glad that Hideo Kojima poured his weird and eerie thoughts into this game. The game looks gorgeous, to say the least, and even though the story didn’t add up, for the most part, it does have some mind-blowing chapters that draw the player back in, even when the player feels lost. Death Stranding is a really good hiking simulator with that specific edge/itch that makes the game special. The production value of this game is just amazing. These types of games will open a lot more perspective on gaming in general. I’m just glad that Hideo Kojima isn’t afraid of doing something special because we need more of this. There are too many games that are often reprints of other games and developers don’t set any kind of standards for themselves anymore which makes them a bit lazy in my opinion. I’m glad we have some renegades like Hideo Kojima that heightens the bar. The game might not be for everyone but I hope they can all see past the generic games and try something different, like Death Stranding. It’s a hiking trip they’ll never forget!
