I can’t think of any other time where I’ve been so conflicted about a game at the 20+ hour mark. At least not since Death Stranding. Which is interesting, as we’re obviously talking about Death Stranding 2, here.
Simultaneously engaging, stunning and borderline relaxing. Intertwined with some pretty regular “clear the outpost” moments that absolutely kill the flow of the game. It’s never too hard, but it throws seemingly pointless moments of stealth action sections in to pad-out the gameplay.
This isn’t unlike the first game, sure. But the more action-focused approach, and what feels like over-reliance on these sections, puts me in an odd space.
The Good
Let’s focus on the positives first. Death Stranding 2 takes everything from the first game and iterates upon it several times over.
The cast of characters is wonderful. Now having met Rainy, Tarman, Tomorrow and one of the best gaming characters ever, Dollman. Adding depth to the world and pulling together a rag-tag group to save the world. I love it.
Better vehicles and modifications. Improved gear and upgrades. Death Stranding 2 has it all. Even new weapons and hologram grenades that I love.
Death Stranding 2 looks stunning, and between the lighting, the environments, the character models. There’s no denying that Kojima Productions know how to get the best out of the Decima Engine and the PS5.
Story-wise, it’s coming along and the exposition delivered by the team as you meet them and they join you, works fine. Telling the story isn’t unique in any way, but the story they’re telling is, naturally. So the cutscenes are must-watches, for sure.
Traversing across Australia with the music player in full flow. Kojima is a taste-maker, for sure. Woodkid, Chvrches, Low Roar and countless others. Just vibing-out, driving or walking. It’s a great experience!
The Bad
“Bad” is always a strong term, and yes, all of this is subjective anyway. It’s important that we differentiate the elements that don’t live-up to the rest of the experience.
Death Stranding 2 feels (currently) to have a pacing issue, where it’s padding-out the playtime. Throwing-in base clearance of a variety of armed bad guys feels odd. Sure, we had Mules in the first game, but these are all more than that.
I don’t think mechanically the game lends itself well-enough to stealth, which it really tries to push. With packages piled-high, you can’t hide to well, and there are no cover mechanics. Death Stranding 2 just isn’t equipped to be a stealth game. So you end up in a gun fight with a whole base or camp, regularly.
The BTs are worse than before, too. Different types, more evolved, if you will. All requiring more effort to dispatch. I always enjoyed the crouching, holding your breath and surviving these tense situations. But it all just feels more complicated, and frankly, less fun.
The one other gripe we have at the moment is that the traversal just doesn’t seem that hard. An odd one to call-out, sure. But there’s no trepidation or anxiety about leaving a treasured vehicle as the need to put up a ladder or throw-down a rope occurs. Seemingly, you can just drive everywhere.
The driving and vehicles are great. And yes, you could just flat-out choose to not use them. But Death Stranding was about that journey, and about working out the logistics, carrying what you have and working-out how to navigate the terrain. That doesn’t seem to be there.
A lot of these issues are likely easily explained by “this is what happens when you connect an entire continent to the chiral network”. You reap the benefits, and so do the inhabitants.
The Rest
Death Stranding 2 is doing so much good stuff, the moments where the pace is changed and you’re stuck in another base, really stand out.
But we now have monorails and mines. There are animals to rescue and so many more options for weapons and gear.
Everything you want from a sequel of one of the best games ever made. But somehow soured by pacing that feels superfluous to the overall experience. Yes, these quests tie-in narratively. But not in significant moments or story beats.
Give me more cool cutscenes and moments with the rest of the Drawbridge crew. Let me learn more about Lou and about the new plate gates.
I’m not sure I care for the return of Higgs, either. I didn’t like him originally, and now he’s more obnoxious with big robot nonsense. Not a good villain, not engaging.
Onwards
Hitting the 20 hour mark doesn’t feel like it’s actually a real dent in the game. With more to see and do, and to unlock. There’s no doubt that my experience and feelings will change, one way or another.
It feels like Death Stranding fans will still love Death Stranding 2, but there’s a pacing issue. This could absolutely be ironed-out as the game progresses, but it doesn’t feel like that’s going to be the case.
Next time we’ll cap the review off with full thoughts on gameplay and the story. There’s a lot to do and no end in sight, so it might be a while before it gets finished.
In the meantime, we’re making clips and taking screenshots like crazy! Get ready for a slideshow…..