Once, There Was An Explosion, A Bang Which Gave Rise To Life As We Know It. And Then Came The Next Explosion.

Death Stranding is a game about connections, it's not only about connecting America to make the UCA but also about Sam learning how to connect with other people, have friends, and not have such a pessimistic worldview. This is the main theme yet one of the many themes throughout the whole game; a game riddled with symbolism and messages down to the very gameplay of it all. The story is a mess for the most part but once you get to the end it all wraps out so nicely and you'll say "I get it now." Now on the topic of gameplay, it seems shallow at first; I mean it's just walking right? Yet once you play it you realize it's much more complex than that, If I had to describe it's kind of like Qwop where the gameplay loop lies in trying not to fall, yet in this game you have more options in minimizing your chances of falling, and ruining your package its honestly good fun. I will admit there was times I wanted to quit but the game is so worth completing I mean like the game says, "keep on keeping on".

A Kojima game, you either get it or you don’t. And not to call people who like this game “high intelligence gamer who understands Kojima artistic vision” or anyone who doesn’t a “low IQ idiot who has a brain smaller than BBs”, but more so that the gameplay and story are so unique that it is easy and understandable to see why someone would bounce off Death Stranding. A “walking simulator” it sure is, but the gameplay is so deep with how you plan your routes, store your packages, and tackle your terrain makes the gameplay loop of “plan, deliver and reward” so addicting. As well as with how it all fits back into the narrative, connecting a broken country back together to save the world. Plus walking around work Kojimas personal playlist (and some YouTube videos), make the experience very enjoyable.

The narrative is the other big bouncing off point, and I do understand why. Complicated lore, an “interesting” plot, silly character names, themes so thick it oozes out of my disc slot and subtly so thin that it can be paper thin. But it all works. Carried by its cast? Possibly, but with Mads Mikkelsen, Lea Seydoux, Troy Baker, Tommie Earl Jenkins, and Margaret Qually. all providing great performances. Norman Reedus may seem like the weak link from time to time, and I would agree, but his monotone, cold line reads come off as intentional. As a man so disconnected from humanity as to even be afraid of human touch. It’s interesting, and well done.

This is mainly a review of the PS4 version, and I am on the 2nd chapter of the PS5 version. But as for performance, the ps4 version was never a game I experienced many performance issues on even with a slim. But now, both performance and graphics setting provide you with spectacular ways to experience Death Stranding. I doubt any gameplay or story additions will change my score, but if it does I’ll come back to this.

All in all, you either get Death Stranding or you don’t. It’s a game so dedicated to connecting people, that it’s story AND gameplay center so heavily around it. It’s a unique game, and maybe not “fun” in the way you usually want from a game, but an amazing game nonetheless.

PRO
- Ambientazione eccezionale, islandese/americana, desolata, in un mondo afflitto da una calamità sconosciuta, il Death Stranding, il mondo dei vivi si mischia e si connette con il mondo dei morti, un'America lacerata da eventi apocalittici che deve essere ricostruita e ricollegata, riunendo i pochi sopravvissuti in una nuova rete/nazione per sopravvivere e continuare a vivere e combattere per un futuro migliore.
- L'universo narrativo creato da Kojima è profondo, inquietante, originale, ed estremamente misterioso e riuscito.
- Personaggi estremamente caratterizzati ed interpretati magistralmente dai rispettivi attori da cui prendono le sembianze.
- Si affrontano diversi temi anche molto attuali e criticano la nostra società moderna, il cambiamenti climatici, la cura del pianeta, critica ai social network ad un mondo dove internet rende tutti più connessi ma allo stesso tempo più distanti e distaccati gli uni da gli alti, il rapporto tra padre e figlio e la forza dell'animo umano di combattere per la sopravvivenza fino alla fine.
- Storia molto interessante ed originale con alcuni colpi di scena.
- Grande attenzione al design, alla fotografia e alla regia delle sequenze video.
- Non mancano le famose Kojimate, Easter Eggs e piccole scelte geniali.
- Ogni cosa è giustificata dalla trama e dell'ambientazione quasi al limite del paraculaggio. - Grandi momenti scenici e di grande impatto.
- Gameplay molto vario e arcade che si basa sulle consegne che il protagonista deve effettuare, con alcuni aspetti simulativi come la gestione del peso del carico del vigore di Sam, dell'equilibrio, arrampicate e guida dei veicoli ma offre anche alcune fasi di shooting.
- Il gioco ti introduce piano piano ad ogni aspetto del gameplay proponendoti sempre nuovi accessori o possibilità di azione.
- Molto bello graficamente, panorami mozzafiato e desolati accompagnati da una colonna sonora eccezionale.
- Estremamente ottimizzato, robusto e fluido su PC, nessun glitch o bug rilevante.
- Colonna sonora eccezionale e selezionata con grande cura per immergere meglio il giocatore nell'ambientazione.
- Ottima longevità , forse anche troppa per poter completare il gioco al 100%.
- Possibilità di rigiocare o rivedere alcune parti della storia.

CONTRO
- La storia raccontata è in realtà più semplice di quello che possa sembrare dall'enigmatico inizio e sul finale diventa un po telefonata e prevedibile.
- Purtroppo il combat system è la parte più debole del gioco, molto abbozzato e semplice, da poca soddisfazione e pad alla mano anche non semplice da controllare, molto meccanico.
- IA dei nemici un pò troppo semplice, sopratutto relativa ai terroristi che seguono sempre lo stesso pattern e non rappresentano mai una vera minaccia nel momento in cui di ha un minimo di armi.
- Poca varietà dei nemici sia per le CA sia per i nemici umani.
- Molte Boss fight sono un pò insoddisfacenti e molto semplici da affrontare e anzi alcune completamente evitabili, a volte proprio per evitare le rogne frustranti nel combatterli conviene abbandonarle.
- La narrativa è molto dilatata sopratutto nella prima parte di gioco, si rischia di annoiare troppo i giocatori che non apprezzano o trovano troppo ripetitive le consegne.

GIUDIZIO FINALE
Death Stranding trasporta i giocatori in un futuro oscuro e straniante, un immaginario tra i più ricchi, affascinanti e coerenti che si possono trovare, Peccato che una distribuzione narrativa tutt’altro che perfetta finisca col rendere evidenti i difetti di un gameplay sfaccettato ma focalizzato sostanzialmente sulle consegne, tanto da generare una ripetitività a tratti logorante ma completamente efficace nel trasmettere il messaggio alla base di Death Stranding. L’aspetto più straordinario dell’opera è proprio la sua capacità di scatenare una presa di coscienza inattesa e sorprendente, che emerge quando ci si rende conto dell’importanza dei legami stretti lungo il viaggio, di quanto sia stato importante condividere il cammino con i corrieri di tutto il mondo e riconnettere il tutto. Un’esperienza sicuramente divisiva, particolare, ma anche assolutamente preziosa, che merita un posto di diritto tra i titoli più significativi di questa generazione.

VOTO FINALE: 9.5/10

This is a game that somehow makes me absolutely love it but also hate it for good reasons, the story was good but also it was so badly paced that I wanted to just stop playing numerous times. The game improved for me massively a bit into chapter 3 when roads were able to be utilised and ranges of vehicles but I also despise how these vehicles drive when they are on any ground that is even remotely challenging. The ending was great but the ending of chapter 13 was so long-winded that I was basically zoned out most of the time hoping it would end. The games graphics, voice acting and sound design are however perfect and I basically had no problems with these at all. However when you take in the pacing of the story its hard to even remember many of the vast and complicated story points that are presented to you, though partly this seems intentional from Kojima to be able to pull of the many story turns that occur within the last few chapters. The game also did not feel like it was built for combat many times, though while I did play it on hard difficulty the chapter 9 boss fight and the whale fight near the end of the game felt clunky and with the whale fight was extremely frustrating trying to do anything, it did seem that the way the combat was designed to me didn't feel like it could accommodate what should of been very grand boss fights. However the game does give you basically infinite options to complete many things, going to do any order is basically doable on foot and in any vehicle if you try hard enough and look for appropriate routes and made going to places more enjoyable (other than when any vehicle meets its greatest enemy the smallest rock in existence). Many characters paid off in the end but it did definitely feel like there should of been more especially with how many hours you can and will put into the game even when basically doing nothing. It is extremely difficult to actually rate this game just due to the amount of times I'm really enjoying myself and the amount of times I am hating it or just wanting stuff to move forward significantly faster then what they are, the ending of chapter 13 encapsulates the games story telling formula perfectly but to me happens to be one of the most gruelling moments. I found myself enjoying chapter 4, 7 and 11 a lot because they were so short and it was one of the few areas where the combat system seemed to work fine. Chapters 3, 5 and 6 were also relatively good with the gameplay change in 6 making it more challenging as a whole. Driving around these chapters in a truck across roads that myself and other players had built also helped the progression go more smoothly but the whole journey was never this smooth. In retrospect Death Stranding is not similar to any game I have played before and it is definitely an experience your most likely not going to see anywhere else be that experience in times really enjoyable and times really disappointing. I would probably not recommend this game to most people, definitely not to people who are newer to games or especially people beginning in single player story based games, but there is definitely something here that is really good that if can be endured in its less than good moments is definitely an experience I would recommend to people to at least try.

I shelved this game multiple times due to my obsession with completing every side mission and earning five stars everywhere, which made me lose interest after a few hours. This time I played only the main missions and the story hooked me, all the weird, unusual characters I was bonding with time, great memorable music, and beautiful graphics. The online aspect of this game is genius and so simple at the same time. With a great story and excellent mechanics, this game truly shines when you focus on the main narrative and forget about 100%ing everything.

Uma experiência completamente diferente de tudo que eu já tinha jogado antes. Personagens interessantes e profundos, história riquíssima e uma gameplay absurdamente bem trabalhada. Andar por ai fazendo entregas é simplesmente viciante. Meu maior incômodo no jogo foi não poder escutar música durante as caminhadas (nativamente no jogo), a função existe no quarto privado, deveria existir fora dele também. Admito que o final da história me deixou confuso e vou precisar ver a tal "review/explicação de 7 horas" no YouTube. O que a Kojima Productions conseguiu fazer com a Decima (engine da Guerrilla) é ABISMAL, as cutscenes são espetaculares e extremamente detalhadas. Comecei e parei ele umas 2-3x antes de finalmente terminar, se não tiver muuuita paciência, recomendo só focar 100% na campanha principal.

At first I didn’t get it. That was because I was playing the launch version of the game. I get it now. The traversal, world building, and gameplay mechanics are really well done. There is a real sense of accomplishment trying to get to the ends of the country to connect the network. Going through rain and snowy terrain, using different equipment to get around easier, all of these things help make the gameplay a rewarding experience, especially when the game looks as good as it does graphically. Overall, I really enjoyed my time exploring this game and doing side missions more than actually playing for the main story. That’s probably the games biggest flaw, trying to keep up with what is going on and who everyone is. That might just be a personal problem though. This game was an interesting experience nonetheless, and I’m glad I could see this game through.

(I'm only in chapter 3, please no spoilers) This may be one of the most underrated games of all time. Let's get this out of the way. The gameplay won't appeal to everyone. It is slow and atmospheric, with occasional stealth and combat breaking up the mainly traversal based combat. The story is an acid trip of insanity, with a message that would be incredibly relevant only 6 months after it came out. Everything worked against this game, but after falling in love with kojima's metal gear series, i went, "fuck it why shouldn't i give it a shot." God damn. this game is really good.

the graphics are beautiful, and it is one of the only games i consistently took screenshots in. so many times did i go holy shit this game is gorgeous. There are very few games that make me sit there and just stare at the beautiful landscapes. this is one of them.

The combat is stupidly underrated, being smooth and snappy, and the stealth, while not as good as the metal gear games, doesn't need to be. The heart pounding feeling of trying to slip past a bunch of BTs unnoticed, the sheer panic of being chased down by them, as you try to escape while carrying dozens of valuable items weighing you down.

The equipment in death stranding is so good and a better loadout system than most multiplayer shooters, with the best equipment not being dictated by patches and the meta, but by how you want to make your journey. If you need to get through mountainous terrain then ladders and climbing ropes are your best bet. But if you need to carry heavy cargo through that same terrain, you might need to take the risk of trying to climb it unassisted. Are you going through MULE infested territory? then the best equipment would be either sandalweed shoes for silent sneaking, which pairs great with a strand or even a maser gun. If you prefer the loud approach, then pack some firepower and a power skeleton to sprint out of there if things get overwhelming.

All of it is so unique and worth trying, even if you don't think you'll like it. there is a lot more than just walking, and even then, the game makes a simple trek across a valley a breathtaking experience. In short, it's a great thing that this game is divisive. it means that there will always be discourse surrounding whether this game is a masterpiece or Kojima going too far off the rails and running over a family of four. 9/10 so far.

Sigo pensando que es increíblemente graciosa la manera en la que el juego intenta tratar las relaciones interpersonales a través del gameplay, en el que se sienten exclusivamente transaccionales y que cuando llegas al máximo de la amistad la única razón para visitarles es usar la zona de descanso y dejas de tener razones para mantenerla.

Como no hay razones para visitarle empiezas a enviarle la carga a través de los bots y darle la carga perdida a otros, solo para recibir likes, porque llegados a ese punto qué más da.

4 stars, one for each time the credits play in the ending of this game. While the story is somewhat scattered and occasionally nonsensical and pretentious, I loved the gameplay loop of Death Stranding and found it addicting to keep delivering packages and building up the world of the game. I loved the sound design and the visuals were always amazing as well, everything has an inspired design to it.

I think later in the game it starts to get more annoying to do quests, once you have enough of the world connecting it just becomes a chore to zip around or truck around, with BT's just showing up to potentially mess your shit up.

But Death Stranding was fascinating to me, with very interesting music, weird and misleading casting, and gameplay more reminiscent of American Truck Simulator than Metal Gear Solid (not a bad thing).

Man, I wish I loved this. But I’d be lying if I said I did.

Inventory management, fetch quests, and weight equipment loads. Maybe my least favourite things in video games turned into the main mechanics. This game is just boring and tedious. And not in an interesting artistic way, just slow and uninteresting. All you do is walk long stretches of land. Having to walk long distances, and ‘spicing up’ the gameplay with the obstacles of rocks and snow only made this more frustrating and tedious.

To be fair, the game starts with beautiful visuals, and I was excited to get out there an explore. But what baffles me is in a game about walking through terrain in a fantastical post-apocalyptic environment…they never change the landscape apart from one snowy mountain. In a game about travelling, I would have thought it obvious to at least include some diverse environments?

It sucks because sometimes I could kind of see what they were going for with the idea of making travel fun, but this was only 1% of the time for me in very rare instances and the rest was a slog. Honestly the ‘best’ time I had with the gameplay was when I decided to just listen to podcasts late at night while walking. While this was relaxing, I don’t think a podcast should be required for me to enjoy your game.

It’s unfortunate because the idea of other players helping to make your journey easier through seeing their structures is a great concept, and felt good when it happened. And perhaps it’s because I played the game almost 5 years after release, but this didn’t happen even nearly enough for me. A game about connecting people works wonderfully with this concept, but the absolute rarity of this happening made it fall flat for me. It should have been a reward for my efforts, and instead felt like a very random odd treat. And maybe it was my fault too! Is the lack of help because I skipped a lot of the optional ways to improve my ‘connections’? Perhaps, but I found the main story so tedious that I didn’t want to be subjected to more of its gameplay, and I don’t think I should miss out on the thematic gameplay moments because of this.

A game around traversing a harsh environment is interesting, but this game misses the mark for me. Gameplay aside, the controls didn’t work for me the whole time as well as I would have wanted, and the vehicles felt off too. And it’s weird because Zelda made the simple traversal of a barren world fun already, and that was 2 years before this game came out.

The combat is also extremely simple too. I understand that third person shooting is not the focus of the game, but how do you go from MGSV’s combat system to this. Not to mention the absolutely horrendous boss fights too.

And the worst part is that even if you trudge through the gameplay, you aren’t rewarded with a story worth telling either. Far too much exposition, making it difficult to digest, and horrendously paced too. You could watch the opening hours, play Roblox for 30 hours, and then watch the ending hours and still get the same experience. It is kind of classic Kojima, but his other games didn’t feel as bad as this and they definitely didn’t have meaningless middle portions. It’s a shame because there are incredibly good concepts here. The death stranding itself, voidouts, and timefall are all good enough to be the core mechanic of a single game. And the only thing I love more than Cliff Unger in this game is Mads Mikkelsen’s stellar performance as him. The cinematic cutscenes are directed very well too. But nothing else works for me. I don’t care for a single character in this game other than Cliff, and the actual plot fell so flat for me.

This game is so so frustrating. There is an unreal amount of talent attached to this, and I still think Kojima is very talented, and so I wish we got something else. I will be forever mad that this team and cast was once destined to make a Silent Hill game, especially after how good PT was, and instead we got a 40 hour isolated walking game.