\n<\/p>\n
\n\tDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach<\/em> is like a symphony \u2014 a gorgeous classical concerto where an electric guitar occasionally cuts in to shred an off-putting, yet surprisingly sick riff. As a whole, it\u2019s weird and uneven, but there\u2019s something undeniably compelling about how those disparate parts fit together.<\/p>\n \n\tIf there\u2019s one thing Death Stranding 2 <\/em>(out June 26) isn\u2019t lacking, it\u2019s ambition. This is one of creator Hideo Kojima\u2019s (Metal Gear Solid<\/em>) biggest and boldest games yet \u2014 unrelentingly building on the vision and style of its predecessor. In turn, Death Stranding 2<\/em> is a game about a lot of things \u2014 the way we perceive death and grief, how routine shapes our lives, a scathing indictment of American imperialism, a post-Covid reflection on isolation, and a warning about the dangers of AI and technology reliance. Sure, that\u2019s a lot to digest, but Kojima manages to somehow string together each discordant note into something unlike anything else in gaming (or any medium for that matter).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2<\/em> is beautiful and messy all at once; a story that\u2019s as befuddling as it is enthralling, and a gameplay experience that\u2019s equally inventive and mind-numbingly routine at times. Those who didn\u2019t like the first Death Stranding<\/em> (2019) definitely won\u2019t be converted here, but everyone else is in for one hell of a ride. It\u2019s a game of dichotomies, never content to be just one thing at any given time, and is one of the best of the year \u2014 if not the generation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2 <\/em>takes place roughly 11 months after the first game, and while there\u2019s a lengthy intro video to take newcomers through the preceding story, it\u2019s highly recommended to have played through at least a majority of the first game.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThe story is set in a far future where a cataclysmic event (known as the Death Stranding) has wiped out much of humanity, leaving the survivors scattered and solitary. Paranormal creatures called beached things (BTs) infest the world, and whenever they consume a dead human, it causes what\u2019s called a Voidout \u2014 a massive atomic-level explosion. This has made post-apocalyptic delivery men called Porters, like protagonist Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus), essential as they can traverse the dangerous world to deliver goods, medicine, and the like.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n \n\tTaking place 11 months after the events of the original game, Sam and his daughter Lou have fled to Mexico to try to live a life of solitude and flee the commanding grip of the United Colonies of America (UCA). In the first Death Stranding<\/em>, Sam reconnected the UCA through a sort of metaphysical internet called The Chiral Network. Now, as he tries to live his happy life in Mexico, Sam\u2019s life is hit with tragedy, and the UCA, once again, wants his help to spread the Chiral Network to Mexico and Australia \u2014 reuniting more of the world. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tDeath Stranding 2<\/em> is about connections, figuratively and literally, as Sam brings communities together via the network.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tAs it turns out, reuniting America has left the rest of the world more unstable than ever (it shouldn\u2019t be lost on anyone that the theme of returning America to \u201cgreatness\u201d has had dire consequences for everywhere else).\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tBefore going into more specifics on story and theme, it\u2019s important to note the gameplay formula and structure of Death Stranding 2<\/em> \u2014 as that jarring experience is so integrally tied to how players will experience the narrative. Truthfully, shifting back and forth between jarring tonal shifts feels true to what it\u2019s actually like to play it.<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2<\/em> is, at its core, a delivery simulator. As Sam reconnects Mexico and Australia, he has to make deliveries to different facilities and connect them to the network. Players start out making these deliveries on foot \u2014 inspired by the real-life traditional Japanese porters known as Bokka. But you progressively unlock more options for travel and delivery: vehicles, zip lines, catapults, monorails, teleporters, and more. Mexico serves as essentially a tutorial area to introduce the basics, before moving to Australia for the rest of the game, creating a massive streamlined delivery network. Of course, the other catch is the game\u2019s Strand system, which lets you see and use the items and objects of other players in your world, and vice versa.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\tRelated Content<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n \n\tWhat\u2019s remarkable about Death Stranding 2<\/em>, on a gameplay level, is that it hasn\u2019t really deviated from the vision of the first game \u2014 rather enhancing and refining it. The original Death Stranding\u2019s<\/em> slow, methodical delivery experience wasn\u2019t for everyone, and it made the game better. But it\u2019s easy to see how that style of game is off-putting for some players; it\u2019s a slow burn in every regard.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tThe game remains heavy on walking simulation and deliveries, and likely won\u2019t convert critics of its predecessor.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tWhile Death Stranding 2<\/em> does introduce some drastic new action elements, it\u2019s still that plodding delivery simulator at its heart, and it\u2019s honestly charming to see a sequel that refuses to make concessions to be more approachable. That\u2019s not to say, however, that Death Stranding 2<\/em> isn\u2019t better than the first game \u2014 it is, in pretty much every conceivable way.<\/p>\n \n\tBy and large, the sequel feels like the full realization of what Kojima Productions wanted to do with its delivery system. There\u2019s a layer of simulation to the entire game that\u2019s remarkably compelling, giving players\u00a0 vastly more dynamic options for how to travel the world and complete orders. You can unearth mines to harvest resources and build a massive monorail network that allows for seamless\u00a0 travel across the continent \u2014 but that\u2019s a huge time investment. Or you can simply hop on your trusty trike and travel Australia mile by mile. Fast travel has also been made drastically easier with the help of Transponders that teleport Sam, as well as his ship the DHV Magellan \u2014 which serves as a home base.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThose simulation elements also rear their head in environmental hazards. A portal known as a Plate Gate has appeared on both continents, causing earthquakes and shockwaves that can easily knock Sam over, or his vehicle off a cliff if players aren\u2019t careful. Meandering through the snowy mountains, you might also find yourself confronted by a sudden avalanche, fleeing for life from the thundering wall of snow.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThe world itself also feels more vibrant and alive. Different variations of BTs stalk the wilderness, requiring adaptability to overcome. Mercenaries, bandits, and a new breed of enemy called Ghost Mechs also dot the landscape, necessitating weaponry to deal with. There are more opportunities for combat, and in turn, the shooting and weapons feel like they\u2019ve been given more thoughtful implementation and tightened controls. There are also some gratuitously fun additions to combat, like a grenade that lets you capture big BTs like Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> to be summoned\u00a0 in battle, triggering a delightful 1970s Godzilla<\/em>-like soundtrack. Death Stranding 2<\/em> likes to have fun with its weird and wonderful weapons.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tThe combat has been improved but remains a step behind how fluidly it should be working as a shooter.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tSimultaneously, the game affords far more ways to customize the player\u2019s experiences. Completing deliveries will rank up the various facilities you\u2019ve connected, granting more bandwidth to build objects in the world and unlock new weapons or items, as well as points for the new APAS Enhancements system. This is essentially a perk tree for fine-tuning aspects of the game, like making canteens easier to fill in rivers or improving a gun\u2019s firing rate. It\u2019s an intuitive system that allows for a lot of mix and match customization, and a more tangible sense of reward for grinding out every location\u2019s levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tAll that being said, the controls can still feel frustratingly obstinate at times, and get in the way of the overall experience. Swapping weapons isn\u2019t as intuitive as it should be in a shooter, requiring players to open menus to sift through, then drop the guns when they\u2019re empty. There\u2019s a new dodge, but it can only be executed while aiming with a gun. Little frustrations like that are still present, and that\u2019s largely because the game is still primarily focused on the walking simulator, delivery experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHowever, the one aspect of Death Stranding 2 <\/em>that does feel like a drastic leap forward are the bosses. These are some of the best boss battles in any modern video game \u2014 pitting you against fantastical creatures or gritty engagements that flip the rules of the game on its head. One has Sam fighting in an underwater world, with moon-like gravity, where you can make giant leaps. Another has you fighting through a crumbling Inception<\/em>-like monorail system, where enemy soldiers leap between the floor and ceiling. There are so many big set-piece battles that are genuinely jaw-dropping, and the last four hours of the game contain some of the most fever dream-induced moments ever found in a video game, in the best way possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tInventive boss battles are much more impactful and mind-bending this time around.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tBut that\u2019s what makes Death Stranding 2<\/em> so fascinating, how these big action movie moments are propped up against the majority of the game, which is largely about a meditative delivery gig. That juxtaposition feels even more important and intentional than in the first game, tying into the game\u2019s theme of routine, and how humans can normalize even the most oppressive of circumstances by simply sticking to the norm.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2\u2019s<\/em> more refined gameplay experience stands in contrast to a story that\u2019s extremely gutsy, topical, and sometimes nauseatingly self-referential. Kojima is often referencing his past work in Death Stranding 2<\/em>, and it does tread a fine line between pleasant and pompous.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s genuinely difficult to go into more specifics of the story as there are some major, shocking twists early on that inform the rest of Sam\u2019s journey. This is, by far, the darkest story that Kojima has ever created \u2014 not shying away from themes of suicide, depression, grief, and more. Leading up to the release of Death Stranding 2<\/em>, Kojima was quite open about how the Covid-19 pandemic influenced his interpretation of the first game\u2019s themes, and that\u2019s abundantly clear to see here.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThere\u2019s a strong message of connection and the importance of traveling to meeting people in person. There\u2019s also a much larger emphasis on violence in this sequel, on how average people perceive it and use it, and how governments harness violence to get what they want. This manifests through both the narrative, combat, and environmental storytelling.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tThe expansive cast of well known actors, directors, and artists flesh out a memorable group of supporting characters.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tMost of the cast from the first game plays a major role in Death Stranding 2<\/em>, including the deliciously evil Higgs (Troy Baker), who morphs into a drastically better villain this time around. But there\u2019s also a new cast of characters introduced into the mix, all of whom have a vital role to play and a story to uncover. Rainy (Shioli Kutsuna)\u00a0 is a mysterious girl who causes Timefall Rain whenever she steps outside, which has made society shun her \u2014 despite the healing secret she hides. Dollman (the likeness of Fatih Akin; voiced by Jonathan Roumie) is a particular highlight as Sam\u2019s new sidekick \u2014 a man with a tragic past whose soul now resides in a creepy little ventriloquist mannequin.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tRemarkably, not a single major character is forgotten by Death Stranding 2\u2019s<\/em> story; everyone feels like a vital piece in the tapestry of the narrative. And it\u2019s through their stories that we see most of the game\u2019s themes evoked \u2014 how their lives have been defined by America\u2019s obsession with gaining power, and how death defines the way they live. Sam\u2019s character arc, in particular, is remarkably moving in Death Stranding 2<\/em>; it\u2019s a harrowing story of family, love, and sacrifice that goes to some genuinely unexpected places.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThe fact that the story works at all despite its bizarre tonal shifts and erratic pacing is a testament to how strong the game\u2019s themes and characterization truly are. Big action pieces are bookended by hours of monotony. Thoughtfully human moments are filtered through surrealist imagery and ventriloquist dolls. But it\u2019s that befuddling mixture that gives the game so much of its personality.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2<\/em>, even more than the first game, feels like something people will be talking about for the next decade to come. We\u2019ll be digging into its themes and messages for years, and there will undoubtedly be no shortage of debate on how brilliant, or terrible, it all is. But that\u2019s exactly why this game feels so important right now \u2014 in an ocean of sameness and trends to chase, it\u2019s undeniably its own thing. Death Stranding 2 <\/em>isn\u2019t a sequel that course corrects; it doubles down and takes even bolder leaps in the opposite direction. And in an industry that\u2019s so obsessed with safe franchises, it feels refreshing to see something so large-scale that\u2019s so ballsy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tDeath Stranding 2<\/em> may not always feel cohesive but its ambitiously bizarre tone is impressive for a game of this pedigree.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSony Interactive Entertainment<\/p>\n \n\tThe caveat to that, of course, is that no one but Hideo Kojima would be given the time and money to make something like this \u2014 Death Stranding 2<\/em> is like a bizarre Frankenstein monster built as a monument to the game industry idolization of its \u201cauteurs.\u201d It\u2019s a game molded by the unending ambition of its creators, with little guard rails put up in the process. At times abrasive, unnerving, and wholly uncompromising, Death Stranding 2<\/em> is as emotionally exhausting as it is obtuse. But that\u2019s an undeniable piece of what makes the game so compelling, how it builds its themes to be utilized by the player\u2019s interpretations. This story and experience might mean something completely different to every player.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n \n\tAs the industry struggles with layoffs, cancellations, and a lack of innovation \u2014 it feels so rare to see games like Death Stranding 2<\/em>. Something that\u2019s big, beautiful, ambitious, chaotic, and messy all at once. This isn\u2019t a game for everyone, but for those willing to take the plunge, it\u2019s a generation-defining gaming experience.<\/p>\n \n\tDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach<\/em> is out June 26 on PlayStation 5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is like a symphony \u2014 a gorgeous classical concerto where an electric guitar occasionally cuts in to shred an off-putting, yet surprisingly sick riff. As a whole, it\u2019s weird and uneven, but there\u2019s something undeniably compelling about how those disparate parts fit together. If there\u2019s one thing Death Stranding<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[1699,374,1698,1701,1700],"class_list":{"0":"post-9444","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-erratic","9":"tag-hideo","10":"tag-kojimas","11":"tag-masterpiece","12":"tag-messy"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9444\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\t\tA familiar future setting\t<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tGameplay upgrades and frustrations\t<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tHeavy themes and a harrowing story\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tA rare, bold swing\t<\/h2>\n
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