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In 2019, the release of Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima’s first project post-Metal Gear, left many feeling uncertain. The game’s theme of connecting people lacked impact until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, highlighting the importance of human connection. Despite its delivery-focused gameplay, pacing issues plagued the overall experience. Most notably, Death Stranding felt lacking in confidence compared to Kojima’s previous works, leaving a sense of uncertainty even after its release.
On the contrary, Death Stranding 2 stands out in many ways. With a more cohesive narrative, improved gameplay, and a sense of swagger, this sequel surpasses its predecessor by a large margin. It marks Kojima’s best and most complete game in nearly two decades. Here’s why.
Death Stranding 2’s narrative surpasses the original
Death Stranding 2 addresses the shortcomings of its prequel in terms of storytelling. The characters are more present and developed, with protagonist Sam Porter Bridges embarking on a mission to connect Australia to a magical internet network. The cast, including Fragile and Tarman, adds depth to the narrative, providing a richer and more engaging experience. Furthermore, the game’s storyline reflects contemporary issues and societal trends, offering a thought-provoking commentary on cultural and technological dominance.
Death Stranding 2 boldly explores themes of power, control, and societal manipulation, offering a stark critique of global politics and governance. The game challenges players to question the consequences of technological advancement and interconnectedness, raising important ethical dilemmas in a thought-provoking manner. By delving into controversial topics and taking a clear stance on real-world issues, Death Stranding 2 distinguishes itself as a bold and socially relevant gaming experience.
Death Stranding 2 embraces its identity
Unlike its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 exudes confidence and clarity in its gameplay and design. The game’s mechanics have been refined, offering a more immersive and rewarding experience for players. By staying true to its vision and purpose, DS2 establishes a strong identity and sense of direction, creating a cohesive and engaging gaming experience from start to finish.
This is generally due to an increased emphasis on stealth and combat, two things that were present in Death Stranding, but never felt quite at home. Human enemy bases in that game were just kind of there, full of materials to steal if you wanted to, but otherwise never feeling like much of a threat. There was simply no reason to engage with combat in Death Stranding unless you wanted to build every highway in the game.
DS2 smartly places a lot of enemy bases directly in the way of your delivery routes, forcing the player to figure out a way around or through them. You’re given a much more accommodating roster of non-lethal armaments this time around, so if you want to just Rambo it up at every base, you can do that. There’s also a fun suite of stealth tools for players who prefer to do it that way.
With all of that in mind, DS2 feels much more secure in its vision of a gig worker action game. Yes, you will spend many, many hours peacefully hiking around Australia while listening to CHVRCHES, but sometimes you have to fight. I think this makes the game much more enjoyable and varied than its predecessor.
Death Stranding 2 saves the best for last
Last but certainly not least, perhaps the biggest issue with Death Stranding was that the final half-dozen hours or so were easily the worst part of the game.
It was a boring slog full of bad third-person shooting, uninteresting cutscenes, and a part where you confusingly wander around a beach for a while because it’s not clear if the game is over yet or not. I’m pleased to report, without spoiling anything, that DS2 took that criticism to heart and instead saved its absolute best for the final four hours or so.
Kojima’s best games have always had wonderful finale chapters full of twists and fun escalation, and DS2 is no different. I had a big, stupid grin on my face for most of the final act, and that often turned into full-blown laughter. Not at the game, mind you, but with it. There’s plenty to chew on thematically in the finale, but even if you don’t feel like doing that, you will almost certainly appreciate how unbelievably absurd and audacious it is.
In other words, I don’t remember the last time a big-budget game made me wonder how it got past its corporate overlords as often as DS2 did in just the last few hours. I need people to finish it so I can talk to them about it. Stop reading this article and go do that, please.
