Death Stranding
Is Death Stranding worth playing? With an 81 on Metacritic and numerous awards, Hideo Kojima’s new game is an instant success, but its polarizing nature means it elicits strong reactions.
Death Stranding is a game that offers a beautifully relaxing and meditative experience. Whether you take it as a good thing or not depends on whether you enjoy the unique gameplay and compelling story. For fans of Kojima’s games, this latest is a must-play. With impressive graphics, acting, and storytelling, there’s a lot to love about Death Stranding.
But there’s more to this game than meets the eye. If you dislike walking or find it boring, you might want to give this one a miss. We’re not saying it’s bad if you’re a big fan of Just Cause 3, but you might find it hard to get into. Our Death Stranding review delves into the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Is Death Stranding fun?
Death Stranding’s delivery aspect, while initially daunting, becomes surprisingly satisfying once you start to build infrastructure and find gadgets like floating carriers that make traversal easier. I’d compare it to building a new road network in a city: initially, you might find yourself taking the long way around, but once you lay the first few blocks, the whole thing becomes much easier.
Others find the gameplay repetitive and boring, but I think this boils down to one thing – whether you like walking in games or not. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the core gameplay, which boils down to delivering packages from point A to B. Some games like Journey and Everybody’s Golf are enjoyable despite boiling down to the same simple concept. Personally, I’m fine with it as it offers a change of pace from other games that require more skill and precision. It’s also a solid and unique experience.
Death Stranding’s story and presentation
The gameplay isn’t for everyone, but that’s fine because the story and presentation are great. The delivery aspect may be repetitive, but the characters, presentation, and narrative are all top-tier. It’s no different from something like Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, which is widely considered one of the best games of all time despite its gameplay flaws.
However, there’s a lot to unpack with Death Stranding, and some find it confusing. If you’re a fan of Kojima’s games, you might be used to the convoluted mess that is his storytelling, but newcomers may find it muddled. Oftentimes, you’re expected to go with the flow and accept things at face value. For example, you’re told that the main character’s baby has some sort of supernatural abilities, and you have to do as he says because he’s all-knowing. If you’re willing to go along with it, the story is amazingly good.
Death Stranding’s visuals and ending
The game’s visuals and the three-hour ending cutscene are universally praised. I’m not the biggest fan of Open-world games, but I was blown away by the coastal setting, which reminded me of the Pacific Northwest. The attention to detail is stunning, and there are a few points where you’ll stop to appreciate the view.
The ending cutscene is also worth writing home about. There’s a reason why it’s such a huge part of the game, and it left a lasting impact on me. Again, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Kojima’s work, you’ll love it.
