Exclusive to the PS5, Death Stranding 2 is the sequel to one of the more weird and intriguing games for the PS4 (and later PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S), Death Stranding. Much like the previous game, you’re Sam Bridges (voiced and performed by Norman Reedus), a delivery man, moving parcels from one location to another while connecting each location to the internet (or Chiral Network as the game calls it).
At the same time the world is marred by a time-decaying rain known as time fall and the dead, if not disposed of properly turn into near invisible monsters known as Beached Things. Oh, and you’re carrying a baby (or Bridge Baby as the series calls them) that can help you avoid them (or kill them with grenades infused with your blood). As bizarre as this all sounds, it makes sense when you play it through.
The series is the brainchild of video game auteur Hideo Kojima. An industry veteran, Kojima skyrocketed to fame with the Metal Gear Solid franchise that married his love of film, literature, and geopolitics to tell a saga that focussed on themes still relevant to this day such as genetics, memes, disinformation, nuclear disarmament, and more.
Since his widely publicised split with Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami, he’s branched out on his own with Death Stranding being the debut effort of his studio, Kojima Productions. As a long-time Kojima Stan since Metal Gear Solid’s PS1 debut in 1998, Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2 showcases Kojima at his peak. Here’s why.
In Death Stranding 2 you’ll deal with near-invisible monsters, dangerous militias, and hazards ranging from life-decaying rain to earthquakes and avalanches. All while delivering a variety of items ranging from the obvious like pizza to the unexpected like an emu. And while that doesn’t make sense on the surface (like most things Hideo Kojima) they all make sense in the game’s overarching plot.
Speaking of which, Death Stranding 2 has Sam delivering parcels and connecting their recipients to the Chiral Network in Mexico and Australia as opposed to the US in the last game. That said, you don’t need to play the last game to understand Death Stranding 2’s story thanks to a handy recap feature present when you boot it up. While it does a decent enough job of giving you an idea of the game world, fans will regale in the subtle nods peppered through Death Stranding 2.
In the 35 hours it took to see the game’s credits (and post-credits scene) Death Stranding 2 toed the line between a straightforward delivery simulator and action-adventure.
A considerable chunk of the game had me charting out a route across the Australian outback on a map and navigating its deserts and mountains on foot or in an off-road vehicle to make deliveries and connect its inhabitants complete with cosy tunes from the likes of Low Roar and Hania Rani.
Often enough I’d have a main mission or side missions that required the use of guns, grenades, rocket launchers, and even swords to destroy militia outposts that pepper the map or to simply swipe cargo or people of interest from them.
You can quietly sneak through most of these sections but with an arsenal as generous as this, it’s just a lot more fun to raise chaos. This is not too dissimilar to Hideo Kojima’s last game prior to the Death Stranding series, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. There’s a wide enough tool box to use that lets you sneak and shoot your way out of most encounters.
Surprisingly enough, both parts blend into each other organically and work well. Part of this has to do with the controls, they’re a lot more responsive this time around. So be it sneaking past Beached Things, gunning down brigands, or driving through snowy terrain, each and every aspect of Death Stranding 2’s moment-to-moment gameplay feels good. This takes away any possible friction when swapping between delivering goods and delivering violence.
Along with this, there’s a cohesive, well-thought out storyline that has you hooked from the get go. Without spoiling much, major missions are punctuated by gripping cut-scenes featuring the likes of Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna, and George Miller among others, which flesh out the games plot, character motivations, origins, and more. Sure they anchored me in Death Stranding 2’s unconventional universe of sci-fi and supernatural but I didn’t expect them to impact me the way they did. By the time I reached the end there were several moments that had me swearing in amazement at the events on display.
If the title of this review didn’t give it away, there’s little amiss. My only grouse is that towards the end of the game you’ll have to backtrack quite a bit making a couple of sections feel like a slog. However, there are enough tools around to prevent that. These include teleportation devices, building roads, or monorails, which you get access to as you keep playing the game. If you’re online, you’ll be able to use the structures created by other players too to make your journey less tedious in these instances. And if you're offline, you can use the DHV Magellan, a ship to ferry you between discovered locations which you can also use to rest up between orders or craft new gear.
Between slick gameplay that gave me the freedom to go through missions as I saw fit and impactful cut-scenes that added nuance to Death Stranding 2’s world, the game straddles a fine balance that makes it a joy to play.
All in all, Death Stranding 2 is brilliant. Kojima Productions has crafted an unforgettable tale through the medium of video games. If you’re looking for a story-driven adventure look no further. It doesn’t get much better than this.
