Death Stranding Review | One of My All-Time Favorite Games
I’ve played Death Stranding for over 160 hours over two playthroughs. Some of you readers might think I’m a bit crazy. The walking…
I’ve played Death Stranding for over 160 hours over two playthroughs. Some of you readers might think I’m a bit crazy. The walking simulator game? Really? Well, lend me your eyes, and I’ll explain the appeal of this game. Even before that though I’d like to explain that to the probably 95% of you reading this, you will probably not enjoy Death Stranding. You’ll be glad to know why it resonates with people but I don’t recommend it to you. I’m looking for that small 5% with whom Death Stranding will resonate… To them, I say that you’ve found an absolute masterpiece of a game that’s worthy of your mind and your time, and I can’t wait for it to change your life.
So, why 95%? Well, I figure a majority of people will not look at this game beyond the core gameplay, and may even detest it. They won’t like the combat especially. They won’t like the movement systems. This group of people may say Death Stranding is a “point A to point B simulator” and get very frustrated with its mechanics, and I don’t blame them for it. They can be frustrating. I’m not saying 95% of people will always be negative about Death Stranding, but even if some appreciate it artistically, I wager that it’s not everybody’s version of “fun”, and it’s certainly not fast-paced by any means. As for me, It’s the slow burn that I found immensely satisfying, with all the game systems working together on top of this burn, in perfect harmony, to create one of my favorite gaming experiences of all time.
Many say “Death Stranding is a walking simulator” and while that’s a perfectly adequate description, I don’t think it goes deep enough. To me, Death Stranding is a JOURNEY simulator. And a near-perfect one at that.
I’ve always reveled in the journey of my characters in open-world games… Bethesda’s Skyrim is a great example of this, I vividly and fondly remember the vast majority of my time exploring the countryside and scaling impossible mountainsides. Discovering this or that. I never fast traveled… Never even used a horse… It was soothing and cathartic for me to take in the scenery, occasionally find some baddies to fight or loot to grab, and just enjoy my time, seamlessly wandering and living in the world. If you’ve done anything similar, then don’t even bother reading the rest of this and hit buy. You’ll fall in love.
Death Stranding hits that particular dopamine generator in my brain like a ton of bricks. The sheer realism of nature, with its photorealistic rocks, grass, and fauna is astounding. The sound design, especially with the music that kicks in at pinnacle moments makes me agog. All of the fine details they put in this game, to make you feel like you’re Sam, taking this epic journey across the country, sincerely blows my mind. All combined, makes a gaming experience I will never forget. I’ll always be a Porter, and carry the memories and feelings I’ve had in this world until I die. For months after completing the game, I’ve felt emotionally attached to Death Stranding’s “vibes” as it encapsulates feelings of great loneliness (the kind I feel no one can understand), something I have struggled with for years now. The soundtrack to the game I’ll put on repeat for weeks at a time. It’s all remarkably validating in its odd way.
And all that’s not to mention how important I think this game is as an allegory to today, done in true Kojima fashion. Death Stranding has powerful messages about coming together, about the depression and loneliness of being “stranded” or alone, and other really important topics that go beyond this being just a game but a commentary on the world at large, which just continues to drive it home (to me) that it’s one of the most important games of the generation. This practice isn’t necessarily new in games… but these messages hit home for me, and for these modern times.
The world-building is also immaculate. It’s so unique and fresh. I can’t help but also remember when trailers of the game just kept releasing and making the plot more and more elusive. We rarely get new and interesting IP like this, it’s incredible. For the most part, the writing and dialogue help with this as well, but at times I found it lacking, and occasionally very cringeworthy (Fragile’s “catchphrase” and that Mario liner from Amelie near the end of the game make me welcome an early death). Maybe that’s from the wacky Japanese-to-English translation gang but either way… those hurt in my ears.
All in all, if you’ve made it this far and are still considering giving Death Stranding a shot and my words have meant something to you today… I recommend you go for it. Play it with the mindset that it’s more a cathartic experience, rather than a “hyper-fueled fast-paced” game experience, and you’ll do just fine. For those that embark, I envy you, new players. My first time playing blew my mind open at every turn. Enjoy the masterpiece. Let me know what you think. And Keep on Keeping On.
Death Stranding
From legendary game creator, Hideo Kojima comes an all-new, genre-defying experience.deathstrandingpc.505games.com
If you’re interested in hearing me gush even more about Death Stranding, consider listening to the Death Stranding episode of my post-mortem gaming discussion podcast, VOID ARCADE:
Death Stranding - The 120-Hour Perspective by VOID ARCADE
Brando takes a deep dive into Death Stranding and guides you through its plot, appeal, and more, as he relays why he's…podcasters.spotify.com
Originally published at https://backloggd.com.