Death Stranding defied expectations, for better or worse, five years ago

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Five years have passed since then Death Stranding released It's been five years since Hideo Kojima's eponymous studio, Kojima Productions, wowed and disappointed millions waiting for the next big thing ever since. Metal Gear Solid he died




Death Stranding it is not Metal Gear Solid— not even close. It's a game about, essentially, delivering packages, maintaining cargo, and walking—lots and lots of walking. There is almost no combat in the game and few combats lack complexity Metal Gearits stealth-action gameplay. Kojima has traded emotional political thrillers and high-stakes espionage for full-on science fiction and magical realism that support a story about humanity and how people can get along with each other. It's the best game ever made. Or maybe it's one of the worst.

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Death Stranding: Remembering an Unashamedly Daring Video Game


Death Stranding was not what anyone expected

Born from the ashes of the tragically abandoned for, Death Stranding was sold almost entirely on Kojima's prestige. Starring A-listers like Norman Reedus, Guillermo del Toro and Mads Mikkelsen, the game was as star-studded and tantalizing as it was confusing, with its trailers doing little to illuminate its cerebral story and unconventional gameplay . However, audiences were captivated by the stunning photorealistic graphics, Iceland-inspired world design, and typical “Kojima-isms” such as a baby carried on the protagonist's chest and another ocean-themed world.

When it finally launched, Death StrandingIts bizarre story and gameplay left many players scratching their heads. Nobody changed – pre-release footage of the game was consistent with the final product – but that was the point: it was hard to believe that 90% of the game was actually just going from point A to point A. B. Detractors argued that this premise was a disappointing step away from the fast and open freedom of Kojima's last project, Metal Gear Solid 5and the newsworthy story has also been criticized for being unnecessarily convoluted and obtuse.


Absurd dialogue is also a frequently criticized aspect of
Death Stranding
his story, with the infamous “Princess Beach” line being specifically teased.

Death Stranding succeeds despite its weirdness

No one can argue that Death Stranding it's not a weird game. It bucks many of the trends one would associate with AAA games, such as combat and fast-paced gameplay, but in doing so, offers a truly singular experience that can't be found anywhere else. Death StrandingIts micromanagement gameplay, where meticulous equipment maintenance and route planning are crucial to success, strikes a strong balance between soothing and engrossing as players confront the vastness of what was once America, tasked with rebuilding it step by step one step away. And it's narrative, while certainly theatrical and bizarre at times, is inventive, intelligent and moving.


Death Stranding had the misfortune (or perhaps the benefit) of launching just before a global pandemic. As such, many of its narrative themes, such as isolation and the gradual deterioration of intimate human relationships, strike resonant chords that they probably wouldn't have otherwise. However, the game focuses on the very real human struggles of loneliness, pain and disillusionment, being far more emotionally relevant and ironically grounded than the long-running political story of Metal Gear the franchise.

Kojima Productions has tied a thick, tangled ball of yarn Death Strandingand it may never be fully revealed, but the game does it so well. More than anything, it's an immeasurably important project just for its audacity, because it dares to be unconventional, even to a fault, in an industry dominated by trite versions designed by committee, fine-tuned to be equally inoffensive. and finally fade. as possible. As they say, a game for everybody is a game for nobody and Death Stranding it's definitely not a game for everyone. But for those who connect with it, it's a remarkable journey and undoubtedly a triumphant return for Kojima.


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