By Sam Coles:
There are some games that are polarising experiences which
isn’t a bad thing, as they can lead to some unique experiences. This was my
initial thought process when I first played Death Stranding, a game that is odd
to say the least as it is as Hideo Kojima as Hideo Kojima can get but it is an
oddly compelling game which I lost myself in for hours. Now this is not a
review of the game because at the time of writing I have yet to finish the
game, this is more of initial first thoughts of the game so let’s get into it.
Death Stranding takes place in a post-apocalyptic America
after the titular event where the dead live as an invisible entity, where you
have rain called “Time Fall” that ages people rapidly. You play as Sam Porter
Bridges as portrayed by Norman Reedus, where he is part of a courier service
delivering aid to various cities across America as society are now protected
within city walls. Sam is special as the ghostly entities known as “BTs” have a
special interest in him, and he unlike others can sense them due to his “Dooms”
where has a low level ability of sensing them as I mentioned. He runs into a
woman named Fragile at the start of the game, where her Doom levels allow her
to actually see the BTs.
The story is interesting, it’s shrouded in mystery as you find
yourself with more questions than answers; this is not a bad thing as the game
continues to string you along with its bizarre world and characters where Sam
seems to be the only normal person within the scenario.
Now the gameplay is where it has people within the gaming
space split, some say it is a glorified and pretentious walking simulator while
others say it is a relaxing and explorative game. I have to say I fall into the
latter category, yes there is a lot of walking as you deliver packages, but
there is something oddly compelling about the gameplay it has that just one
more delivery mentality about it. The gameplay loop sees you take on contracts
from a terminal within a city and then you plot the best route, you will get
into combat encounters as bandits in the wilderness will try and steal your
cargo, fortunately you can kick seven shades of blue out of them.
As you traverse the baron wasteland you have to contend with
different environments and obstacles, because you are playing as a normal human
and not a super soldier so you will lose your balance on hills or if you are
carrying too much. Now this sounds laborious, but you get into a rhythm when
walking and suddenly you start to wobble like a Jenga tower, to then save your
balance at the last minute. What makes this great is the community, as you walk
around you will find certain objects and structures left by other players and
these can make your journey easier. These can range from ladders to help climb
steep inclines quicker or get across gaps and rivers faster, post boxes to drop
off lost cargo or ropes to help you get down slopes in a more speedy fashion.
It reminds me of Metal Gear Solid V’s multiplayer in the campaign, although
everyone is not trying to steal from you but instead are trying to help you. It
feels alive and diegetic within the game’s world, as it feels as if it is a
part of the game’s world.
What stood out to me when I first booted up the game was the
presentation, and my lord this is easily one of the best looking games I have
played on the PlayStation 4. Hideo Kojima’s insane attention to detail shines
through yet again, the character models look believable with every face
movement captured from a slight smirk to flash of anger and annoyance. The
world is absolutely beautiful, from the deserted grasslands you start off in to
the more cold tundra in the mountains. Every detail is there for a reason, even
down to the walking and running animations as you jog across the world show
subtle details such as Sam losing his balance when he hits uneven ground. It is
absolutely astounding the detail in this game, I haven’t seen this much
attention to the subtle details since Red Dead Redemption II.
I have enjoyed my first few hours with Death Stranding; at
first when the game came out back in 2019 I had zero interest in it. However
now I have played it, it is truly a unique experience and that is something we
don’t often get in video games these days. I can’t wait to carry on with the
story and see where it goes.
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