First Impressions
No spoilers in this review; we want to preserve the surprise. We’re about halfway through the third act and it’s already clear that Hideo Kojima has raised the bar even higher, responding forcefully and creatively to the criticisms leveled at the first chapter. Death Stranding 2 is not just a video game, but it is an experience and a journey. At times, it almost seems like you are watching an auteur film, but you are the one experiencing it, step by step.
You realize that you are witnessing something different. The landscapes are breathtaking, the shots seem to have come out of an auteur film, and the pace — slow but hypnotic — captures you without you realizing it. The feeling is that of being inside a film, but with the pad in your hand. This feeling is not limited to the visual part; even some gameplay choices reinforce the idea of a deeply narrative, almost contemplative experience… but with moments of real adrenaline. In fact, compared to the first chapter, Death Stranding 2 contains much more action.
From the very beginning, Death Stranding 2 shows a more dynamic soul with a gameplay that is decidedly more action-oriented. The references to the Metal Gear saga are evident, especially for those who loved the stealth phases and the high-tension missions. However, don’t expect to get by simply by hiding behind a bush; the game is much more demanding. If you carry a two-meter-high tower of packages with you, the enemies will still see you — realism and coherence are the basis of the stealth mechanics.
The world of Death Stranding 2 is more alive, more hostile, but also more fascinating than ever. Another significant novelty concerns the environment itself, which becomes an active enemy to face. There are not only the mysterious BTs that make the journey complicated; nature rebels with force. Torrential rains, sudden earthquakes, landslides, and floods are increasingly frequent and credible events, which test not only your skills, but also your ability to adapt and plan.
Also worth mentioning is an interesting new feature related to the boss fights against the BTs linked to the plot: in case of defeat, the game offers the player a choice. It is possible to restart the fight from the beginning or — for those who are more interested in continuing the story — skip the fight completely without being significantly penalized. This is a solution designed to balance narrative and gameplay, and which makes the experience more accessible without taking away value from the battles themselves.
Another addition that deserves a mention concerns the presence of dialogue choices during some moments of the story. Unfortunately, these options turn out to be more aesthetic than functional; they do not really influence the course of events, nor do they substantially modify the narrative evolution. This is an element that on the one hand enriches the interaction, but on the other leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of those who expect a more incisive decision-making component.
For now, we can say that Kojima has hit the mark, once again.
