Death Stranding - Review

"When you look death in the eye, will you blink?” – A review of Death Stranding. 

Hideo Kojima is a legend in the gaming industry. Best known for Metal Gear Solid, Kojima is able to blend cinematic story telling with gorgeous designs and complex, philosophical plots, making his games absolutely incredible. Death Stranding is no exception.

Death Stranding is a stunning, incredibly ambitious action-adventure game where you play as Sam, a delivery man who is reconnecting America after a terrible event known as the Death Stranding. The lines between life and death have been blurred, a terrifying rain called timefall ages anything it touches, and invisible creatures known as BTs have been unleashed on the continent. Tasked with delivering supplies and rebuilding the Chiral Network to rebuild human connections, Sam travels across the ravaged yet incredibly beautiful landscape to aid humanity and to help our species to survive.

At its core, Death Stranding is a game about human connection. Isolated communities become connected again, human bonds are formed, and it all happens against a gorgeous backdrop. The game does deal with difficult themes, such as loneliness, isolation and existential dread, but there’s also a beautiful element of hope as you realise that maybe, just maybe, humanity can rebuild.

The incredible atmosphere is massively aided by the soundtrack. A variety of artists contributed to the game, but Low Roar are a real stand out and have gone on to become one of my favourite bands. Their music is ambient and moody, perfect for a game of this nature, and coupled with the sounds of the landscape around you it’s easy to become fully immersed in the world you find yourself in.

The gameplay of Death Stranding is divisive, but I personally really enjoyed it. A lot of the time you’re exploring, having to manage your inventory and balance difficult packages to make sure they reach their destination safely. Sure, there are tense moments when you encounter BTs and hostile human factions, but they’re not the focus of the game at all. Instead, your main focus is route planning, meeting others and even creating structures that other players can use, which is such a satisfying feature which aids with the theme of helping others and building connections.

Death Stranding isn’t perfect. It can get a little repetitive, and the pacing is slow, but I really don’t mind this. It’s more than just a walking simulator; it’s a playable art piece full of photo realism and incredible details such as weather effects and the details and mannerisms of characters. This is a game which doesn’t focus on traditional action but instead focusses on the journey and the importance of forming and keeping connections with others.

I really loved this game, but I find it difficult to define or categorize. It’s cinematic, challenging and incredibly emotionally charged. If you’re looking for high octane action, this isn’t for you, but if you want someone a little bit different, something with incredible writing, a heartfelt plot, a gorgeous soundtrack and a deeply emotional and thoughtful experience, I cannot recommend this game enough.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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