A Noob’s Review of Death Stranding
Death Stranding: What even is that?
Released on 4th November, 2019, Death Stranding remained a PlayStation exclusive for almost half a year before getting a Windows port. Developed by Kojima Productions, it features a post-apocalyptic world where you play the role of a porter, Sam Porter Bridges, tasked with reconnecting scattered colonies of isolated survivors to bring a sense of unity to the planet. And delivering packages, coz he’s a porter (duh). As you proceed with the story, you uncover the secrets behind the mysterious event known as the “Death Stranding”, which brought about the rise of invisible creatures called Beached Things (BTs), and caused strange weather phenomena like Timefall-rain that rapidly ages whatever it touches.
Realistic much?
The graphics were further enhanced in the Director’s Cut version that came out in 2021. There has been a great attention to detail in this game. For example, if you go uphill, the wind coming down will reduce you speed significantly. Compared to having to balance your cargo on your back with both hands, those crawls uphill can be exhausting to look at. Sure, its realistic. But add a couple of BTs chasing after you to pull you down inside their weird black goo, while you’re desperately trying to protect your cargo, and you find yourself cursing at the realism. Or maybe that was just me. And always check for rainbows. They alert you about a Timefall in advance, as it damages cargo and also brings BTs with it.
Why are we still here? Just to suffer.
The game is unique in that it blends elements of survival games, RPGs, and stealth games. The narrative explores the themes. The concept of death is different in this game. When you are killed, you don’t get any “Game Over” screens. You are instead transported to another realm, the “Seam”-a place where people cross over from the living to the dead, and you have to find your way back to your body by following a golden thread. The handprints seen all over his body are said to be the number of times he has repatriated, with a new handprint showing on him after each revival.
Go make friends.
One of the central themes in Death Stranding is the importance of human connection. Most of the time, you are going to cities farther and farther away, trying to bring them back into the chiral network. Another interesting take on this is the online component the game includes, allowing you to trace the paths taken by other players and share supplies and safe houses, without ever physically encountering one another. Wherever you go, you can see bridges and roads built by others who once treaded the same path as yours.
Hope. Indispensable for survival.
The game also delves into the concept of grief and how it affects the human psyche. All the characters have suffered losses and struggling to survive, which brings us to the next theme, hope. The world has become bleak and desolate. Dangers lurk outside the cities, and even inside, the people suffer from various illnesses. Medicines have to be transported from one place to another by porters, and there are MULEs waiting to loot you. But the people still continue to work for a better future. The mission of Bridges, to connect all the cities together and rebuild society represents determination. The common people hope that the porters will reach their cities safely, with their cargo intact. The porters hope they won’t encounter any MULEs or BTs. And the biggest of all hopes is placed on you. Reconnecting the cities together to build a new America.
As if it wasn’t complex enough.
The sequel to Death Stranding is shaping up to be just as strange as the original. Its title is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and its due to launch in 2025. Sam returns as the protagonist, his mission this time being expanding the chiral network to new territories beyond America. The trailer introduces new characters like a puppet companion. Kojima’s signature surrealism shines through with moments like Higgs wielding a guitar-shaped railgun. The mobile base DHV Magellan and the various guns suggest expanded gameplay options. While the plot remains mostly vague, we can expect a story steeped in mystery, cinematic brilliance and metaphorical depth, just like its predecessor.
Should you play this game?
Kojima is well known for his complex plots, and Death Stranding is no different. It’s a lot to wrap one’s head around, and it turns out that even those deeply involved in the game may not have fully understood everything. And apparently, even Kojima himself didn’t understand anything. The game’s narrative is both thought-provoking and emotional, and it provides a unique perspective on what it means to be human. While the game’s mechanics may not be for everyone, its story and themes are sure to leave a lasting impression on those who play it.
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