Anticipated Sequel, Death Stranding 2, promises features aligned with ideal expectations
In this upcoming year, Death Stranding 2 seems to be one hell of a game, flying under the radar despite its upcoming release on PlayStation. Perhaps it's due to the divisive nature of Kojima's first apocalyptic mailman simulator, Death Stranding, which either left you hating it or loving it (even earning a Game of the Year award). As someone who fell into the latter camp, sinking endless hours into road projects and frantic package rescues, I'm relieved to hear that Death Stranding 2 is shaping up nicely according to various outlets.
Attendees at a four-day "Death Stranding boot camp" at Kojima Productions HQ played a whopping 30 hours of Death Stranding 2! If there's such a thing as too much preview access, then Kojima is knocking on its door. While no one was able to capture their own footage, below you'll find my takeaways from combing through multiple videos and write-ups, as well as a handy round-up of everyone's coverage for your perusal.
Let's dive in, shall we?
Some Metal Gear Solid action, anyone?
If you analyzed all the previews in a word cloud, "Metal Gear" would likely dominate. That's because folks were surprised to find that Death Stranding 2 offers a more significant number of stealth and combat options. Bandit camps dot the sequel's maps, as well as missions that require you to infiltrate them. If Metal Gear Solid V's stealth bases sound appealing, then you might enjoy the bandit camps in Death Stranding 2 since they offer rewards for scouting, accommodate aggressive or passive playstyles, and can be approached from any direction.
Even the little stop-motion puppet on Sam's hip gets in on the action, now able to scout areas like an Assassin's Creed eagle. And hey, who doesn't love some eagle scouting?
Say goodbye to boring locations
Kojima Productions hasn't officially shared details, but everyone seems to agree that the biggest part of Death Stranding 2 takes place in Australia. That's quite a change from the Nordic rendition of the United States in the first game, and SkillUp, an Australian YouTuber, even pointed out the snow-capped mountain that seems out of place in the arid homeland. It appears that we can expect more maps, although none have been confirmed yet.
No more hiding from the BTs
I'm still undecided on this point. By avoiding BTs in the first Death Stranding, there was a level of tension and excitement-you'd hold your breath as you crept past invisible BTs, unsure if you were too close, whether to stop moving, or to run. I doubt I'll be facing similar dilemmas in Death Stranding 2, as the new BTs are no longer invisible, now sporting a striking blue shade, making them much easier to spot.
Getting to the good stuff faster
Improved pacing was a hot topic among previews. Even though I didn't mind the slow start in the first game, it's evident that Death Stranding 2 ramps up quicker, with features like the Tri-Cruiser motorcycle becoming accessible earlier. This change should bring more variety to the gameplay experience.
Nine thrilling new features to keep an eye on
- Improved camouflage options allow for better visibility in specific terrains. Nice one, Kojima Productions!
- Sam's abilities can now be customized through a skill tree, providing players with greater control over character development.
- Freedom to shoot guns while driving some vehicles adds a whole new level of excitement to my delivery boy life.
- Customizable trucks will be a gun-toting, cargo-scooping dream!
- A day/night cycle ensures the post-apocalyptic world maintains some semblance of realism.
- The otter hat that lets Sam float gently down rivers is back, because who doesn't want an otter-helmeted delivery boy with water powers?
- Linking two ladders together creates a super-ladder, perfect for reaching those high delivery spots.
- Monorail systems are making an appearance, adding a futuristic twist to infrastructure building.
- An in-game glossary lets players learn about the various elements in the Death Stranding universe, providing a more immersive experience.
In conclusion, Death Stranding 2 looks like it's going to be an exciting sequel with a stronger focus on combat, a faster pace, and various environmental challenges. Let's hope it arrives quicker than Sony's traditional year-or-two-later turnaround for sequels.
Stay tuned for more Death Stranding 2 updates and let the hype continue to build!
Morgan ParkMorgan has been writing for PC Gamer since 2018, first as a freelancer and currently as a staff writer. He has also appeared on sites such as Polygon, Kotaku, Fanbyte, and PCGamesN. Before freelancing, he spent most of high school and all of college writing at small gaming sites that didn't pay him. He's very happy to have a real job now. Morgan is a beat writer following the latest and greatest shooters and the communities that play them. He also writes general news, reviews, features, the occasional guide, and terrible jokes in Slack. Twist his arm, and he'll even write about a boring strategy game. Please don't, though.
- death Stranding 2, a PlayStation-bound game, has been flying under the radar despite its upcoming release, due to the divisive nature of Kojima's first apocalyptic simulator, Death Stranding.
- Attendees at a Death Stranding boot camp played 30 hours of Death Stranding 2, hinting at extensive gameplay.
- Various outlets agree that Death Stranding 2 will offer more stealth and combat options, including Metal Gear Solid-inspired infiltration missions and an Assassin's Creed-like scouting puppet.
- The game's setting appears to shift towards Australia, offering a contrast to the Nordic-inspired United States of the first game.
- BT encounters in Death Stranding 2 might not provide the same level of tension as in the first game, as they no longer are invisible, now appearing with a striking blue shade.
- Death Stranding 2 is expected to have faster pacing, quicker access to features like the Tri-Cruiser motorcycle, and an increased variety in gameplay.
- Morgan Park, a PC Gamer staff writer, shared some new features to anticipate in Death Stranding 2, such as improved camouflage options, a skill tree for customizing Sam's abilities, and the return of the otter hat for floating down rivers.
