Hideo Kojima's long-awaited game, which has been shrouded in much secrecy, has been out for a good number of weeks now. Back when content was just being teased and trailers were being released, no one had any idea what was going on. Now that the game is out, we finally understand... sort of. A bit. Kinda.
THE PLOT
The game takes place in the post-apocalyptic United States wherein Beached Things or BTs roam. These ghostlike creatures come from The Beach, which is a bridge to the afterlife, but they find themselves also roaming the Earth where they cause "voidouts" when consuming a dead body that hasn't been cremated. They also cause rain called Timefall, which makes things deteriorate and age rapidly, thus destroying buildings and structures. With people living in secluded cities known as KNOTs and a few joining the United Cities of America, most if not all rely on Bridges, a company which sends out porters who traverse the vast landscape to deliver goods to and from different cities. Sam Porter Bridges, the character the players takes control of and who's played by The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, is one of these porters, and after a string of events, is tasked to connect the cities all across America by going to each of them and uploading them into something called the Chiral Network, which I would explain but it would require another page or two.
THE GAMEPLAY AND GRAPHICS
If it wasn't obvious already, there is so much to unpack -- so many themes, so many stories, so much stuff going on. Then again, if you know how Kojima does his games, you wouldn't be surprised. It shouldn't be a shocker as well that the game looks incredibly beautiful. You'll be spending a lot of time taking in breathtaking vistas and walking around the gorgeous landscapes so you'll understand what I'm talking about once you play the game if you haven't already.
It's difficult to describe what kind of game Death Stranding is because there really is nothing like it out there. It's very Kojima, seeing as Metal Gear Solid was also difficult to describe. Technically, it's a delivery simulator, which sounds ridiculous but that is pretty much what you do in this game. You have to get your cargo from one city to another in good condition and sometimes within a time limit. Of course, what with the apocalyptic setting, it's not exactly easy. You've got those pesky BTs who will attack you in certain areas. At least you've got your Bridge Baby or BB to help you out -- yes, that's the baby in the container you've been seeing. It helps you sense these ghostly creatures. You've also got bandits who will do anything to get your cargo because apparently they're some sort of cargo fetishists.
But the real challenge here is the terrain. You've got mountains to climb, rivers to cross and rocky terrain to walk and when you've got so much cargo on your back, planning is essential. This is also where the game's iconic feature comes into play. While being a single-player game, you should definitely play it with an internet connection because the game not only allows you to build structures like roads and bridges so travelling will be made easier, but it also allows you to see that structures other players built, which helps you out.
VERDICT
Hideo Kojima has done it yet again and given us a game that's unlike any other out there. Death Stranding's plot and mechanics can be described as odd and playing an apocalyptic delivery guy seems like a weird concept. This may be the reason why the game is an acquired taste -- some will like it, others will find it repetitive. However, despite being initially weirded out, the game works for me. There's something satisfying about hauling kilos upon kilos of cargo on your back, walking through beautiful landscapes and successfully making deliveries. I can't really pinpoint what made the game so enjoyable, but then again, the point is to enjoy it.
Rating: 4 STARS
