Hannah Richter

Update after 2nd play through (Nov. 2021): Enjoy still feels too strong a word, but for lack of a better one I enjoyed it more the second time. Knowing the story and mechanics I could focus more on the environment and little details. I still have questions on some of the plot points and I’m still disappointed with it compared to what the trailers teased but overall I’m more satisfied than the first time around. ——— Prefacing this by saying I plan to replay this now that I know what to expect, so my view may change (first played in January 2021). I’m fairly mixed about Death Stranding. On the one hand, I’m supremely disappointed and could go so far as to say I hate it. With all the hype and the obscure teasers we were given, I expected much more bizarre horror and was incredibly excited to play it. On that front it did not deliver (pun sort of intended). It is absolutely a hiking/walking simulator crossed with a parenting simulator. The teasers were easily some of the best parts and the rest is long, arduous, and I found myself actively falling asleep while playing on more than one occasion (although I did tear up at the final chapter with BB/Lou). The mechanics are…aggravating to say the least. I love some realism as far as game physics go but this pushed it too far. I spent much of my focus just trying not to fall and drop everything rather than enjoying the gorgeous scenery or watching out for MULEs and BTs. Not exactly the kind of engagement I was hoping for (also especially with all the moments that broke the fourth wall). I did grow attached to some of the characters but felt like there could have been much more depth to them, aside from maybe Heartman and Cliff (Mads’ character). And I still have a number of questions about the world and the death stranding itself. I will admit that I didn’t read much of the optional content (emails, reports, etc) so some of that could be covered, however I feel like main world building details should be unmissable content. On the other hand though, if I shove aside everything I wanted from it, forget every expectation I had, and focus on what Kojima was trying to do and say with it, it’s brilliant and I love it. It’s a subtle but effective dive into human connection and the lengths we go to to pull ourselves from isolation and loneliness. What better concept to play through and reflect on during a global pandemic when the world’s population is largely isolated?