Death Stranding Review - Hiking with the Dead

Death Stranding is a game of walking and relaxing which might not be to everyone's taste but it certainly is worth checking out 

Death Stranding is the first game by Hideo Kojima after leaving Konami and is currently available on PS4 and the PS4 Pro.The game is set in a post apocalyptic America and has Kojima's trademark dialogues full of exposition and focus on details.

Presentation-

Like I said above the game is set in America after a big explosion(i.e Death Stranding) joined the worlds of the dead and living. So now there are ghosts(i.e BTs) which roam the land and everyone lives in isolated cities or shelters.Our protagonist Sam Porter Bridges is a deliver guy who's job is to rebuild America by delivering stuff to these cities or shelters and connecting them to the chiral network.The story is very interesting and different something that only Kojima can write.The characters are well rounded and all the cast delivers an amazing performance even though alot of the dialogue is redundant,but that's something I expected from Hideo Kojima. The world of Death Stranding is beautifully realised and looks gorgeous the beautiful landscapes offer a serene and fulfilling experience as you walk through them.It even has that Dark souls thing where if you can see something in a distance you can probably go there.The music in the game is also top notch perfectly complementing the scenery as you hike through the world although it only plays at specific times.I hope they add a portable media player at some point  that would make the experience even better.

Gameplay-

The core gameplay loop of Death Stranding is delivering things from point A to point B. The simple task however is very deep as you have to keep in mind a lot of things while travelling like managing your equipment load and what tools to bring along with you.The beautiful world becomes hostile terrain when you have to walk through a rocky mountain while carrying fragile cargo on your back and need to make sure you don't fall over.As you progress through the game you'll unlock more equipment and tools like a floating carrier to make your job easier.You'll also unlock vehicles mainly bike and truck to help but they can be difficult to control without proper roads.Speaking of which the chiral network allows you to print plenty of structures to help you on your way like a bridge,zipline or the afromentioned roads and here the multiplayer element of the game comes into play.

 The game has asynchronous multiplayer where players can not see each other but can interact with putting down signs like in Dark Souls.Another benefit is that players can actually help building structures for other players for example a bridge I made in my game will appear in some other people's game as well making their travel easier.Its a good system and encourages camaraderie among players as they help each other.A major hazard to your deliveries is the Timefall a special rain that accelerates aging for what it touches.Not only does it ruin your cargo containers it also invites  BTs.BTs are basically ghosts that you can not see with or naked eye.the only way to know where they are is with the help of the baby you have strapped to your chest.When they appear your only choice is to sneak through them while crouching and holding your breath when they are close, although later on you get the means to defeat them by throwing you fluids at him (yes that goes for blood aswell as your pee).There are also human enemies in the game that try to kill you or steal your cargo.

The game gives you ample ways to deal with them as well like using stealth or non lethal weaponry

like the bola gun or riot shotgun but no incentive is given to actually fight them.You can negate their scanner with your own and pass through their camps unmolested.Even you if you do get detected they are not that aggressive and it is easier to throw a smoke bomb and run.Even the bosses don't pose any threats and are mostly there for spectacle rather than challenge(there are a few exceptions but I don't wanna spoil it).Which brings me to the main gripe I had with Death Stranding that the combat felt out of place.Most of the game is delivering stuff and that's where the game shines balancing your cargo,planning your route etc. the combat however decent and varied feels out of place in a game like this.

 Verdict-

Death Stranding is not a game for everyone it rewards those who play it with patience and punishes those who try to rush it.It has a good story to keep you hooked even if it can be a little drawn out at some points(namely chapter 3 and the end).The combat might feel like a lurch but all in all I found the mere act of delivering cargo a weirdly engaging and satisfying experience.Death Stranding is different from the usual Triple A scene and I highly recommend checking it out.