Set 11 months after the events of the first game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an engrossing and utterly bizarre game of epic proportions. It is proof that legendary game designer Hideo Kojima is a master of his craft, capable of transporting players back into his signature post-apocalyptic world full of grit, horror and surprises.
Any conclusions and theories you've made from the previous game are quickly unfounded, as new stories and new villains are waiting for you. Porters – get ready, as this sequel delivers something truly exceptional.
Seconds into Death Stranding 2, and I am already tumbling down the side of a mountain. I mistimed my very first step, and so the small task of walking back home feels Herculean in measure. In a game about travelling across rugged terrain, this does not bode well.
As I guide the poor protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, through endless crevices, soothing the baby Lou who is strapped to my suit, I realise that the cult classic game from 2019 is back with a vengeance, somehow adding to the photorealism that made the original game so entrancing.
Despite my bad handling, Sam has a spring in his step. He and Lou have been busy trying to forge a life for themselves on the border of Mexico, just out of reach of detection from the Chiral network. And as we eventually reach home, what awaits brings a smile to my face. House plants dot rooms. Baby toys are scattered on the ground. Family photos decorate the walls.
This quaint life suits Sam, and I'm in no rush to move on from these scenes because deep down, I know the father-daughter harmony will be short-lived. In true post-apocalyptic fashion, the world will never stop needing Sam and Lou.
The polarising storytelling of Hideo Kojima is in full swing
Having successfully reconnected a divided America back together in the first game and preventing a mass extinction in the process, Sam is tasked once more with reconnecting the fringes of society back together, all the while battling with new enemies and monsters.
A surprise visit from an old friend, Fragile, beckons the world-renowned porter to join her new team, Drawbridge. The locations? First in neighbouring Mexico and then in distant Australia. As well as saving humanity, Sam is also on the hunt for answers never addressed in the previous game. And through this, the might, skill and wizardry of Hideo Kojima as a legendary storyteller is front and centre.
The story has been deliberately designed to challenge players. In an interview with Rolling Stone, co-composer Woodkid explained how Kojima changed the storyline halfway through the development. The reason? Test audiences were enjoying it too much. Yes, really.
"We have a problem", Kojima said. "I'm going to be very honest, we have been testing the game with players and the results are too good. They like it too much. That means something is wrong; we have to change something.
"If everyone likes it, it means it's mainstream. It means it's conventional. It means it's already pre-digested for people to like it. And I don't want that. I want people to end up liking things they didn't like when they first encountered it, because that's where you really end up loving something."
While I won't spoil the intricacies of the story that lies before you, suffice it to say the narrative is chock-full of twists, most impossible to anticipate. New characters appear with untold abilities and introduce unthinkable questions. For every 'Why?' I ask throughout the game's lengthy campaign, I could hear Kojima's answer, 'Why not?'.
Signature delivery gameplay and level design return to torment us
For the uninitiated deliverymen among us, Death Stranding 2 is a game all about travel. The world is a hostile place, with civilisation retreating to the fringes. As a porter, Sam has the arduous job of carrying cargo from A to B, often on foot, sometimes by flashy vehicle or monorail, slowly reconnecting isolated pockets of the world back to the Chiral network.
Sounds simple? Well, it's anything but.
As relaxing as you think a walk in the Australian outback might be, otherworldly beasts known as BTs (beached things) slink in the shadows, making passageways a death sentence. These souls have been stranded in the living world and are often only detectable at close range when you're inches away, and escape is impossible. They bring the supernatural to the game and will keep your heart rate elevated.
To make matters worse, bandits also roam the lands, scavenging supplies from unsuspecting innocents. And the terrain itself you need to traverse has somehow become even more cruel and twisted than you thought possible. Flat land does not exist anywhere in Australia, it seems.
At all times, your screen will be an endless landscape of rocks, cliffs, debris and natural hazards. One wrong move, one mistimed jump, or a corner taken too sharply is all it can take to see poor Sam topple down in a flash, cargo soon following suit. The desperate state of the world is conveyed to you through every step you take. Every hesitant jump feels like it could be your undoing. Every simple stroll takes on immense gravity.
Although Sam can scout routes beforehand and thus get intel on the dangers you 'might' face, you still need to expect the unexpected, as flooding, earthquakes and lethal rain (known as timefall) bring all manner of unwelcome pain. Great.
Thankfully, the series' signature asynchronous Porter system can help preserve your sanity. Throughout your playthrough, the actions of other players can inadvertently help you along your travels, as they leave behind core infrastructure and items around that you can use, help complete deliveries, as well as donate to community resources. Never underestimate the kindness of strangers, and remember that your contribution will help support a future Porter's adventures in the coming days and weeks ahead. You never know how helpful you might be.
An ensemble cast of iconic characters, new and old
At the heart of Death Stranding 2 is a cast of zany characters that bring the post-apocalyptic world to life, and help ground the absolutely bonkers plot that is being served up. While it's hard to accurately describe them without divulging the surprises in store, trust that each one brings the right amount of chaos, villainy or level-headedness needed to press on.
You've no doubt seen the teaser trailers, so it should come as no surprise to know that Troy Baker's Higgs makes a devilish return, albeit with new powers and scores to settle. It seems he's a little vexed by Sam stopping his plans of world destruction in the first game.
Léa Seydoux returns as the scene-stealing Fragile, who, I'll be honest, I could sit, watch and listen to all day. New characters like Neil (Luca Marinelli), Rainy (Shioli Kutsuna), Tomorrow (Elle Fanning), and Dollman (Jonathan Roumie) each bring about as many questions as they do answers about the world of Death Stranding, and are all well able to hold their own in the story's gripping cast.
Appearances from old friends are also aplenty, linking up the two games. While only a few months have passed, trust that a lot has happened to them, and the chance to meet up and swap war stories should excite you. But there needs to be a moment for Norman Reedus, who plays the world's favourite postman, Sam Porter Bridges.
Reedus' performance goes to exceptional lengths in showing just how far Sam is willing to go for answers. Particularly during cut scenes, it's as if the actor is just mere inches away from you, such is the level of photorealism as well as emotion on display. A nomination for his performance at the Game Awards is undoubtedly secured.
A wide variety of missions and combat opens up the world (and fun) of Death Stranding 2
The world of Death Stranding is expansive, to say the least, and people are hungry to reconnect with one another. As such, there is a wide variety of quests that Sam can undertake throughout his adventures. And despite my whinging about falling, I cannot deny it's incredibly entertaining.
Before each mission, Sam must pack his supplies, including the enormous cargo he is about to put his life on the line for. How you organise your items and their collective weight is the difference between succeeding with glowing marks or losing your sanity in the process.
If you're like me and want to be prepared for any eventuality, you'll pack everything and the kitchen sink, mixing a wide selection of guns, grenades, and trusty ladders to face (or avoid) foes. But being overly cautious is a double-edged sword, as you'll have created a leaning tower of cargo strapped to your back, making every movement you make even more hazardous.
An endless library of weapons, gadgets, and enhancements ensures that you're always creative with your aggression. Tackling optional cargo deliveries is also well-advised, as some of the best tools Sam can use are only provided by allies you've earned trust from. And trust me when I say you'll need all the help you can get facing the game's outrageous boss sequences.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach might be Hideo Kojima's masterpiece
Hideo Kojima is a maestro of the bizarre. Just when you think you have a grip on the world of Death Stranding, this sequel arrives to confound you, destroying any conclusions you might have drawn from the original 2019 release.
With Death Stranding 2, you're treated to an engrossing adventure that draws you in quickly from the get-go. Despite being a single-player game, the story feels like it will become a collective experience. And I cannot wait for social media to become awash with abstract theories, each trying to make sense of the artistry you've just experienced.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is available to play on PlayStation 5 on June 26th
