Death Stranding 2 Getting Bigger, Better, But Familiar Too

After yesterday's much-anticipated presentation, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach looks like it will be even bigger and better than the first game, but fans of the first game will still feel right at home. During the showcase, new gameplay segments and beautiful cutscenes that add to the game's engaging story were showcased. 

The story looks interesting, but what really gets me excited is seeing how the gameplay builds on what made the first Death Stranding so special. At its core, Death Stranding 2 builds on the basic mechanics of the first game while making them much bigger. For instance, the presentation showed a scene where a small earthquake caused rocks to fall.

The game's creator, Hideo Kojima, said that if such an earthquake happened on a snowy mountain, it would set off an avalanche. When played on the PS5 Pro, this dynamic environmental detail makes the game feel more realistic and immersive. But the game will also have parts that feel familiar, especially with the new character, Neil. Early glimpses of Neil with soldiers gave us a hint that he might play a similar role to Mads Mikkelsen's infamous villain from the first game. Kojima said nice things about Mads's part and said Neil would do the same.

During Neil's gunfight, which was a lot like the original game's combat, you had to focus on the main enemy, who called in more enemies and attacked them over and over until they were defeated. The core loop is still there, even though the number of hits needed may have changed. However, elemental effects on combat (like the fire effects seen in the demo) and a bigger mission scope are new.

Neil can show up on rooftops, so players have to fight Neil on multiple levels instead of just fighting him on the ground like in the first game. Neil's character is also unique in how he looks. When he teleports, he breaks apart like glass, which is a unique design choice that may have something to do with the story's larger themes. 

There was a short clip of the classic delivery game, but it was cut off quickly. Kojima said that deliveries are fun to play but not as much fun to watch, which may be why this basic mechanic wasn't discussed much in the presentation. The two featured gameplay scenes are great examples of how Death Stranding 2 is both bigger and better, and still very much like the first game. People are saying that the sequel is like "Metal Gear 2," which means it's a big step forward, but it also builds on what the first game did.

The main gameplay elements, story structure, and flow are all still there: seismic events, fights with powerful enemies leading a "skull army," and careful travel through difficult terrain. But what does "bigger and better" really mean? The game looks much better now, and there are new tools and weapons to use, such as a handgun that can also be used as a grenade launcher.

The environment changes more, and natural disasters like floods can destroy structures that players have built, forcing them to change quickly. Fans will be used to the pace and feel of getting from point A to point B, even with these changes. It will be a lot like the careful exploration in God of War Ragnarök. Interestingly, Ragnarök was often criticized for feeling "safe" despite its lengthy development. 

Death Stranding 2 may get the same kind of criticism because of how delivery gameplay works. Ultimately, much of the game's fun will stem from the new story elements, characters, and gameplay layers that add depth to the old formula.