2019’s Death Stranding became a surprising phenomenon, reaching over 20 million players worldwide. While it’s not a surprise that a Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear) game was a critical success, it was such a bold, original take that featured dozens of hours of transporting cargo to connect a post-apocalyptic world and was supremely strange — even for Kojima’s standards. The series is now back for a second go with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which further fleshes out its unique open world gameplay and tells a brilliant new story pondering connection, grief, and more.
On the Beach (likely a reference to the 1959 apocalyptic film rather than the great Neil Young album) picks up a year after the events of the first game. Players once again assume the role of Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges, who is now taking care of the adorable baby Lou and has found himself south of the border. He quickly finds himself on a new mission, though, which is to connect Mexico and Australia to the Chiral Network as he did with America in the original.
Kojima has always been a stellar storyteller, and Death Stranding 2 is likely his most ambitious tale yet. Film lovers will see plenty of familiar faces, such as Elle Fanning, George Miller (in visual likeness only), and a returning Léa Seydoux, and they’re all used spectacularly throughout the game. While the first game was all about the importance of connection, the sequel is a brilliant look at the much murkier middle ground and how it’s not a wholly positive thing. The original game was breathtakingly prescient, as it was all released before the COVID pandemic, and the fallout is certainly examined here: Can we ever fully recover? Loneliness, communication, and media are all thoroughly explored here, and while it could fall apart in a less skilled storyteller’s hands, Kojima’s utmost sincerity manages to make it all work, even when it can be quite in your face about its themes.
From a gameplay perspective, Death Stranding 2 is quite similar to the original (although the controls have been altered a bit, which can be a bit confusing if you’re jumping from the original to the sequel). It’s all about equipment and item management, as you attempt to go on long treks to deliver goods across a world that is attempting to rebuild. You’ve got to constantly make tweaks and decisions as you go along, as you’re faced with new types of terrain and weather hazards, such as flooding and earthquakes. It winds up building upon the original’s core systems well and is a step up in nearly every regard except for originality.
The game is also breathtakingly gorgeous at times. The visual design is incredible throughout, as some of the Beached Things look terrifying, and there’s a constant sense of wonder as you explore the new areas. While you start off in the Mexican deserts (which can be quite dangerous with the addition of sandstorms), you’ll also find yourself in beautiful forests, rocky mountains, and wastelands. There’s a lot more variety visually, and sometimes you reach a peak of a mountain, and you’ll just want to stare into the horizon, as the game is one of the PlayStation 5’s most impressive titles to date. It’s a true beauty, both visually and thematically.
Death Stranding 2 Review: Final Verdict
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is yet another stellar entry from one of gaming’s greatest minds. The whole team at Kojima Productions has delivered a startling project that is massive in scale, building upon the original’s mechanics in interesting ways. If you own a PS5, take the journey with the two Death Stranding games, as you won’t regret it.
SCORE: 9.5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9.5 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 copy for our Death Stranding 2 review. Reviewed on version 1.003.000.
