Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2 Delivers Stronger Gameplay and Emotional Depth

5 hours ago 4

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Death Stranding arrived at a pivotal moment. First released in 2019 on PlayStation 4, the game was widely regarded as introducing a new genre.

Unlike most games that emphasize competition and combat, Death Stranding encouraged players to collaborate online. Although they never meet in person, players work together to build roads, bridges, and other structures that help ease each other's journey. This cooperative approach earned it the title of a “strand game.”

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by mysterious entities known as BTs, or Beached Things, which kill on contact.

The environment is further damaged by "timefall" rain, which rapidly ages anything it touches — from people to infrastructure. Survivors have retreated into isolated bunkers, either in groups or alone, as civilization collapses.

The protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, played by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, is given the task of reconnecting these isolated communities across what was once the United States.

Using a digital network called the Q-pid, he brings survivors back online. Sam also serves as a courier, delivering essential packages to the bunkers.

He is accompanied by Lou, a seven-month-old fetus in an artificial womb that helps him detect the invisible BTs. By the end of the story, Sam succeeds in postponing the apocalypse and chooses to live in seclusion while raising Lou.

An excerpt from the game Death Stranding 2 (Doc. PS5)

Death Stranding was created and directed by Hideo Kojima, a renowned game designer from Tokyo best known for the Metal Gear Solid series. Kojima, who pioneered the stealth-action genre, left Konami in 2015 and founded his own studio, Kojima Productions. Death Stranding was their first release.

On June 26, 2025, Kojima released the sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. The game picks up eleven months after the events of the first title. This time, Sam must reconnect cities in Mexico and Australia.

As in the original game, the primary gameplay involves delivering cargo between settlements. Sam traverses challenging terrain such as rivers, deserts, and snowy mountains. Players must carefully manage the weight and balance of their loads while navigating these landscapes.

While the first game introduced the world and mechanics of strand gameplay, the sequel offers more freedom and enjoyment.

“The result is a game that is truly more enjoyable and free from frustration compared to its predecessor,” said Pladidus Santoso, an editor at Kokang Gaming.

Pladidus pointed out that elements which frustrated players in the original — such as the overwhelming presence of BTs and the harsh effect of timefall rain on cargo — have been reduced in the sequel.

Tempo had the opportunity to play the game earlier this month, thanks to access provided by PlayStation Asia. As noted by Pladidus, Death Stranding 2 offers a more player-friendly experience.

Sam starts the game with weapons and traverses terrain that is more suitable for using vehicles such as motorcycles and trucks. Later in the game, a new, more mobile vehicle becomes available.

A key improvement is the presence of companions. Unlike the solitary journey of the first game, Sam is now frequently accompanied by others with whom he can converse and strategize. This helps reduce the sense of isolation felt in the original.

The experience of playing Death Stranding 2 goes beyond traditional gaming. With a total gameplay time of around 50 hours — some players may finish in 40 — more than 9 hours consist of cinematic cutscenes. It feels like a feature-length film blended with a novel and a music album, set in the surreal world Kojima created.

Kojima collaborated with French musician Woodkid (Yoann Lemoine) to produce a 50-track original soundtrack. As players complete certain missions, they unlock the ability to compile personalized playlists to accompany their journeys.

To help players stay immersed in the storyline, the game includes a “story recap” feature that summarizes events from the first installment.

While this allows new players to jump into Death Stranding 2 directly, it is still recommended to play the original for a deeper emotional connection with Sam, Lou, and their allies.

The first Death Stranding was often mocked with labels such as “courier simulator” or “walking simulator,” and many critics noted it was not for everyone. On Metacritic, it received a respectable average score of 82 from 111 critics.

Those nicknames still follow the sequel, but its reception is significantly better. Death Stranding 2 earned a score of 90 from 112 critics on Metacritic and was labeled a “must-play game.” It holds the highest rating among all AAA games released this year — a testament to its quality.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach