So many ideas have been explored in AAA video games, leaving little room for new ideas, but it is changing, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a testament to that. It all began with Dead Stranding as it redefined what storytelling and experimentation with new ideas mean. It was the first game from Kojima Productions, and it changed the way games are perceived. The first Death Stranding was a game like nothing else.
It was an open-world game with some really bold ideas that separated it from the rest. The experience it delivered was decisive, which could either click or not at all. It was a different game, and a lot of players were divided. However, for those who clicked with it, they were having a blast with it. With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, these ideas are getting repeated.
It is a game that is trying to recapture the magic of the original while going a step further. For the most part, it does things right and adds stuff while keeping all that made the original such a great experience. There is an improvement in some of the things that players didn’t like in the previous game. It makes you wonder, Is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Worth It? Let’s find out.
Premise (Spoiler Free)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes place a few months after the ending of the first one. Sam and the bridge baby are in hiding from both UCA and others.
However, he is pushed into another long mission that will take him on a long journey as he reconnects the world and makes deliveries. Hideo Kojima has a unique storytelling style, and that is on full display here. It also means that it might not be the game for everyone. The engaging storytelling, amazing landscapes, and captivating characters are for those who like his style of storytelling.
The game can get really quirky at times and can feel inconsistent, but that has mostly a positive impact. To top it all off, the game has some memorable characters. These characters are played by some famous celebrities. Each one of them brings something new to the table with their performances.
The dialogues and emotional moments come together, adding a cinematic edge that makes it different than others.
The Map
While completing his tasks, Sam will go to entirely new locations in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. UCA has been reconnected and established as a new nation in the world that is on the brink of extinction. This new mission takes him to Mexico and Australia. It not only adds narrative depth but also takes players to completely different maps.
The open world of the game is a step up not only in design but in terms of environmental diversity as well. The design is more confident and does a good job of utilizing transversal mechanics. The new map areas, Mexico and Australia, have more population density (In terms of structure, with more things to do and see)
It has been the series’ norm to present beautiful-looking environments with very few people to see. It is always about navigating through the environmental obstacles, which range from dense forests to treacherous mountains to scorching deserts to streams of rivers and more.
A Kojima Game
The over-the-top, Kojima-style storytelling is back. Death Stranding 2 goes on the same route, but even though it does not change the core idea, things are shaken up here and there. It brings enough changes to make it somewhat different mechanically, and there are more mechanics. Though not game-changing, it’s enough to make it different.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a good game for players who liked the first one, but the real test is whether players who didn’t like the first one will like it or not. It wouldn’t be surprising if a decent bunch of players were left unsatisfied. This new game builds upon the core mechanics but offers more variety and more thought after pacing. The delivery-focused gameplay has been ironed out while not losing sight of things that are important.
Combat and Stealth
This time around, the game places emphasis on stealth and combat. Good news for all those lamenting the first game for the lack of combat. It results in new kinds of activities and encounters that were present in the first game or had very little of it.
You will frequently come across the areas being controlled by enemy encampments or outlaws. You then have three choices: fight your way across, sneak past, or find an alternate longer route to avoid the encampment altogether.
Don’t get your hopes up because Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is not a combat or stealth-focused game by any stretch. The focus is still on transversal-based challenges and making deliveries. Despite that, combat has enough influence that it can’t be ignored.
Stealth has been improved a lot, and anyone who likes stealth will have a blast with it, but it should not come as a surprise since the creator of Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima, is leading the charge. The game sticks in the middle ground of player abilities and challenge. Even if the stealth is challenging, the game gives you the tools to deal with these challenges. When you figure out a way to safely go through an encounter, it feels rewarding.
The combat is better, it’s more responsive, and encounters are tighter, but it is not as impactful as stealth.
Exploration
There are major upgrades when it comes to environmental traversal and open-world exploration. Events such as earthquakes, sandstorms, wildfires, catastrophic rainfall, avalanches, and stuff like that are common. Each one of these events brings a new variety that plays an important part in the gameplay loop. It results in new obstacles that you now have to overcome.
The day and night cycle of the game adds more to the dynamism that the game tries to portray. It results in a more robust experience both mechanically and design-wise. Environmental changes and lighting work together to keep the experience varied. It has an impact on how routes are planned and the achievement of objectives. It does not feel overwhelming, but the changes are enough to make the world feel alive.
The weapons, vehicles, and tools you use to traverse the map have also been improved. There is even more emphasis on vehicles than in the previous game. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach wants to present options so players can approach it the way they see fit. When all these improvements and features come together, exploration and traversal feel better mechanically compared to the original.
The multiplayer Social Strand system is back. Players can collaborate with each other to make map traversal easier for each other. Stuff like bridges, roads, outposts, and others can be established that can be used by other players. The improvement you make in the map is beneficial to both you and all the players in the Social Strand network.
Like the other elements, it elevates the overall experience. The aforementioned improvements play a major role in making the overall experience better.
Verdict (Is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Worth It?)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an amazing-looking game. The combination of art design and the good use of tech results in some amazing sites that are intricately designed and are worth applauding. The design of the world and the characters in it play an important role in elevating the feeling. Whether it is landscapes or traversing them, all can leave a lasting feeling.
There are no issues when it comes to the performance, and the game runs smoothly, which is rare to see these days. The soundtracks also don’t lag behind, which is a combination of some original tracks and some licensed ones.
This sequel builds upon the distinct foundation of the first game. It improves upon stuff and adds new things when needed. It results in a more engaging, diverse, and mechanically interesting gameplay. There are a lot of different topics that the game touches on narratively. Despite working on an already set foundation, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach can be a divisive experience.
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