Death Stranding 2 Review: My Thoughts on the Original

Let’s begin with the narrative — arguably the most intricate and polarizing component of Death Stranding. This was, in fact, the element I found most compelling. I fully immersed myself in its ever-expanding lexicon of sci-fi concepts and ultimately formed a strong connection to its central characters. It's definitely a story that rewards investment, and while it can feel somewhat opaque during the early, slower hours, I became completely engrossed by the final act. Sam’s bond with Lou, along with the evolving relationship between Cliff Unger and Die-Hardman, particularly resonated with me. Die-Hardman’s concluding scene, masterfully portrayed by Tommie Earl Jenkins, ranks among the most emotionally powerful performances I’ve experienced in gaming. And the rest of the cast? Equally exceptional — from Margaret Qualley’s dual roles to Lea Seydoux’s complex portrayal of Fragile. I’m especially excited to see new faces joining the ensemble this time around, particularly Elle Fanning as the mysterious Tomorrow — though I’ll go ahead and say it: I already don’t trust her one bit.

Certainly, there’s an epic scale at play here — world-altering events, massive oil monsters, and all that comes with it — but this is precisely the kind of science fiction and post-apocalyptic storytelling that speaks to me most: sweeping global narratives grounded in intimate, human experiences. Think Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival or Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Death Stranding effortlessly blends awe-inspiring moments — whether they stem from looming cosmic threats or simply cresting a hill to the sounds of Low Roar — with deeply personal conversations that root the spectacle in emotional authenticity. It’s those universal themes — birth, death, hope, and grief — that make the experience so resonant, regardless of how much futuristic jargon gets thrown your way over the course of its roughly 40-hour runtime.

This is exactly the type of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic storytelling that connects with me — grand narratives built on deeply personal journeys.“In terms of gameplay, recent hands-on previews suggest we're in for more of that Metal Gear-inspired tactical espionage action in Death Stranding 2, which genuinely excites me. Because no matter how invested I became in the story, I’d be dishonest if I said I didn’t find the original’s gameplay experience grueling at times. In fact, it was the very reason I initially walked away from Death Stranding back in 2019. My first attempt lasted only a few hours before I decided that trudging through the wilderness just wasn’t clicking for me. The cycle of setting out on a hike, crossing rivers and climbing mountains, only to arrive at yet another mundane delivery point quickly grew tiresome — especially during what felt like an endless third act.

However, I’m grateful I gave it another shot a couple of years later, this time playing through the Director’s Cut in full. That version significantly improved my experience, thanks to deeper combat mechanics and new tools like the companion bot and catapult, which added much-needed variety. Additionally, the presence of partially constructed highways, ladders, and bridges — made possible by the online Chiral network — made traversal far smoother than at launch. As I progressed and expanded my arsenal of tools, the experience became increasingly enjoyable. Zipping around on a motorcycle and setting up zipline networks brought a new level of fluidity to the game. I truly hope many of these enhancements are available right from the start in Death Stranding 2.

Exploring the world of *Death Stranding* ultimately proved rewarding, but I still never fully embraced its combat system. Sure, chucking blood bombs and urine grenades at oily lions was amusing, but BT encounters often felt like a chore. As a result, I avoided direct confrontation whenever possible — a valid approach, but one that made rainy weather particularly frustrating. I also tended to evade human enemies, whose yellow hazmat suits usually signaled tedious stealth scenarios. Therefore, I’m encouraged by reports that *Death Stranding 2* will offer a more action-oriented experience, with a broader arsenal and more dynamic ways to handle threats. I’m not expecting Sam to become a one-man army capable of mowing down waves of enemies, but I am eager to wield a bit more firepower this time instead of constantly sneaking past danger.

To sum it up: I deeply appreciated the world and characters of Death Stranding, but the moment-to-moment gameplay rarely felt consistently engaging. I liked the game — just not loved it. Still, I’m incredibly excited to dive into Death Stranding 2. From what we’ve seen so far, the story appears rich with intrigue, and the visual spectacle seems destined to deliver the kind of cinematic flair that only Hideo Kojima’s team can create. My hope is that this time, the gameplay can match the ambition of its cutscenes and keep the experience immersive between those beautifully crafted narrative beats. We’ll all find out soon enough — stay tuned for my full review of Death Stranding 2 dropping on June 23rd.