Death Stranding 2 is carrying over the worst aspects of the first game

Death stranding 2 is capable of being a strange game, to say the least. It’s the sequel to a brilliant but admittedly rather impenetrable experience that pleased many die-hard Kojima fans, attracted a whole flock of new ones and turned off those not quite ready for its surreal blend of intricate gameplay and off-kilter. . Sci-fi story. So, it’s no surprise that it’s a little bolder, a little stranger and a little more Kojima than ever before, introducing a whole host of new features that are sure to entertain those who loved the first game.

However, while the new incredibly strange Death stranding 2 Features are certainly a fun addition to the game, and a novel change for the sequel, There are a lot of elements that carry over from the first game, and not all of them are great. Kojima has clearly evolved Death stranding 2 In very interesting ways, but he also kept some of the worst aspects of the first game. While they aren’t necessarily game-breaking features, their inclusion is a bit frustrating.

Cameos from Death Stranding 2 feel indulgent and pointless

Hideo Kojima just wants to show off his famous friends

Death stranding 2Much like the first game, will have a handful of cameos from famous actorsincluding acclaimed director George Miller, who is best known for directing the Mad Max films. There are also returning ones, including Nicolas Winding Refn’s Heartman, and undoubtedly many more, than the original Death Stranding Has so many cameos. Of course, the cameos do not account for all the famous actors in Death stranding 2How many of them, such as Elle Fanning and Norman Reedus, actually play the roles for which they are scandalized.

The main difference is the fact that, just like with most – though not all – of the cameos in the first game, the people they’re based on don’t perform them. George Miller’s character, Torman, is played by Australian actor Marty Rowan, and Heatman is played by Darren Jacobs. It presents the question of Why do they even exist beyond simply name-dropping – or rather face-dropping in this case – famous celebrities in the world of film and television that Hideo Kojima knows.

They are distracting inclusions, completely breaking the immersion, especially when they are used for frivolous purposesSuch as Conan O’Brien’s cameo in the first game. Hideo Kojima has a habit of making a big deal out of his celebrity connections, such as when he spent 10 minutes promoting his new horror game with Jordan Peele during the 2023 Game Awards. However, the cameos feel a bit overindulgent, namely because they serve such little purpose narratively, gameplay wise and in terms of immersion.

In-game marketing returns to death stranding

Players can buy the drawbridge jackets in real life

The original Death Stranding Has terrible product placement, with blatant in-game advertising completely ruining the immersive experience the game promised. Fortunately, most of these Death Stranding Product placement was eventually removed, but for the majority of players, their initial experience was marred by Monster Energy drinks and Norman Reedus upcoming TV shows. unfortunately, Death stranding 2 It is set to follow in the same direction thanks to another collaboration with Acronym.

Players can recognize acronyms for their product placement in Death StrandingWhich apparently Kojima loved so much that he with them again for DS2. this time, They made the bright orange and black jackets worn by the characters in the game and sold them just after the Tokyo Game Show Death stranding 2 Showcase For the very small amount of $1,720. Of course, they immediately sold out, making them an incredibly limited edition product that will likely return once the game is ready to come out.

Although there is no indication of product placement in Death stranding 2 Beyond the real-life replicas of the jackets, there’s a good chance that more is to follow, especially when considering the amount of​​​​product placement in the first game. It’s a shame, like While there is probably some budgetary reason to involve sponsors for the original Death StrandingIt’s hard not to feel like their inclusion was Kojima’s attempt to make his games more like films. Naturally, with the sequel pushing even harder to reach that goal, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the return of product placement.

Death Stranding 2’s biggest issues could see it fail

The game is already confusing enough

Death stranding 2 It’s already shaping up to be an incredibly strange experience Which will likely feel incredibly isolating to non-fans of the original game. It’s a sequel to a game that required two parts for its novelization and has led to seven-hour YouTube breakdowns because of how confusing it can get. That’s not a slight against the original game – like Death Stranding Is truly a masterpiece – but rather a demonstration of how much is required of the player to go into the sequel.

Death stranding 2 is also a game that features returning characters – one of whom, Higgs, wields a guitar as a weapon – talks about children that evolve into a singing doll Raindrops keep falling on my headAnd so many other strange elements. It’s certainly a wonder to play and experience, though Adding any other confusing or otherwise weird elements to it will surely push people away. Naturally, cameos from real-life directors, actors and more will take players out of the game, as will unnecessary product placement, just like with the first game.

The original Death Stranding Just get away with it, but the sequel, with all the questionable design choices and awkward mechanics – that photo mode is really weird – can’t. Of course, it remains to be seen how widespread this all is in the sequel, but there’s a good chance that it will feel as poorly handled and pointless as the first time around, proving to be a fun inclusion for none other than its creator. hope, Death stranding 2 Can avoid the other issues of the first game, even if it saddles players with infuriating features.

Source: Acronym, X/Kojima Productions