Once, there was an explosion… A bang which gave rise to life as we know it… And then came the next explosion.
Sam Porter Bridges
The Basics
Created by Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding has been a mistery since it was announced. Keeping it simple, after the first voidouts (masive explosions made by human bodies after dying) America was separated because of an invisible threat known as BT (Beached Things or entities whose souls are stranded in the world of the living), everyone has isolated themselves in personal bunkers, and their only contact with other humans is through couriers known as “Porters”.
This is the first game developed by Kojima Productions after Kojima’s break-up with Konami.
A Story About Connection
Sam Porter Bridges is the main character, a Porter that prefers solitude, avoids human contact and any sign of intimacy (Aphenphosmphobia). Sam joins Bridges, an institution in charge of reconnecting the entire country again through their Chiral Network (Cooler Futuristic Internet) and his Q-Pid (Chiral USB necklace), using a “delivery service” kind of interaction to convince people to join Bridges and use the Chiral Network.
With the help of BB (Bridge Baby) a baby in a pod that’s connected to the world of the dead making him able to detect BTs. Sam faces many threats, BT encounters, MULEs and terrorist factions trying to steal his cargo or kill him, making it more challenging to complete deliveries and reconnect a fractured America. This is a story about connection, and not just America’s connection, it’s a story about Sam making personal connections again, starting with the little fella BB, who’s the only company he has in the vast, hostile America while making deliveries.
All-Star Cast
Hideo Kojima spared no expense when casting these legends.
Visual and Musical Trip
This is so far the best looking game I have played, beautiful sceneries everywhere I look and the characters are perfect copies of the cast, Kojima Productions used a 3D scanner to make the characters look like the cast, and as always, Kojima’s attention to details is unbelievable, for example walking on rough terrain can make Sam fall and damage cargo, also you can actually pee in the game and Sam turns around if you try to look at him while he’s doing it, rain damages everything it touches and damage is clearly visible, Sam’s boots break after walking a lot and you can notice his wounded feet when he’s back in his private room in Bridges, and the list goes on.
When arriving to a new place after a rough time facing off against BTs, I could tell it was over when music started playing. Mostly soothing music from Low Roar or Silent Poets, and many other artists available in Sam’s Private Room. The effect music has, combined with gameplay in Death Stranding is something I haven’t experience in any game before.
Greatest of Great Deliveries
I finished this game before the virus outbreak, and until now it hits the spot, now that we are all isolated to save ourselves and others, trying to avoid an invisible threat. Kojima might be some kind of wizard because every game he makes doesn’t make much sense comparing it to real life when the game is released, but after some time, it all makes sense. After 176 hours of gameplay I can assure this game is something else, it can’t be compared with any other game, it’s completely different from Kojima’s “Metal Gear Solid” tactical espionage action genre, he really delivered what he promised, a completely new experience/genre.
Death Stranding is a game worth playing if you are open to new ways of gaming and diving into deep stories. Games are not about shooting your way through every obstacle all the time, it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the experience.
The Gaming District 