The journey is more important than the destination. How often do we hear this quote in life and in art? Enough for the sentiment to become tiresome, as the journey is rarely savoured in the age of immediate gratification and digital dopamine hits. Death Stranding 2, Kojima’s Magnum Opus following a career of masterpieces blended with the unconventional, traverses the line between savouring journey and receiving these hits through a social strand system of cooperation. The combination is a marvel that connects the strings of gaming’s creativity. A tale about a delivery man in a post-apocalyptic world has no reason to be as grand, awe-inspiring, reflective and epic as Death Stranding 2, sequel to the divisive 2019 game. Yet after 50 hours, countless treks from A to B and more zany contraptions than an Area 51 weapons locker, Kojima’s latest release may be the defining title in a console generation needing a showcase for its raw power. A sci-fi opera set in Australia featuring a range of Hollywood talent, trying to save the world while also chasing emus across the desert for their own safety? Death Stranding 2 is one of a kind, despite its sequel status. The PS5 has a new benchmark, and even after 50 hours there is so much more to experience.
To describe the complete Death Stranding story for a newcomer to fully grasp would require an essay of novel length. At its heart, part 1 was about connecting America following a near-extinction event and part 2 moves into Mexico (and then Australia) to bring more continents into the chiral network. Connecting people living underground to be part of the chiral network ensures they can share tech, communicate freely and be integral to a rebuilding world. The protagonist, Sam (played by a brooding Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead fame) trudges through deserts, snowy mountains, tar lakes, jungles and all biomes imaginable to connect those still alive. To delve too deep into the story would do the narrative a disservice, for it is very much a visually driven story of emotion complete with twists, turns and reveals. A Corpus acts as a glossary of all the terms used throughout the game, making words like chiral, BT, BB, the beach, Bridges and more all the easier to understand. Across the many episodes of the game, the story enters a range of genres and emphasises character over all else. Actors such as Elle Fanning and Lea Seydoux, Hollywood staples, look identical to themselves. Kojima’s film influence is clear, though DS2 is more restrictive on cut scene length compared to previous games. By the end, the power of the finale strikes home. And while the story is the game’s heartbeat, the gameplay is the aspect that will keep us coming back well after the credits.
Many use the term ‘walking simulator’ to label Death Stranding’s gameplay. This is vastly reductive and incorrect, focused more on the initial hours of the first game. Death Stranding 2 plays similar, but with so many more gadgets and options of traversal available from the first hour. While the essential loop is to take a package from one location to the next, the how is open to the player: take a truck and pick up a heap of items along the way, ride a bike to cruise through tighter paths, ride a tar-powered coffin over mountains, use your floating carrier as a skateboard, catch the monorail, swing through ziplines. But there is also greater emphasis on combat in DS2. In part 1, I often found myself avoiding enemy camps in stealth. Here, I looked forward to any combat sequence thanks to the arsenal of guns and toys available to knock out anything in my way. From snipers, grenade launchers, shotguns and machine guns to traps, mounted turrets, wacky projectiles and drones – every new upgrade or tool feels unique and destructive, changing the way a camp or enemy is tackled.
There are also addictive ‘build’ options to connect Australia in more traditional methods. Roads and monorail lines can be built to circulate the entire map, which assists in carting cargo and deliveries. The level of satisfaction received when completing a piece of road is another one of those dopamine hits mentioned earlier, especially as other players from around the world will be able to use your road and provide ‘likes’. These will pop up on the left of screen constantly, like a Smartphone pinging with social media notifications. This reverses the general ‘annihilate each other’ approach to multiplayer gaming. Everyone is Sam on a different map, but these crossover points through the social strand system see other structures from other worlds pop up in our world. To know how this works would be looking behind the curtain of creation. All I know is that it adds a feeling of connectedness to the game, which is what Death Stranding is all about.
Character performance is critical in story-driven games. Death Stranding 2 boasts a roster of recognisable talent in either voice, appearance or both. Yes, the famous director George Miller is steering your ship with one hand. Turkish director Fatih Akin is hanging on your belt as a doll that can talk. Elle Fanning doesn’t like wearing shoes and is a combat menace. All these quirks make each character feel real and impacted by the developing narrative. And then there’s Higgs, played by the gaming world’s version of Leonardo DiCaprio – Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Indiana Jones). Troy plays his villainous role like a cross between the Joker and a Southern conman, forever lighting up a scene with impact. His moments with Sam (Norman Reedus) are pure protagonist vs antagonist gold, and the actors must have had such fun in the process despite the dark and deadly themes.
Kojima loves music as much as cinema. The needle drop of tracks when approaching a new base hit with emotion, especially as the song title and artist appears on screen like a music video. Blessed with the talents of Woodkid, Caroline Polachek and a bundle of indie artists, the soundtrack of Death Stranding 2 is one that encapsulates the vibe of the game. Thanks to an in-game music player, these tracks can add to your journey from A to B and help set the tone of the trek as you play your way. But the opening sequence with Woodkid’s Minus 61 may be one of the greatest introductions of all time, blending a powerful song with awe inspiring visuals. Yes, the visuals may be the best we have ever seen in a game – and that is no exaggeration.
Most games in 2025 look great. Looking great is no longer enough for the modern gamer. Framerates must be above 60, faces need to project every line and mole, landscapes must not flicker to ensure real-life emulation. Death Stranding 2 achieves all this and more with the Decima Engine, which is also utilised by the Horizon series. I thought the starting credits were real, not game. The environments – every rock, mountain, blade of grass or plant – is as lifelike as I’ve seen on a screen. This extends into movement, facial features, the shine off metal and the ever-changing sky. I played on the base PS5 on performance mode and had to check if someone had swapped it out for a PS5 pro while asleep. In 50+ hours, the only bug I encountered was when one of my tri-bikes was suspended in the sky. And even then, it may have been possible in this game world to do such a thing. Flawless.
The final talking point here is the setting. As an Australian, seeing Australia take stage as the main location in a game added further anticipation. Watching kangaroos bound across the landscape as the sun sets behind them was like watching your child master the art of walking. Even the slang of the characters instilled a sense of pride. Death Stranding 2 is very diverse and multicultural, reflecting Australia’s values and ensuring the country is displayed in a respectful light. Small additions such as the blood boomerang work well, rather than exist just to portray culture. The many biomes across this open world work so seamlessly because we see this in the Australian landscape. Snowy mountains are never far from forests and lakes. Native animals do venture onto roads despite the noise and chaos of vehicles. All is authentic, well researched and never gimmicky. Exploring the countryside was – and continues to be – a joy.
Death Stranding 2 is a masterclass in modern gaming. The combat plays like a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid V, the graphics are close to photo-realistic, and the final five hours are a testament to Kojima’s continued growth as a man of narrative power. The product is a pop culture phenomenon that brings together music, social media, gaming and the importance of people. With a story that takes approximately 40 hours and an open world offering at least another 40 hours to explore, many will be obsessed with their orders long after the credits. Add in a lush Australian landscape and Easter eggs upon every turn, and this is one of those games that you think about while you’re not playing. Kojima is in his prime.
Pros
- A+ performance in all areas (sound, acting, graphics)
- Expands upon the gameplay in the first to include more combat and traversal options
- Beautiful location
Cons
- Story may not be as impactful as the first, though together they work well
- Some may view the challenge as reduced from part 1
