"Death Stranding 2 – On the Beach": Deliver or die

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Hideo Kojima is a prankster. In his games, the Japanese development legend combines brutal action with philosophical themes and self-referential slapstick. A confusing mix, but one that Kojima always tells with an audiovisual force and consistency that leaves players breathlessly amazed or shaking their heads. The open-world adventure “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is no exception.

Surreal gaming blockbuster

“Death Stranding” is Kojima's magnum opus. In a post-apocalyptic and socially torn world, slippery giant monsters encountered ghosts, bandits and political intrigue in the first part. In the middle of it all is the parcel carrier Sam Porter-Bridges, played by “Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus, who struggles to cross rivers and mountains and build roads to finally face the eponymous “Stranded Death” and unite the country. A surreal, unwieldy adventure.

“On The Beach” begins a few months after the experiences of the first part. Sam has retreated into solitude with his stepdaughter Lou. But even here his past catches up with him because his actions have opened portals to other continents and new threats are emerging. At the request of his former girlfriend, Fragile, Sam sets off once again with a few helpers to save the world from destruction.

Kojima once again goes all out. Similar to its predecessor, the roles are played by well-known actresses such as Léa Seydoux and Elle Fanning. Instead of North America, Sam now explores parts of Mexico and Australia. It's about the end of the world, cruel monsters and loneliness. Every boss fight is a worthy finale, every dialog dripping with melancholy, profound gravity or mischievous irony. Nothing less. When the credits roll with a post-credit scene after more than 30 hours of gameplay, you have to catch your breath. If you want to see everything, you can easily double the playing time.

Bigger and more accessible

Everything has become a little bigger and more beautiful. When Sam looks out over the valley from a hill, the sun's rays glisten in the distance while the grass sways at his feet. In the mountains, storms block the view, rivers rise and earthquakes destroy bridges and other buildings. When Sam finally reaches a distant base, a meditative ambient pop soundtrack plays in the background to calm the nerves. No question: “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is an audiovisual highlight of the current console generation.

Although Sam still delivers his packages to connect people and faces enemies in this post-apocalyptic world, he now has more options. Successful missions unlock abilities that Sam can select as required. Sam can also access new weapons such as a “blood boomerang”, or he can equip a truck with weapons and create a rail network to extract raw materials in mines. These are urgently needed for new roads, bridges, or power generators. The “Magellan”, a mobile base of operations that transports Sam from one location to the next, is brand new.

The enemies have become more numerous. Similar to a typical open-world game, Sam can destroy enemy bases or steal important goods. Although the action mostly boils down to simple shooting without any tactical finesse, the game has become more varied as a result. In some areas, not only bandits but also robots are waiting for Sam, who elsewhere has to fight his way through a fire under time pressure. At one point, Sam faces his opponents on a motorcycle racetrack, or he can have monsters fight for him using special weapons. If you want to take it easy, you can collect animals for the local animal shelter.

Despite the higher density of action, the delivery of parcels still takes center stage. Sam plans his route, equips himself and sets off. This can sometimes take half an hour or more. The mountains only become child's play for the truck with spikes, and a river can become a deadly trap. In between, Sam crosses areas with ghosts, the “stranded things”, or GDs for short. Here, the game resembles a mix of stealth adventure and horror nightmare. Not for the faint-hearted.