From March 19th, Hideo Kojima’s latest incredible feat of cinematic storytelling, DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, is available to PC gamers. The sequel to the much-garlanded DEATH STRANDING returns players to a world where a door to the dead has opened up. In the original DEATH STRANDING, creatures known as Beached Things (BTs) wash up from the afterlife to earth, where they can consume the living. This causes a cataclysmic explosion called a “voidout” and produces a kind of rain (Timefall) that ages and withers everything it falls upon. In retreat, humanity holes up in small colonies, or Knot Cities, and relies on porters to deliver supplies. In this sequel, Porter Sam Bridges (played once more by Norman Reedus, star of US TV series Walking Dead) returns to continue his mission, this time far beyond the United Cities of America. Intel Gaming Access went for a day at the beach with Jay Boor, head of the marketing department at KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, to discuss DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH. We’ll never be the same again.
Should We Have Connected?
Not every sequel challenges the themes of the original, but if you want more of the same, you don’t go to Hideo Kojima. “The core theme of the game shifts from ‘connecting people’ (the focus in the first DEATH STRANDING) to ‘should we have connected?'” Jay explains. The first game established connections between isolated outposts with the internet-like “Chiral Network”; the second asks—what are these connections really doing to humanity? The answer isn’t simple.
Does this mean you have to play DEATH STRANDING to make sense of the sequel? Absolutely not. (But for a multi-award-winning, immersive, utterly great experience? Absolutely yes.) Jay explains: “In this standalone sequel, [you get] a new range of tools, weapons and vehicles at Sam’s disposal. Sam takes on a new adventure to connect Australia to the Chiral Network. Beset on all sides by enemies, Sam will have to shoot, sneak, and sprint his way out of trouble, as well as survive natural disasters such as earthquakes, sandstorms and forest fires, and brave the ruinous Timefall as he strives to save humanity from extinction once again.” But you won’t be alone: “The Social Strand System returns, connecting players from around the globe, allowing you to shape someone else’s world, and have their actions shape yours.”
Pay It Forward
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS has rolled out hotly-anticipated sequels before. Hideo Kojima is widely considered the father of the stealth genre, and, with his earlier success METAL GEAR SOLID, honed not only gameplay but a philosophy that serves this new title. Kojima explained to the PlayStation blog: “METAL GEAR SOLID was one of the first stealth games, and you had to go completely undetected to survive. There were no weapons available on the elevator at the beginning of the game, because if there were, players would most likely fight the enemies instead of sneaking past them. DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH was designed with a similar philosophy. Players familiarized themselves with the ‘delivery game’ genre with the first game, and the sequel builds on that and provides players with more choice and freedom.”
We love freedom and choice, but we also love a sneak preview that doesn’t compromise how we play. Jay has it covered: “Without spoiling it, one tip I would like to offer players upfront is to build up connection levels with preppers. The higher the star ranking, the more rewards you’ll unlock! You can do this by completing standard orders given by preppers, or by delivering lost cargo.” Preppers live outside of the Knot Cities, and issue sub-orders, aid requests, and rewards. And they may also provide some of the numerous stellar cameos in the game (this is in a title that already boasts leads Norman Reedus, Elle Fanning, Troy Baker, and Luca Marinelli rocking a cool headband).
One name that Jay let drop? Mamoru Oshii. “There are a ton of Easter Eggs and cameo appearances in DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH,” Jay reveals. “Recently, we celebrated National Pizza Day, where we got a chance to not only talk about one of our favourite foods, but we also highlighted one of the preppers you can find in the game as well, the Pizza Chef, who is based on Mamoru Oshii—a legendary director and screenwriter in the world of anime, most famous for creating the films Patlabor: The Movie and Ghost in the Shell.”
Beyond the Beach
Now that DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH is headed to PC, what next for KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS? “There is a lot going on,” Jay shared. “We recently celebrated our 10-Year anniversary via a live-stream event called Beyond the Strand. [The event] highlighted DEATH STRANDING franchise expansion plans, including an animated TV series announced for Disney+, and a live-action feature film from A24.”
In the meantime, PC gamers, your turn to play DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH is here. It’s a journey like no other, so get ready to save humanity.
Pre-purchase DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH on Steam.